DHSS Press Release

STUDENTS' SMOKING DOWN, BUT SO IS PERCEIVED RISK OF USING ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUGS

Findings of DHSS/UD School Survey Suggest Need for Renewed Focus on Drug Education

A new school survey, released today by Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the University of Delaware (UD) Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies, offers some of the strongest evidence yet that youth-focused anti-tobacco efforts are beginning to reduce the use of tobacco among Delaware youth.

But the federally funded study also suggests that dwindling anti-drug, anti-tobacco and anti-alcohol education efforts need to be strengthened with a continued focus on reducing the student use and abuse of such substances.

"I'm glad to see that our work to reduce teen smoking is working, but it's alarming to learn that fewer students understand the risks of using alcohol, marijuana, cocaine or other drugs," Governor Ruth Ann Minner said. "We have to continue to reinforce that these behaviors are not O.K. - that they are unhealthy and, in many cases, addictive and deadly."

The study, "Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse among Delaware Students," has been conducted annually since 1989 and tracks drug-use trends among 5th, 8th and 11th graders in Delaware public schools. The 2001 survey, which included more than 18,000 students, showed that:

• Cigarette smoking continues to decline, since reaching a high point in 1998.
  • Regular ("Regular" use is defined as about once a month or more often.) smoking by 11th graders has declined from 33 percent in 1998 to 23 percent in 2001.
  • Regular smoking by 8th graders has declined from 25 percent to 15 percent.
  • Regular smoking by 5th graders is at 1 percent - the lowest level recorded in 13 years. The percentage of fifth graders who have tried cigarettes even once declined from 14 percent in 1999 to 12 percent in 2000 to 10 percent in 2001.
• Regular use of marijuana among 8th and 11th graders in Delaware has remained fairly stable, after a dramatic increase between 1992 and 1995. (Among fifth graders, use was at 0.6 percent.)
  • In 2001, 28 percent of 11th graders reported regular marijuana use - matching the high point of use, which occurred in 1999.
  • Among 8th graders, 15 percent reported regular marijuana use, down from 19 percent in 1998.
• Alcohol use has remained relatively constant. In 2001:
  • 44 percent of 11th graders reported regular use, which is the same percentage as in 2000 and down from a high point of 50 percent in 1989.
  • 24 percent of 8th graders reported regular use, down from 27 percent in 2000 and a high point of 33 percent in 1995.
  • 2 percent of 5th graders reported regular use, which is the same percentage as in 2000 and 1999 and down from a high point of 6 percent in 1991 and 1992.
• Cigarettes continue to be a gateway drug.
  • Those students in grades 5, 8, and 11 who reported cigarette smoking in the past month were also significantly more likely to have used alcohol, marijuana and other illegal drugs during the month.
  • Students in grades 8 and 11 who smoke cigarettes are more than twice as likely to consume alcohol and smoke marijuana. For example, among 8th graders, 60 percent of current cigarette smokers are current marijuana users, whereas only 7 percent of nonsmokers were current marijuana users.

• The proportion of students who believe smoking a pack of cigarettes a day poses a "great risk" to their health and well being decreased in all surveyed grades.
  • In 2001, the percentage of 11th graders who perceived "great risk" in smoking a pack of cigarettes a day dropped from 69 percent to 66 percent.
  • Among 8th graders, the percentage dropped from 53 percent to 49 percent.
  • Among 5th graders, the percentage dropped from 45 percent to 41 percent.
• Fewer than one third of Delaware students think there is "great risk" in drinking alcohol every day or trying marijuana. Those numbers are worsening in all grades.
  • The percentage of 11th graders who perceived "great risk" in daily alcohol consumption dropped from 35 percent in 2000 to 30 percent in 2001. The perception of "great risk" in trying marijuana dropped from 15 percent to 13 percent.
  • Among 8th graders, the perception of "great risk" in daily alcohol use dropped from 29 percent to 27 percent. The perception of "great risk" in trying marijuana dropped from 23 percent to 22 percent.
  • Among 5th graders, The perception of "great risk" in daily alcohol use dropped from 32 percent to 29 percent. The perception of "great risk" in trying marijuana dropped from 27 percent to 25 percent. Even among 5th graders who have never tried marijuana, 46 percent said there was "no harm" in trying it.
• Only 23 percent of 5th graders said they believe there is "great risk" in trying cocaine - fewer than the number who say there is "great risk" in smoking a pack of cigarettes or using alcohol every day, or trying marijuana.
  • In 2001, the percentage of 11th graders who perceived "great risk" in trying cocaine increased significantly from 57 percent to 66 percent.
  • Among 8th graders, the percentage increased slightly from 42 percent to 43 percent.
  • Among 5th graders, the percentage dropped from 25 percent to 23 percent.

• Ninety percent of both 8th and 11th graders and 92 percent of 5th graders report having received drug education at some point during school career. (Teacher training in the Life Skills Curriculum and Project ALERT has had a positive impact on alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among Delaware students. In addition, federally funded programs such as Life Skills Training, Families and Schools Together, and Strengthening Families are being implemented by schools and community-based organizations statewide to reduce substance use among youth.)
• Reports of past-year drug education declined for the first time since the question was initially asked in 1995. The decline from 2000 to 2001 was:
  • 8 percentage points for 11th graders, from 29 in 2000 percent to 21 percent in 2001.
  • 20 percentage points for 8th graders, from 57 percent to 37 percent.
  • 5 percentage points for 5th graders, from 97 percent to 92 percent.

Valerie Woodruff, Secretary of the Department of Education, said it's important that schools continue to help students understand the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and other drug use.

"Although schools have been focused on improving instruction in core content areas, especially at the elementary level, these results demonstrate a need to continue efforts in school-based comprehensive health education to reduce tobacco, alcohol and other drug use among Delaware students."

Surveys are anonymous, and statistics are based on self-reporting. The school survey is conducted by UD's Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies, administered by DHSS' Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, and funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention under the Delaware State Incentive Grant program. Also involved in planning were individual school districts, the Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families. The full report is online at the Drug-Free Delaware website, http://www.state.de.us/drugfree/2001rpt/atda2001.pdf.

This study, "Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse among Delaware Students," is the oldest and largest of three studies that measure the behaviors and habits of Delaware youth. This annual survey of virtually all 5th, 8th and 11th graders focuses on substance abuse issues and provides trend data back to 1989. It is the only study providing information on elementary school students. It is also the only study large enough to provide separate reports to each Delaware county.

The results of this survey are supported by the results of another recently released study, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The YRBS is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and has been conducted during odd-numbered years since 1995; it surveys a representative sample of Delaware public high school students on a broader and more general set of risk behaviors, including substance use, sexual behaviors, diet and exercise.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.