DHSS Press Release

DELAWARE STUDENTS' SUBSTANCE USE GENERALLY DOWN OR STABLE

DHSS/UD School Survey Suggests Prescription Drug Abuse is Emerging Concern

Results from the 2004 Delaware School Survey were released today by Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the University of Delaware (UD) Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies. Overall, it appears that the use of tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and ecstasy by Delaware students has been generally stable in the past year following several years of decline. The good news is that rates of use are near the low point in the trends that have been measured in the last decade.

In 2004, 18 percent of 11^th graders and 12 percent of 8^th graders reported smoking cigarettes in the past month, which mark statistically significant declines since 2001. Compared to the high point of 1998, cigarette smoking has declined by almost 45 percent for 11^th graders and 52 percent for 8^th graders. Levels of smoking for 5^th and 11^th graders are the lowest they have been since the survey was first done in 1989. Past month smoking for 8^th graders was at an all time low in 2003 but increased slightly in 2004.

In 2004, 23 percent of 11^th graders reported smoking marijuana within the past month. This is lowest percentage reported since 1994. Among 8^th graders, reported use of marijuana in the past month increased slightly from an eight year low of 12% in 2003 to 13% in 2004.

Reports of ecstasy use among both 8^th and 11^th graders remained stable from 2004 to 2005. Less than one-half of one percent of 8^th and 11^th graders reported past month ecstasy use. Ecstasy use declined by more than 50 percent between 2001 and 2004, reversing the upward trend seen between 1999 and 2001.

Prescription drug abuse remains a matter of concern among Delaware youth. Of the close to 20,000 students surveyed, 11 percent of 11^th graders and 6 percent of 8^th graders reported abusing prescription painkillers in the past year, such as Oxycontin, codeine, Percocet and Tylenol 3. Psychoactive medications - such as Ritalin, Adderall, Cylert and Concerta - followed painkillers in the list of most abused prescription drugs. These findings mirror national indications that illegal diversion of prescription medications is an emerging youth drug problem. These reports of increasing levels of prescription drug abuse among youth indicate a need to direct attention to prescription drug abuse.

There is continued good news in efforts to combat tobacco use. Beside the generally downward trends in use, in 2004, there was an increase in 5^th, 8^th, and 11^th graders who thought there was a "great risk" from smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Reports of great risk from smoking a pack of cigarettes a day increased from 57 percent in 2003 to 61 percent in 2004 for 5^th graders, from 53 percent in 2003 to 55 percent in 2004 for 8^th graders and from 68 percent in 2003 to 71 percent in 2004 for 11^th graders. For 5^th graders in particular, this represents almost a 50 percent increase in seeing the danger of smoking from the low point observed in 2001. "The results of last year's study continue the promising trends of decline in tobacco, marijuana, and ecstasy use among Delaware's young people, " Governor Ruth Ann Minner said. They give us reason to believe our anti-tobacco and other anti-drug programming is reaching our kids. We need to continue prevention efforts. And now, we need to add the message that prescription drugs, when used inappropriately, can as dangerous as heroin or cocaine."

"This data is very important to schools in the development of school improvement plans," said Secretary of Education Valerie A. Woodruff. "If a student comes to school impaired by drugs or alcohol, he is less likely to achieve academically. Comprehensive health education programs help students develop skills for life to encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles." Secretary Woodruff also added, "I am also pleased to see a significant decline in the number of students using tobacco products. Since 2001, cigarette smoking among 8^th and 11^th graders has decreased by nearly 50%. This is truly a testament to the ongoing awareness programs in our schools."

Some other findings from the study were:

Among both 8^th and 11^th graders, past month substance use - whether cigarettes, alcohol, or marijuana - was highly correlated with other delinquent behaviors such as gang fights, stealing, illegal entry, and trouble with police. Substance use was also highly correlated with gambling for money or possessions.

Binge drinking (3 or more drinks at a time in the past 2 weeks) was high for both 8^th and 11^th graders: 27 percent of all 11^th graders and 12 percent of all 8^th graders. And most students who reported having one drink in the past month also reported binge drinking in the past 2 weeks.

The percentage of 11^th graders who reported drinking and driving increased in 2003 and stabilized in 2004 after several years of decline. And about one out of eight students in each of the 8^th and 11^th grades reported riding in a car with a drinking driver in the past month.

On a positive note, for all grades, the more students reported that they got along well with their parents, did not fight with their parents, and that they communicated with their parents, the less likely they were to use drugs. Positive parental involvement seems to be a strong protective factor, especially for middle schoolers.

Surveys are anonymous, and statistics are based on self-reporting. The school survey is conducted by UD's Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies and administered by DHSS' Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH). In 2004, the survey was funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention under the Delaware State Block Grant. Additional critical support also came from the Delaware Legislature and the Delaware Health Fund. Besides DSAMH, planning for the study included individual school districts, the Department of Education, and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families. The full 125 page report is online at the Drug-Free Delaware website, http://www.state.de.us/drugfree/2004rpt/atda2004.pdf. More information on the study can be obtained from, Steven Martin or Roberta Gealt at the University of Delaware (302 831-6107, martin@udel.edu).

The study, "Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse among Delaware Students," has been conducted annually since 1989 and tracks trends in substance abuse and other risk factors among 5^th, 8^th and 11^th graders in Delaware public schools. It is the only study providing information on elementary school students, and it is the only study large enough to provide separate reports on each Delaware county. The results of this survey are supported by the results of another recently released study, the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The Delaware YRBS is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Delaware Department of Education. The YRBS Report is also available on the Drug-Free Delaware website.

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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.