1. © Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 November 8, 2004 Youth at risk What they are doing What is happening to them Why ? What we can do about it Marvin Krank Director of PATH Research Group Okanagan University College

2. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Project on Adolescent Trajectories and Health (PATH) Goals Goals –Predict transitions to risky behaviours –Understand causes of these transitions –Describe the outcomes of risk taking in young people –Develop new and more effective prevention programs and policies

3. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Representative school sample A total of 794 students. A total of 794 students. Only 759 indicated which grade they were in. Only 759 indicated which grade they were in. 51% females and 49% males. 51% females and 49% males. Grade SevenNineEleven Male14212796 Female15792132

4. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 What they are doing Grades 7-11 are a time of increasing drugs and alcohol use, sex and violence Grades 7-11 are a time of increasing drugs and alcohol use, sex and violence These risk activities are interdependent These risk activities are interdependent –Alcohol use predicts other drug use –Alcohol use is associated with sex and violence

5. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Grades 7-11 are a time of significant transitions in alcohol use

6. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Intoxication is a big part of adolescent alcohol use

7. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Girls are still trying tobacco more than boys

8. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Marijuana experimentation grows during these years. These data are consistent with national trends.

9. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Other Drugs Percent of Students Ever Used MaleFemale 791179 Stimulants 2135.61115 Opiates 185.635 Club Drugs 21014.61217 Hallucinogens 61931.61630 Inhalants 814810138

10. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Club Drugs Percent of Students Ever Used Male Female 791179 Club drugs210140.61217 Crystal Meth1840.677 Ecstasy310121 19 GHB1660.658

11. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 A significant percentage of these youth used drugs and alcohol in the past week Male Female 791179 Alcohol8285865139 Drunk3214233624 Cigarettes061331716 Marijuana3253421523

12. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Drug and alcohol use are highly correlated 123456 1 Drank Alcohol -.707(**).381(**).221(**).535(**).333(**) 2 Got Drunk -.472(**).308(**).678(**).449(**) 3 Smoked Cigarettes -.376(*).517(**).414(**) 4 Used Stimulants -.371(**).458(**) 5 Used Marijuana -.568(**) 6 Used Hallucinogens -

13. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 General Bullying - Past Year Percent of Students Involved MaleFemale Victim5756 Aggressor6041

14. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Past year as victim of bullying or violence MaleFemale Physically harmed4625 Threatened4932 Bullied by Internet2019 Witness8380

15. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Specific Bullying – Past Year Percent of Students Victimized MaleFemale 791179 Physical 4945 163726 Verbal 576069496460 Threatened 9553 234432 Excluded 455062536869 Internet 152518112918

16. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Specific Bullying – Past Year Percent of Student Aggressors MaleFemale 791179 Physical 494455113023 Verbal 506380325453 Threatened 444365123134 Excluded 556679666469 Internet 172027102517

17. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Aggressor violence is related to alcohol use Drank Alcohol Never/ Infrequent Fairly Frequent Very Frequent Bullied61.57582 Physically Harmed 4352.559 Threatened Harm394965

18. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Victim violence is also somewhat related to alcohol use Drank Alcohol Never/ Infrequent Fairly Frequent Very Frequent Bullied61.57582 Physically Harmed 4352.559 Threatened Harm394965

19. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Violence and bullying summary Bullying is quite extensive in grades 7-11 Bullying is quite extensive in grades 7-11 Bullying takes many forms from exclusion to physical attacks Bullying takes many forms from exclusion to physical attacks Boys are more physical in their aggression, but girls are as affected Boys are more physical in their aggression, but girls are as affected Bullying is not the activity of a few “bullies” Bullying is not the activity of a few “bullies” Alcohol use interacts with aggressive behaviour and victimization. Alcohol use interacts with aggressive behaviour and victimization.

20. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 What are the consequences of drug and alcohol use Greater number of health problems Greater number of health problems More problem behaviours More problem behaviours

21. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Health outcomes: Percentage of Symptoms Drank Alcohol Seldom/ Never About once a month About once a week 2 or more days a week Maladies4032157 Physician712341 Difficulty Sleeping 37251512

22. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Alcohol and health outcomes: Percentage of symptoms Drank Alcohol Seldom/ Never About once a month About once a week 2 or more days a week Maladies34321710 Physician692451 Difficulty Sleeping 31241814

23. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Why do our youth get into trouble: Alcohol and risky behaviors

24. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Percentage of Students Engaging in Problem Behaviours Gender MaleFemale Damaged property 2629 Carried a weapon in school 75 Carried a weapon out of school 1115 Stole at home 1517 Stole something outside of home 1816 Stayed out all night without parent permission 1922 Suspended in school 11 Suspended out of school 69 School detention 3230 Skipped school 2834 Ran away from home 79 Warned or detained by police 1112 In foster care 23

25. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 General problems and alcohol use Never More than a Year Ago In the Past Year In the Past Month In the Past Week Skipped school 2015313847 Stayed out all night without parent permission 1510252625 Damaged property 26 222932 Warned or detained by police 75111615 School detention 3121333231 Stole something outside of home 1210212021 Stole at home 1218201421

26. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Weapon carrying Drank alcohol Never More than a Year Ago In the Past Year In the Past Month In the Past Week In school2.5%10.3%9.4%5.4%8.1% Out of school9.2%12.8%16.5%12.8%18.0%

27. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Suspension and runaway Drank alcohol Never More than a Year Ago In the Past Year In the Past Month In the Past Week Suspended out of school75410 Suspended in school1215131011 Ran away from home7159117

28. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Summary Adolescence is time of significant transition to risk taking Adolescence is time of significant transition to risk taking Risks co-occur Risks co-occur Risk taking is associated with greater health involvement and problem behaviours Risk taking is associated with greater health involvement and problem behaviours

29. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Specific Recommendations 1. Develop early prevention programs targeting cognitive changes 2. Employ targeted prevention for specific problems 3. Employ intensive and targeted interventions for high-risk individuals Programs should be memorable and evidence- based Programs should be memorable and evidence- based Programs should be evaluated and redesigned based on experience. Programs should be evaluated and redesigned based on experience.

30. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Our research suggests that prevention should Age and stage appropriate Age and stage appropriate –Speak to kids where they are –Tailor the message to the audience Provide positive information and alternatives Provide positive information and alternatives –Safe competing activities –Alternative coping behaviours Protect teens from misleading messages Protect teens from misleading messages –Inoculate –Challenge

31. November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 How to talk to your kids Listening first Listening first Four principles Four principles –Be understanding and try to see things from their perspective “That must be difficult” –Present facts contrary to what they might be told “Did you know that marijuana interferes with males sex hormones” –Don’t confront or challenge work around the issue –Be supportive and positive about your child “You can do it” Be prepared and tell the truth – www.nida.nih.gov Be prepared and tell the truth – www.nida.nih.gov www.nida.nih.gov