1. Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Spring 2018
Overview presented by Kristen M. Bunten BSN RN NCSN
LPS Health Care Coordinator

2. Demographics & Details
Not officially through the CDC
Administered online via SurveyMonkey
Grades 7, 9, and 11
Parents notified in advance through traditional mail and mass
Opt-outs by parents
4 in 7th grade (1.9% of the class)
5 in 9th grade (2% of the class)
7 in 11th grade (3% of the class)

3. Grade Students Surveyed Class Percentage Survey percentage
7th
192
92%
33.1%
9th
215
37.1%
11th
172
80%
29.7%
Total participants = 579 students

4. In an average week when you are in school, how many hours do you spend on your cell phone or on social media sites (YouTube, SnapChat, MySpace, Facebook, Instagram or other social medial sites?
LUDLOW question
46.4% of the students surveyed spend 3 or more hours per day on social media sites

5. Comparison of Results Question Ludlow MA National
Riding with someone who had alcohol (Q7)
14.58%
14.4%
Not available
Driving while using marijuana* (Q9)
16%
13.0%
Driving while texting/ ing (Q10)
34.8%
35.6%
Bullied on school property (Q25)
28%
14.6%
19%
Bullied electronically (Q26)
19.5%
13.6%
14.9%
Not exact comparison (not apples to apples) so use caution when referring to – no blanket statements considered as validated “truth”
* 16% of those eligible to drive (not the whole survey sample)

6. Comparison of Results Question Ludlow MA National
Tried an electronic vaping product (Q36)
32.8%
41.1%
Not available
Used vape product at least once in past 30 days (Q37)
25.2%
20.1%
13.2%
Used vape product at least 20 out of the 30 days
9.5%
3.3%
Although less are trying vaping products, we have more who are using regularly. Look at the 20 out of 30 days comparison. I did not include alcohol statistics as it was a consistent number lower than both state and national percentages

7. Comparison of Results Question Ludlow MA National
Do you think marijuana is safe? (Q48 Ludlow)
36.8% said yes
(50% for LHS) __
Does marijuana lead to other drug use? (Q49 Ludlow)
61.7% said yes
(53.4% for LHS)
Ever used marijuana (Q50)
22%
37.9%
35.6%
Tried marijuana before 13 years of age (Q51)
5.4%
4.4%
6.8%
Currently using (Q52)
13.8%
24.1%
19.8%
SBIRT experienced: Youth and parents prescribing marijuana use for a self-diagnosis of “anxiety”.
38% using marijuana has used it at least 10 times in the month before the survey = 5.3% of total surveyed

8. Sexual Activity Have had a sexual intercourse experience 22% (MA 35%)
Currently sexually active – 15.7% (MA 25%)
Of those who report sexual activity
58.97% used a condom
9% used no birth control method
2.58% had 4 or more partners (MA 6.7%)
Condom, birth control – rates consistent with MA

9. Weight and Nutrition
30.6% report being overweight 51.5% report being the right weight YET 48.8% report trying to decrease weight 17.4% report no breakfast the 7 days before the survey (MA 12.9%)
Overweight and decrease weight are similar to state numbers

10. Comparison of Results Question Ludlow MA National
Sad/hopeless for 2 weeks or more (Q27)
34%
27.4%
31.5%
Seriously consider suicide in past 12 months (Q28)
16.7%
12.4%
17.2%
Make a suicide plan (Q29)
12.7%
10.9%
13.6%
Attempt suicide in past 12 months (Q30)
8.3%
5.4%
7.4%

11. Q27
During the past 12 months, did you ever feel so sad and hopeless almost every day for 2 weeks or more in a row that you stopped doing some usual activities?
34%
Yes % - 191
No % - 371
TOTAL answers to question =562 (majority of participants)
66%

12. A Closer Look at the 191 44.5% report being bullied on school property
36.7% report being bullied via social media sites
44% report seriously considering attempting suicide
33.3% report making a plan of how to attempt suicide
21.8% report attempting suicide at least one time

13. From the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report 2007-2017

14. Next Steps Review by staff (already shared out)
Share with community stakeholders
Subcommittee to look at next screening plans
When?
Who?
How often?
What questions?

15. SBIRT Most of grades 8th and 11th screened in June
Identified ways to improve the process this year
Re-visit which grade in high school to screen
8th grade screening a positive experience

16. WHICH BRAIN DO YOU CHOOSE?
Paturel Amy. Buzz Kill: How does alcohol affect the teenage brain? Neurology Now.
2011; 7(6).23–24,26–28
WHICH BRAIN DO YOU CHOOSE?