1. Youth drug harm
In Waikato DHB 2016
Youth drug harm
Waikato DHB 2016

2. Do a search of what data is available on drug use Waikato DHB youth
Aim
Do a search of what data is available on drug use Waikato DHB youth
Develop a picture of ‘other’ drug harm impacting on young people in Waikato DHB
DHB and TLA level (if possible)
National and regional data

3. Coromandel Youth Survey 2015: Waitomo Youth Survey 2015:
Data
Youth2012 survey- AUT
Coromandel Youth Survey 2015:
Waitomo Youth Survey 2015:
Emergency departments (ED) visits, Waikato DHB
National and local data. Available
Local data. Available
Local and regional. Available

4. 2012 National Youth Health & Wellbeing Survey
Waikato DHB 2016

5. Youth’12
2014 report “Problem substance use among New Zealand secondary school students: Findings from the Youth’12 national youth health and wellbeing survey.
By the University of Auckland, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Nationwide
NZ: n= 8,065, Waikato Region n= 558
Secondary school students

6. in secondary school students
Youth’12
Marijuana use
in secondary school students

7. Trend over time - 2001-2012 Youth’12
The proportion who has ever smoked marijuana decreased for both males and females from around 40% in 2001 to 25% in 2012
In 2012, 4.5% of males, and 2% of females use marijuana weekly or more often.
The proportion who use marijuana weekly or more often decreased from 8% in males and 6% in females in 2001.
The difference over time is statistically significant

8. Marijuana use is more common among males than females
Gender
Youth’12
In Waikato Region:
Marijuana use is more common among males than females
Males are 2 times more likely to ever have used or currently use marijuana than females
1 in 3 males and 1 in 5 females have ever used marijuana
1 in 4 males and 1 in 10 females currently use marijuana
Compared to males in overall NZ, more males in the Waikato Region currently use marijuana (23% vs. 14)

9. Youth’12 Marijuana use In Waikato Region:
Marijuana use is more common among males than females
Males are 2 times more likely to ever have used or currently use marijuana than females
1 in 3 males and 1 in 5 females have ever used marijuana
1 in 4 males and 1 in 10 females currently use marijuana
Compared to males in overall NZ, more males in the Waikato Region have ever used marijuana (35% vs. 24%)
Compared to males in overall NZ, more males in the Waikato Region currently use marijuana (23% vs. 14%)
In overall NZ there is no difference in marijuana use between males and females
Notes: NZ: n= Waikato Region: n= % confidence intervals calculated using the Wilson Score method. Non-overlapping confidence intervals mean the difference is statistically significant. Data source: Youth2012 National Survey of the Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students in New Zealand, University of Auckland.

10. Ethnicity
Youth’12
In Waikato Region:
60% more common among Māori/Pacific students to have ever used marijuana compared to Non-Māori/Pacific students
2 in 5 Māori/Pacific students compared to 1 in 4 Non-Māori/Pacific students have ever used marijuana

11. Youth’12 Ethnicity In Waikato Region:
60% more common among Māori/Pacific students to have ever used marijuana compared to Non-Māori/Pacific students
2 in 5 Māori/Pacific students compared to 1 in 4 Non-Māori/Pacific students have ever used marijuana
Notes: Comparison with NZ is not available. 95 % confidence intervals calculated using the Wilson Score method. Non-overlapping confidence intervals mean the difference is statistically significant. Data source: Youth2012 National Survey of the Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students in New Zealand, University of Auckland.

12. Age (when first used marijuana)
Youth’12
Age (when first used marijuana)
In Waikato Region:
The most common age when first used marijuana is 15 years for males, and 14 years for females
The most common ages to first use marijuana are years for Māori/Pacific students
2 in 5 males and 1 in 10 females who have ever used marijuana used it for the first time before age 13

13. Youth’12
- The most common age when first used marijuana is 15 years for males, and 14 years for females
- 2 in 5 males and 1 in 10 females who have ever used marijuana used it for the first time before age 13
Notes: Comparison with NZ is not available. Data source: Youth2012 National Survey of the Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students in New Zealand, University of Auckland.

14. Problem use and students’ concerns
Youth’12
Among marijuana users in Waikato Region:
More males (63%) than females (18%) use marijuana before or during school
In other words, 2 in 3 males, and 1 in 5 females use marijuana before or during school
1 in 4 have tried to cut down or give up
Compared to overall NZ:
More males in Waikato Region use marijuana before or during school
More males in Waikato Region use marijuana alone (not statistically significant)
Students in Waikato Region worry less about how much they use (not statistically significant)

15. Youth’12 Among marijuana users in Waikato Region:
- More males (63%) than females (18%) use marijuana before or during school
- In other words, 2 in 3 males, and 1 in 5 females use marijuana before or during school
- 1 in 4 have tried to cut down or give up
Compared to overall NZ:
- More males in Waikato Region use marijuana before or during school
- More males in Waikato Region use marijuana alone (not statistically significant)
- Students in Waikato Region worry less about how much they use (not statistically significant)
Notes: 95 % confidence intervals calculated using the Wilson Score method. Non-overlapping confidence intervals mean the difference is statistically significant. Data source: Youth2012 National Survey of the Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students in New Zealand, University of Auckland.

16. Problem use - ethnicity
Youth’12
Among marijuana users in Waikato Region:
Rates of marijuana use before or during school are higher in Māori/Pacific students than non-Māori/Pacific students (not statistically significant)
3 in 5 Māori/Pacific students and 2 in 5 Non-Māori/Pacific students use marijuana before or during school
There are no significant differences between Māori/Pacific students and non-Māori/Pacific students regarding the proportion of students who usually use alone, worry about how often they use, or have tried to cut down or give up

17. Youth’12 Among marijuana users in Waikato Region:
- Rates of marijuana use before or during school are higher in Māori/Pacific students than non-Māori/Pacific students (not statistically significant)
- 3 in 5 Māori/Pacific students and 2 in 5 Non-Māori/Pacific students use marijuana before or during school
There are no significant differences between Māori/Pacific students and non-Māori/Pacific students regarding the proportion of students who:
- usually use alone
- worry about how often they use
- have tried to cut down or give up
Notes: 95 % confidence intervals calculated using the Wilson Score method. Non-overlapping confidence intervals mean the difference is statistically significant. Data source: Youth2012 National Survey of the Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students in New Zealand, University of Auckland.

18. Among marijuana users:
Sources of help
Youth’12
Among marijuana users:
the most common sources of help are friends (61%), school guidance counsellors (33%), parents (24%), Drug and Alcohol Service (23%), and other family members (18%)
Females are 60% more likely to look for help from friends compared to males
Males are 2 times less likely to look for help than females
More non-Māori/Pacific students report that they would not look for help compared to Māori/Pacific students
Māori/Pacific students are 2 times more likely to look for help from a school guidance counsellor or a teacher compared to non-Māori/Pacific students
1 in 5 marijuana users report that they would not look for help

19. Sources of help Youth’12 Among marijuana users:
- the most common sources of help are friends (61%), school guidance counsellors (33%), parents (24%), Drug and Alcohol Service (23%), and other family members (18%)
- Females are 60% more likely to look for help from friends compared to males
- Males are 2 times less likely to look for help than females
- More non-Māori/Pacific students report that they would not look for help compared to Māori/Pacific students
- Māori/Pacific students are 2 times more likely to look for help from a school guidance counsellor or a teacher compared to non-Māori/Pacific students
- 1 in 5 marijuana users report that they would not look for help

20. 6% of youth have tried other drugs than marijuana.
In Waikato Region:
6% of youth have tried other drugs than marijuana.
There are no significant differences between Māori/Pacific and non-Māori/Pacific students regarding the use of drugs.
Males are 2 times more likely to have tried other drugs than females (9% vs. 4%).
The most common types are party pills or other smokeable products, Ecstasy or ‘E’, and Acid, LSD or mushrooms
The type of drugs used in Waikato Region are similar to those used in overall NZ

21. Youth’12
Notes: Other drugs = other drugs besides marijuana. Comparison with NZ is not available. 95 % confidence intervals calculated using the Wilson Score method. Non-overlapping confidence intervals mean the difference is statistically significant. Data source: Youth2012 National Survey of the Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students in New Zealand, University of Auckland.

22. Among New Zealand youth: 1 in 10 thinks it is OK to use marijuana
Attitudes & exposure
Youth’12
Among New Zealand youth:
1 in 10 thinks it is OK to use marijuana
1 in 3 have friends who use marijuana
1 in 10 have friends who use other drugs, e.g. Party pills, Acid, ’P’
6% have parents who use marijuana

23. Youth’12 NZ overall (local data not available)
- 1 in 10 think it is OK to use marijuana
2-4% think it is OK to use other drugs
1 in 3 has friends who use marijuana
1 in 10 has friends who use other drugs
6% has parents who use marijuana
Less than 1 % have parents who use other drugs
From the more positive perspective:
- the majority do not think it is OK to use marijuana or other drugs
- The majority do not have friends or parents who use marijuana or other drugs

24. 1 in 3 males and 1 in 5 females have ever used marijuana
Key findings – Youth2012
Youth’12
In Waikato Region:
1 in 3 males and 1 in 5 females have ever used marijuana
15% currently use marijuana (13% in NZ)
5% use it weekly or more often (3% in NZ)
Among current marijuana users:
1 in 2 usually use it before or during school (1 in 5 in NZ)
1 in 4 has tried to cut down or give up

25. Thames coromandel & waitomo youth surveys 2015
Waikato DHB 2016
Thames coromandel & waitomo youth surveys 2015
Waikato DHB 2016

26. Coromandel Youth Survey 2015
‘Substance abuse’ ranks (by youths) as the 3rd biggest issue facing youth in the community (after ‘Disengagement’ and ‘Vulnerability’.
1 in 5 youth states ‘substance abuse’ as the biggest issue facing them.

27. Coromandel Youth Survey 2015
The biggest issue facing youth in the community:
Disengagement (n=219), 37%
Vulnerability (n=157), 26%
Substance abuse (n=113), 19%
Limited opportunities (n=76), 13%
Isolation (n=46), 8%
Total responses n=598
1 in 5 youth states ‘substance abuse’ as the biggest issue facing youth.

28. 45% stated ‘Alcohol’ as the second biggest issue
Waitomo Youth Survey 2015
‘Drugs’ is ranked as the biggest issue facing youth in Waitomo (by 60% of the respondents)
45% stated ‘Alcohol’ as the second biggest issue
9 in 10 are aware of, or have taken part in youth projects on Alcohol & Drugs
4 in 5 know where to go for help with alcohol and drug issues

29. Waitomo Youth Survey 2015 n=104
- ‘Drugs’ is ranked as the biggest issue facing youth in Waitomo
Close to 60% of the respondents stated ‘Drugs’ as the biggest issue
45% stated ‘Alcohol’ as the second biggest issue

30. Youth Projects – awareness and importance
93% are aware of, or have taken part in youth projects on Alcohol & Drugs
97% find the projects very or kind of important.

31. Know where to go for help
4 in 5 know where to go for help with alcohol and drug issues (1 in 5 do not know where to go for help)

32. Drug-related emergency department (ED) events
Local data
Drug-related emergency department (ED) events
Drug-related emergency department (ED) events

33. Drug-related1 ED-events – Waikato DHB, 2011-2015
Technical notes:
Waikato DHB electronic hospital register CostPro
Registered emergency department (ED) events
Patients aged years
Waikato DHB residents
1= Includes diagnoses:
F11-F16 (Opioid – other substances –hallucinogen abuse)
F18-F19 (Inhalant abuse or other substances)
F715 (Drug abuse counselling)
or events with the words “overdose” ,“OD”, “Drug abuse”, “Drug addiction” or “Drug addict” written as free text

34. During the period 2011-2015, there was an increase in ED-events from 35 to 94 events.
It is not known if this increase is due to an actual increase in drug-related problems, or a change in the hospital coding system.
Notes: 1= Includes diagnoses: F11-F16 (Opioid – other substances –hallucinogen abuse), F18-F19 (Inhalant abuse or other substances), F715 (Drug abuse counselling), or events with the words “overdose” ,“OD”, “Drug abuse”, “Drug addiction” or “Drug addict” added as free text.

35. - Females have a higher number of drug-related ED-events than males
Females have had a faster rate of increase than males, especially between 2014 and 2015.
It is not known if this increase is due to an actual increase in drug-related problems, or a change in the hospital coding system.
Notes: 1= Includes diagnoses: F11-F16 (Opioid – other substances –hallucinogen abuse), F18-F19 (Inhalant abuse or other substances), F715 (Drug abuse counselling), or events with the words “overdose” ,“OD”, “Drug abuse”, “Drug addiction” or “Drug addict” in the free text field

36. The highest rates of drug-related ED events in youth are seen in:
- Hauraki and Thames Coromandel TAs
- with around 7 drug-related ED-visits per 1,000 youths during the period
- Waitomo has the lowest rate:
with around 1 drug-related ED-visit per 1,000 youths during the period
Notes: 1= Includes diagnoses: F11-F16 (Opioid – other substances –hallucinogen abuse), F18-F19 (Inhalant abuse or other substances), F715 (Drug abuse counselling), or events with the words “overdose” ,“OD”, “Drug abuse”, “Drug addiction” or “Drug addict” in as free text.

37. - 3 in every 1,000 Maori youths during the period 2011-2015
Drug-related ED-event rates were higher in Non-Maori than in Maori with
- 4 events per every 1,000 Non-Maori youths during the period , compared to
- 3 in every 1,000 Maori youths during the period
Notes: 1= Includes diagnoses: F11-F16 (Opioid – other substances –hallucinogen abuse), F18-F19 (Inhalant abuse or other substances), F715 (Drug abuse counselling), or events with the words “overdose” ,“OD”, “Drug abuse”, “Drug addiction” or “Drug addict” in the free text field

38. - Drug-related ED-visits are most common in the ages 17-20
1= Includes diagnoses: F11-F16 (Opioid – other substances –hallucinogen abuse), F18-F19 (Inhalant abuse or other substances), F715 (Drug abuse counselling), or events with the words “overdose” ,“OD”, “Drug abuse”, “Drug addiction” or “Drug addict” in the free text field

39. Key findings: drug-related ED-events 2011-2015
The number of drug-related ED-events increased
Females have a higher number of events than males
The highest TA rates are seen in Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel (7 per 1,000 youths)
Non-Māori have higher rates than Māori
Most common in the ages years

40. Summary findings of the entire data review
Youth in Waikato consider drugs as one of the biggest issues facing them
Besides alcohol and tobacco, marijuana is the most common drug used by youth
15% of secondary school students currently use marijuana (5% weekly or more often)
Waikato Region have higher proportions of marijuana use compared to youth in overall NZ- particularly in males
Marijuana use is more common among males than females
Marijuana use is more common among Māori/Pacific than non-Māori/Pacific

41. cont. summary
The most common age to first use marijuana is years
Marijuana use in NZ youth has decreased (local data not available)
6% have tried other drugs
The most common other drugs youths have tried are party pills and smokable products (5%) and Ecstasy (3%).
Youth in Waikato consider drugs as one of the biggest issues facing them
Drug-related ED-events in Waikato DHB increased

42. Limited national data on youth Limited local data on youth
Limitations
Limited national data on youth
Limited local data on youth
Limited data on methamphetamine and other drug use.
Unknown which schools participated in the Youth’12 survey and whether they are representative for the rest of Waikato. Therefor the results might not be representative for the whole of Waikato.

43. Fleming, T. Lee, A. C. , Moselen, E. , Clark, T. C. , Dixon, R
Fleming, T. Lee, A.C., Moselen, E., Clark, T.C., Dixon, R. & The Adolescent Health Research Group (2014). Problem substance use among New Zealand secondary school students: Findings from the Youth’12 national youth health and wellbeing survey. Auckland, New Zealand: The University of Auckland.
Waitomo Youth Survey
Coromandel Youth Survey
Reference