survey says: underage drinking declines

Several students from Penn North and Central participated in a Town Hall-style press conference last week that revealed teenagers in upper Bucks County say they receive more support from family, friends and schools, and therefore, engage less often in risky behaviors such as smoking, drinking and using drugs.

That news was gratifying to Lee Rush, executive director of justCommunity, a non-profit organization that promotes youth development. For the past decade, Rush has been gathering data about how youngsters view the world around them and how those perceptions translate into how they behave.

“The use of alcohol is at the lowest rate since we started,” said Rush. “For the first time, we’re below the national average.”

Penn North eighth grader Micah Stutzman told The Intelligencer the survey proves that a majority of students do not drink.
"Everybody thinks that every kid drinks," he said. "We want to get themessage out that not many do."

Micah said he will be among a number of Penn North students who soon will be starting a marketing campaign to address teen drinking. The campaign will include posters and various school activities designed to "send a positive message about the alternatives to drinking," according to Penn North science teacher Jim Connolly.

North eight grader Kelly Wolff said she is excited to show everyone else what the survey unveiled.

"It opened my mind to different things," she said.

The information was contained in a “Student Support Card” developed by the Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth Coalition. Data was collected last fall in an anonymous survey of nearly 3,000 8th, 10th, and 12th graders at Pennridge, Palisades and Quakertown high school.

The 156-question survey, developed by the Search Institute and used nationwide to collect data about youth behavior, measures two broad areas: the number of Developmental Assets youngsters say they possess and the risky behaviors – drinking, smoking, using drugs and sexual activity – they engage in.

According to the survey, there are several reasons to celebrate
• A 23-percent reduction in the number of 12th graders who said they consumed alcohol in the previous 30 days;
• A 42-percent reduction in the number of 12th graders who said they used tobacco in the previous 30 days;
• A 33-percent reduction in the number of 8th graders who said they engaged in binge drinking – defined as consuming five or more drinks in one sitting – in the previous two weeks;
• A 28-percent reduction in the number of 12th graders and a 57-percent reduction in the number of 8th graders who said they smoked marijuana in the previous 30 days.

However, the study pointed out some areas of ongoing concern:
• After seeing a steady decrease in the number of 8th and 10th graders who said they drank alcohol, there has been a leveling off in both age groups;
• 166 members of the Class of 2010 said they have driven a car after drinking within the last year – 55 seniors said they have driven after drinking three of more times in the last year;
• 8 percent of the Class of 2010 (222 students) said they have used a prescription drug that was not prescribed for them by a doctor.
• 10 percent of those surveyed said they have tried to kill themselves at least once, and 4 percent have made two or more attempts.

Rush said the survey results once again confirmed the link between Developmental Assets and risky behavior. Stated simply, the more assets youngsters feel they receive, the more likely they are to avoid risky behavior.

For example, among students who said they have 30 or more assets, only 4 percent drink alcohol. Conversely, among the students who said they have between zero and 10 assets, 54 percent drink.

“It’s like getting an inoculation to avoid getting sick,” he said. “It’s an amazing protection factor.”

Since the survey started in 2002, 33 of the 40 asset categories have increased, 3 have decreased and 4 have remained the same. The total number of assets possessed by youth has increased from 17.5 to 19.1 while the percentage of students who said they possess between 21 and 30 assets has climbed from 27 percent to 34 percent.

“It’s all about relationships,” said Rush. “You never know how the way you interact with a youngster might affect their decisions. The power of relationships is unbelievable.”

While Dr. Thomas Rutter, principal at Pennridge Central Middle School, was encouraged by the results of the survey, he said educators must continuously fight complacency in the schools and community.

"As a school district we focus considerable attention on the harmful effects of risky behaviors such as drinking, smoking, and using illicit drugs," said Rutter. "Nothing in a curriculum, however, will mean more than sustained positive relationships formed between young people and adults in any community when the 40 Assets are intentionally fostered. Hopefully, this positive trend in Asset growth will continue in the Pennridge community. “