GDAY Round Table

2008 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Strategies for Prevention and Positive Youth
Development
Major Findings Focus Topics
 Safety
 Cars
 Internet
 Violence Related Behaviors
 ATOD
 Alcohol
 Tobacco
 Other Drug Use
 Health and Wellness
 Dietary Behaviors
 Exercise
 Sleep
Safety
Safety
 According to the Academy of Pediatrics: Parents...
 ...are the most important influence on their teen when it
comes to risky behaviors, including substance abuse and
driving.
 ...can improve teen health and safety by discussing the
dangers of using drugs or alcohol at anytime.
 ...set a good example behind the wheel, establishing
driving rules and consequences, teaching them to
eliminate distractions when operating a motor vehicle.
 ...warn of the dangers of riding with impaired or
distracted drivers.
Car Safety
 1.5% of Grade 6 student and 3% of Grade 8
never or rarely wear seatbelts
 6.2% of High School students (with highest
incidence in grades 10 & 11 at 9%) never or
rarely wear seatbelts
 59.9% of 11th Grade students and 77.7% of
12th graders report having driven a car while
talking or texting on a cell phone/pda.
Car Safety
 2% of 6th grade respondents and 7.1% of 8th grade
respondents report having ridden in a car or other
vehicle driven by a minor (under age 21) who had
been drinking alcohol or under the influence of other
drugs.
 17.5% of High School respondents report having
ridden in a car or other vehicle driven by a minor
(under age 21) who had been drinking alcohol or
under the influence of other drugs. 25% of Grade 12
students represent the highest percentage.
Internet Safety
 5.6% of 6th grade students and 11.7% of 8th graders
report having met someone in person with whom
they initially had contact over the internet.
 15.2% of HS respondents report having met
someone in person with whom they initially had
contact over the internet.
 14%-9th grade
 18.5% -10th grade
 16.5% -11th grade
 11.5% -12th grade
Violence Related Behaviors
Weapons: items such as guns, knives and clubs carried
with the potential to do harm or need protect oneself
 6.5% of 6th graders and 14% of 8th graders, mostly
boys, reported carrying weapons in the month prior
to the survey (March 2008) but not on school
property
 5.3% of all HS students surveyed indicated they had
carried a weapon on at least on occasion in the 30
days prior to the survey with 3.7% doing so on
school property.
Violence
Bullying and Dating Violence (grades 8 and 9-12 only)
 17.8% of 6th graders and 27.6% of 8th graders report having
been bullied in school during the 12 months prior to the survey.
Nearly 4% of all High School students reported being bullied
in the 12 months prior to the survey with 3.1% reporting
physical force in the encounter.
 Dating violence results in grade 8 indicates that 3.5% of those
responding have been hurt physically or sexually by a date or
someone they were going out with (girls more so than boys)
and 6.2% of HS students reported dating violence, with girls in
grade 11 experience the highest incidence at 9%.
 Although not tracked on this survey, nationally, surveys
indicate that 25% of teens in this age range experience cyber-
bullying, with girls being targeted more than boys. INSERT
CYBERBULLYING PSA HERE
 Violence
Self-Harm, Injury and Suicide
 Self Harm and Suicide: 14.6% of 8th graders & 16% of HS students report
hurting themselves on purpose (cutting, burning, bruising, choking) on at
least 1 occasion in the 12 months prior to the survey - females (23.8%)
more frequently than males (8.6%).
 6% of 6th graders and 9% of 8th graders report having seriously
considered attempting suicide. 12.7% of HS respondents considered
suicide during the 12 months prior to the survey - females (14.9%)
reported ideation more than males (10.5%).
 1.5% of 6th graders and 4% of 8th graders report actually attempting
suicide with 25% of 8th grade attempts receiving medical attention.
 4.3% of all HS respondents reported attempting suicide (Grade 10 highest
at 7.3%) and among those attempting suicide, 40.6% report attempts
resulted in injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be medically treated.
 More girls attempt suicide, but more boys commit suicide.
Alcohol, Tobacco and
Other Drugs
ATOD Use and Abuse
Tobacco
 .5% of 6th graders, 13.5% of 8th graders and 26.4 %
of High school respondents report ever having tried
cigarette smoking. 5% of 8th graders and 15% of
High School students reporting recent, repeated use
of tobacco.
 Despite health and wellness programs, GDRSD sees
a marked increase in tobacco use between 6th grade,
8th grade and again as students transition to HS.
What is happening to the health message?
Alcohol
 26.1% of 8th graders report
drinking alcohol other than for
non-religious reasons
 7% of 8th graders started
drinking before the age of 12
 According to
www.stopalcoholabuse.gov
Students who start drinking
before age 15 are 5 times more
likely to become alcoholic.
 60% of HS respondents report
having at least one drink of
alcohol on at least one occasion
(other than for religious reasons)
and 12 % report starting
drinking before age 12
 34.1% of HS students reported
drinking in the month prior to
the survey
 Grade 9-19.6%
 Grade 10- 36.7%
 Grade 11-34.6%
 Grade 12-52.4%
Teen Alcohol Abuse
 22% of HS students reported binge drinking
on at least one occasion in the 30 days prior to
the survey
 9th Grade = 7.1%
 10th Grade = 22.6%
 11th Grade = 24.3%
 12th Grade = 40.4%
Alcohol Abuse
6% of 8th graders report having been at a party held in
homes in the school district where alcohol use by
teens is allowed by adults
27.5% of HS students report having been at a party held
in homes in the school district where alcohol use by
teens is allowed by adults.
Gr 9 = 12.9% Gr 10 = 26.3%
Gr. 11 = 29.2% Gr. 12 = 48.3%
 Other Drug Use and Abuse
 13.6% of 8th grade students
report trying marijuana
 7% of 8th grade students report
having been offered, sold or
given drugs on school property
in the 12 months prior to the
survey
 Parent drug use and abuse is
recognized as a significant factor
in student drug use
 30.7% of all HS students report
having used marijuana.
 The incidence of lifetime use of
marijuana use increases each
year by grade to nearly 50% of
12th grade students reporting use
of this illegal drug.
 17.2% of HS students report
being offered, sold or given
drugs at school
 Parents, family members,
medicine cabinets are noted as
major sources of drugs used in
abusive ways.
Health and Wellness
Dietary Behaviors
 Over 60% over middle school students surveyed
described themselves as being at about the right
weight
 58.3% of middle school students exercise in order to
maintain or lose weight.
 12.5% of 6th graders and 28% of 8th graders eat
breakfast on fewer than 5 days a week
 In almost a 2:1 ratio, middle school girls are more
“concerned” with weight issues, body image or
losing weight
Dietary Behaviors
 59.6% of HS students report being at about the right
weight with 36.4% trying to lose weight
 In order to maintain or lose weight, 58% of HS
students choose to exercise
 10% skip meals or have gone 24 hours w/o eating
 Nearly 40% of HS students report eating breakfast
fewer than 5 days during the week prior to the
survey
 Girls skip breakfast more frequently than boys
Work, Rest and Play
 Over three quarters of 6th
and 8th graders report
vigorously exercising for at
least 20 minutes at least 3
days/week
 66.7% of HS students
report vigorously
exercising for at least 20
minutes at least 3
days/week
 14.3 % of 6th graders and
34.5% of 8th graders report
getting fewer than 7 hours
of sleep on school nights
 63.7% of HS students
report getting fewer than 7
hours of sleep in school
nights.
 Time management is a key
factor in providing balance
in a student’s work, rest
and play.
What Can We Do?
 Model Appropriate behavior: be kind and
considerate and your children will be too.
 Review School District Student
Handbooks
 Know the law!
 It is illegal to serve alcohol to minors.
 It is illegal to host a party at which drugs
and alcohol are served to minors.
 Talk to your kids and let them know
what your expectations are
 Teens who report having conversations,
contracts and other strategies with
parents about youth risk behavior are
more likely to stay drug and risk free.
 Use on-line resources to develop family
contracts and action plans for car, cell
phone and computer safety
 Visit the GDAY Resource room for free
books, pamphlets and parenting articles
 Get to know your teen’s friends, their
parents, coaches and other influential
people in his or her life
 Get to know your child’s
patterns and look for changes in sleep,
eating, emotions and social networks.
 Note changes in appearance and clothing
that might hide bruising or other injuries.
 Remove computers from bedrooms
 Establish limits on computer and cell
phone use.
 Check call logs and computer history
with your child. Talk about their usage
habits
 Monitor on-line purchases
 Lock up personal weapons and touch
base with local law enforcement
regarding safe storage of weapons.
Resources and Sites to “Check Out”
 www.gdrsd.org For the 2008 YRBS data and school homepages for:
 GDRHS Student Handbook and policies
 GDRMS Handbook and policies
 www.samhas.gov Resources for reducing/preventing youth risk behavior
 www.stopalcoholabuse.gov Parenting information on underage drinking and
associated risks
 www.aap.org American Academy of Pediatrician site that outlines statistics and
strategies for youth ATOD risk behavior
 www.cdc.gov Centers for Disease Control providing studies and advice regarding
youth risk behavior
 www.theantidrug.com Parenting advice regarding youth risk behavior
 www.g-day.org Family Computer Use and Social Networking Contract
 www.steerstraight.com Teen Driver Protection programs
 www.allstateteendriver.com Family/Teen driving contract
 www.nhtsa.dot.gov Seatbelt safety studies
 Prescott Parent Resource Center and GDAY Resource Annex
Children Learn What They Live
by Dorothy Law Nolte
 If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
 If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
 If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy.
 If children live with shame, they learn to be guilty.
 If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
 If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
 If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate.
 If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
 If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
 If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
 If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and others.
 If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to
live.

Copyright 1972/1975