Saratoga Partnership for Prevention Results of the 2006 Youth & Parent Survey

Fifty percent of youth in grades 6-12 took the survey in October 2006.

Goals of the Survey To assess community progress toward our goals To foster discussion about risk and protective factors To aid in planning programs To address specific community needs

Survey Design This survey was designed to assess: – adolescent substance use – anti-social behavior – risk and protective factors that predict adolescent problem behaviors

Middle School Findings Among middle school-aged youth, lifetime and 30-day use of nearly all substances is below previous surveys and the national average. Antisocial behaviors are also well below the national average. Risk and protection are both at positive levels.

Maple Avenue MS Youth

Past Year Gambling Activity, Grades 6-12 (%) BehaviorGr. 6Gr. 7Gr. 8Gr. 9Gr. 10Gr. 11Gr. 12 Played Cards Internet Sports Lottery Games of Skill Video Poker Dice Bingo Horse Races Casino

BehaviorNYS 1998 Saratoga Springs 2006 Difference Gambled for money Bet on sports Played the lottery Bet on games of skill Gambled on video poker Played Bingo for money 11 0 Bet on horse races Gambled at a casino 550 Past Year Gambling Activity, Grades 7-12 Comparative Data (%)

Results of this survey indicate that approximately 51% of 6th grade students have gambled for money at least once in the past year. This mirrors national research, which shows that problem gamblers often began gambling between the ages of Of Saratoga Springs youth who report having gambled at least once in the past year, approximately 17% report gambling 20 or more days. Of that same group, 12% report gambling 40 or more days. Of students grades 6-12 who played cards for money in the past year, 8% played 40 or more days. Gambling - Key Findings

Parental Attitudes Parental disapproval is not as definitive for gambling: Only 54% of parents surveyed think people under 21 risk “great harm” by gambling for money. That compares to 85% for cigarettes, 76% for marijuana, 76% for alcohol and 91% for taking illegal drugs. Only 71% of parents believe gambling for money is “very wrong,” as compared to 93% for drinking regularly, 94% for smoking pot or cigarettes, 98% for using illegal drugs, 97% for stealing, and 83% for picking a fight.

Middle School Youth Findings Risk Factors Scores are better than the national average (NA) across the board for middle school, including our target risk factors: Community Laws & Norms Family Management Youth Attitudes

Middle School Youth Findings, cont’d Protective Factors Protection is high across the board among youth in grades 6-8. The only protective factor that falls below the NA is “Religiosity,” a finding consistent with the previous three surveys.

ATOD use holds steady or decreases slightly among 9-11 graders vs data. Even so, these rates are considerably higher than the NA. 12 th grade ATOD use rates are substantially higher than 2004 and the NA. Over the course of the 7 years of surveys, two key transition points for ATOD use have emerged – 8 th -9 th grade and again in 9 th – 10 th grades. High School Findings

Saratoga Springs High School Youth

In spite of high use rates, 86% of parents surveyed in 2006 report that their children have never used alcohol. A slightly higher percent (89%) say they would “most likely” or “definitely” know if their child drank alcohol without their permission. The gap is similar for marijuana. Saratoga Springs Parents

Parents’ attitudes are more permissive for alcohol than for marijuana, cigarettes and other drugs, with 15% saying kids “should be allowed to use alcohol before age 21.” Older kids don’t perceive don’t see their parents’ disapproval for alcohol as much as for cigarettes, marijuana or other drugs. Most parents (98%) believe their rules regarding alcohol and drug use are “very” or “perfectly clear.” Saratoga Springs Parents

Saratoga Springs High School Youth Antisocial Behavior There are fewer gaps between youth and parents about antisocial behaviors. Fewer youth report being “Drunk or High at School” than in 2004, but scores still meet or exceed the NA (+6 pts. by grade 12). In grades 11 & 12, roughly 25% of surveyed youth report having been “Drunk or High at School” within the last year.

Saratoga Springs High School Youth Antisocial Behavior, cnt’d “Sold Illegal Drugs” is flat vs in grades 10 and 12 but still above the NA by 3 & 6 pts., respectively. Grade 11 is below 2004 (-6 pts.). “Attacked to Harm” is trending down in grades 10 & 11, but was up in grade 12 by 6 pts. Reports for this behavior were 5 pts. above the NA in grade 10, and 3 pts. in grade 12.

Risk Factors: Saratoga Springs High School Youth By grade 10, Saratoga's numbers creep up to mirror or slightly exceed the NA in almost every risk category. By grade 12, Saratoga's numbers exceed the NA by a large margin in almost every risk category. The two highest-risk categories for 9-12th graders are "Parental Attitudes Favorable to Anti-Social Behavior" and "Rewards for Anti-Social Behavior."

Protective Factors: Saratoga Springs High School Youth Youth perceptions of "Opportunities for Prosocial Involvement" in the Community, School, and Individual domains exceed the NA by a wide margin. While they see “Opportunities” everywhere, school is the only place where youth perceive "Rewards for Prosocial Involvement.” Saratoga's protective factors drop below the national average in most other categories.

Saratoga County Regional Comparison Data Lifetime and Past 30 Day Alcohol Use

Saratoga County Region Comparison Data Binge Drinking

Saratoga County Region Comparison Data Lifetime and Past 30 Day Marijuana Use

Conclusions The various protections that prevent youth from experimenting with substances or using them regularly seem to be in place among middle school youth. However, they erode dramatically as youth get older. Next Step: How can we capitalize on the gains with younger youth and extend their protection as they transition – and go through – high school?

Risks Teens who start to drink before 15 are 4 times more likely to become alcohol dependent than someone who starts at 21 The average age for youth to start using alcohol in Saratoga is 14 years old.

86% of parents of 6 th – 12 th graders surveyed in 2006 report that their children have never used alcohol (49.7% of 6 th -12 th grade students report lifetime use and 28% report past 30 day use) A slightly higher percent (89%) say they would “most likely” or “definitely” know if their child drank alcohol without their permission. National surveys (CASA 2006) mirror these findings 80% of parents believe neither alcohol or marijuana is available at parties their teens attend BUT 50% of teens report attending parties where alcohol, drugs or both are present. 98% of parents say they are normally present during parties teens hold in their home BUT 1/3 of teen partygoers report that parents are rarely or never present at the parties they attend. Parent Survey