A
recent survey shows that local prevention efforts, including
Know!, are producing positive results. Yet
young people throughout Ohio are exposed to alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs at an alarming age.
Nearly 23% of 8th grade students report smoking cigarettes, 30% drank beer and 13% smoke marijuana in the past year. (Ohio PRIDE Survey, Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. 2002)
Significant Use by Central Ohio 8th Graders
Alcohol, tobacco and other drug usage is relatively low among
6th and 7th graders. But, by the time they reach 8th grade,
a significant number begin using these substances. Among middle
school children surveyed in the 2006
Primary Prevention Awareness, Attitude and Use Survey (PPAAUS)
conducted by The Safe and Drug-Free Schools Consortium:
- The average age of first use of alcohol
and tobacco was 11.
- 1% of sixth graders, 5% of seventh and eighth graders drank regularly (at least once a month).
- 2% report smoking tobacco at least once
a month.
- 0.4% of sixth graders, 1% of seventh and eighth graders reported smoking cigarettes daily.
- The average age of first use of marijuana
was 12.
- 0.6% of sixth graders, 4% of seventh and eighth graders smoked marijuana once a month or more.
For
more information on the PPAAUS survey, visit www.edcouncil.org.
Use
Places Children at Risk
Consider
the following facts from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol
and Drug Information about why use of alcohol, tobacco and
other drugs places children at risk for problems later:
-
The
younger someone starts to use alcohol, tobacco and drugs,
the more likely he or she is to become addicted and develop
problems associated with such use.
-
Young
people who use alcohol and drugs also are more likely
to be victims or perpetrators of violence, engage in unplanned
and unprotected sex, experience school failure, and be
seriously injured from driving or engaging in other risky
behavior while impaired.
-
Young
people who use tobacco are more likely than others to
drink heavily later or use illegal drugs. If we can successfully
keep our young people from smoking, we may help prevent
other drug use.
The
statistics are so startling that it's tempting to think,
"my child would never do anything so risky at that age."
But that belief is risky in itself. Studies show that many
more teens report being offered these substances and using
them than their parents are willing to believe. When polled,
the number of parents who thought their children had tried
marijuana, for example about 20% represented only one-half
the number of teens who said they had actually tried it. (2004 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study. Partnership for a Drug-Free America)
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to Know! the Truth Page)
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