PRIDE Survey

Parent Resource Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE)

SURVEY REPORT

321 Walker Drive, Suite 302 Warrenton, VA 20186 fauquier-mha.org 540-341-8732

WITH FUNDING FROM

The Mental Health Association of Fauquier County has been implementing this survey since 1990; it gives an inside look into the substance use and mental health trends for students in 6th to 12th grade in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties.

What is the PRIDE Survey?

Some questions asked include age of first use for various substances; factors that increase risk and/or protection for youth; how they perceive the dangers of substances; when, where, and how substances are used and accessed; school safety; and feelings of anxiety and depression.

4,274

students surveyed Equal male to female ratio

What substances are youth using?

alcohol

e-cigarettes

Percentage of students who reported using monthly

marijuana

any illicit drug

tobacco/cigarettes

inhalants or prescription drugs 0.0%

Average ages of first use from 6th through 12th grade

(of the students who reported using at least one substance)

Prescription Drugs 12.4 years old

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

Marijuana

Alcohol

13 years old

12.4 years old

12.0%

When and Where are Youth Using?

Where are students vaping?

Where do students use alcohol?

2.5%

2.5%

2.0%

2.0%

6.0%

1.5%

1.5%

4.0%

1.0%

1.0%

0.5%

0.5%

0.0%

0.0%

10.0% 8.0%

2.0%

ot he r

a ca r fri en d' sh ou se

in

at ho m e

ot he r

0.0%

at ho m e at sc ho ol in a fri ca en r d' sh ou se

in

ot he r

3.0%

a ca r fri en d' sh ou se

3.0%

at sc ho ol

3.5%

at ho m e

3.5%

at sc ho ol

Where do students use marijuana?

Most use is occurring on the weekends but there are spikes for the afterschool time period. Knowing these patterns can help parents, teachers, and administrators design programming to address the times and places of use.

In all cases, student substance use is higher when not in school.

Where Are Youth Getting Substances?

Sources of Tobacco for grades 6-8

61%

Friend 13% Tobacco Store

26%

Sources of E-Cigarette products grades 6-8

63%

37%

Other Person

22% Family Member

Sources of E-Cigarette products grades 9-12

63%

Friend

Friend

22% Vape Shop

Family Member

19% Family Member

PROTECTIVE FACTORS Effective prevention focuses on reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors that are most closely related to the problem being addressed. Protective factors are characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of negative outcomes or that reduce a risk factor’s impact. Protective factors may be seen as positive countering events.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

makes good grades attends church or synagogue

Percent of students who responded:

takes part in community activities takes part in school activities

OFTEN or A LOT

teachers talk about the dangers of drugs parents talk about the dangers of drugs 0%

20%

40%

Students were asked if they perceive each substance as no risk, slight risk, moderate risk, or great risk. This chart details the percentages of those who answered Great Risk.

80%

PERCEPTION OF RISK MAJOR TAKEAWAY:

Opioids to get high Cigarettes (1 or more packs a day) E-Cigarettes Alcohol (1 - 2 drinks every day) 80%

60%

Marijuana 1-2x week

71% of Seniors believe daily use of cigarettes poses a great risk while only 25% see weekly use of marijuana as a great risk.

60%

40%

20%

0%

6th grade

12th grade

Students’ perception of the risks associated with substance use is an important determinant of whether they engage in substance use. The less harmful a substance is perceived over time, the higher the rates of use typically become.

(National Institutes of Health)

In my school, I feel safe...

In the Classroom

In the Halls

In the Bathroom

40.0%

35.0%

30.0%

30.0%

25.0%

30.0%

25.0% 20.0%

20.0%

15.0%

15.0%

10.0%

lo t a

of te n

ne ve r

a

so m et im es

ne ve r

so m et im es

0.0%

lo t

0.0%

of te n

5.0%

lo t

5.0%

a

of te n

so m et im es

se ld om

ne ve r

0.0%

10.0%

se ld om

10.0%

se ld om

20.0%

The majority of students feel safe at school. However, the ones who do not feel safe help identify areas of concern for school administrators to take notice.

Not feeling safe at school can increase absenteeism, disengagement, and the risk for mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression.

In the past year, while at school...

Have you had a student threaten to hit, slap, or kick you?

80.0%

Have you been afraid a student may hurt you?

80.0%

60.0%

100.0% 80.0%

60.0%

40.0%

Have you been threatened or embarrassed by someone using the Internet or a cell phone to post mean messages or photos of you?

60.0%

40.0%

40.0% 20.0% 0.0%

3

tim es

or m or e

tim es 25

tim e on e

on e

tim e 25 3 tim or m es or e tim es

0.0%

ne ve r

tim or es m or e tim es

3

25

tim e

on e

ne ve r

0.0%

20.0%

ne ve r

20.0%

Anxiety, Depression, and Suicide During the past 12 months, did you ever think to yourself...

“I wish I were dead.”

26% of students said yes

WHAT STRESSES KIDS OUT?

HOW DO YOUTH HANDLE STRESS?

62% school work 30%

53% sleep 47% talk to someone

family

23% extracurricular activities 22% friends

Friend

29%

37% exercise, journal, hobby 23% eat, shop, gamble If you were dealing with intense feelings of sadness, depression, anxiety, or wanting to hurt yourself, with whom would you talk about your concerns?

Parent or Relative

27%

No one

20%

Counselor

12%

Teacher

Pastor, Preacher, or Clergy

5%

4%

Coach or Youth Leader

3%

Key Findings Substance use is down!

85% of students DO NOT use alcohol, compared to 76% in 2019 94% DO NOT use marijuana, compared to 88% in 2019.

93% DO NOT use e-cigarettes, compared to 81% in 2019.

Even though overall substance use is down, annual use by females of alcohol, marijuana, and e-cigarettes has surpassed males.

After school is a risk time period for student substance use. Use is usually occurring in their homes. Older students are also using at friends’ houses.

Parents and other adults need to talk to youth about substance use, mental health, and how to get help. Only 11% of students reported their parents talk to them about the problems of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use “a lot.”

Students’ perception about the harm of e-cigarettes and marijuana is changing.

Although students perceive opioids and cigarettes as harmful, that same perception doesn’t apply to other substances, like marijuana.

Risk and Protective Factors: Fewer students are participating in sports and extracurriculars which may increase their risk.

Youth are turning to friends and parents for help. But 1 in 5 students feel they have no one to turn to.

The majority of students feel safe at school. But there are students who never feel safe; the bathroom, halls, school bus, and parking lot had higher levels of perceived risk.

WHY ARE WE SO CONCERNED? Substance use disorders are pediatric onset diseases.

The earlier a child is exposed to substances, the greater their chances of becoming addicted later in life.

90% of adults with substance use disorder began drinking, smoking, or using drugs before age 18.

Early initiation of substance use can have lasting adverse effects on brain function.

The brain isn’t fully developed until around age 25. Throughout high school and young adulthood, students’ brains are changing and developing. It means that the developing brain is uniquely vulnerable to anything that negatively affects it.

All Drug Use is Related Teens who have used any one substance -alcohol, marijuana, or nicotine -- in the last month are more likely to have used the other two, and other illicit drugs, compared to their peers that have not used any substances.

Source: One Choice Prevention

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? AT HOME Nurture your relationship with your child by talking often and practicing active listening. Many little talks may be more effective than one big talk.

Discuss substance use and give your child accurate facts about the associated health risks.

Model Healthy Behaviors. If your response to stress, joy, and social situations always or often include substance use, add alternative strategies to show kids a healthier way.

Pay attention to the messages your words and behaviors send about substance use.

Establish expectations, set boundaries, and follow through with consequences. Reasonable limits are those that are respectful and appropriate and take into consideration age, circumstances, and capacity to be responsible.

Make explicit rules about no use of drugs and alcohol for reasons of health. Know the signs and symptoms of substance use and intervene at first signs of use.

AT SCHOOL

Post in a high traffic area a listing of who students can contact for certain situations, including an anonymous tip line, if you have one.

Schedule presentations for students about substance use and mental health concerns, including QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training.

If possible, provide various after school clubs and activities to combat that risk time period when kids are unsupervised and parents are at work.

Assure all school activities are committed to a drug-free environment, including sports teams and clubs.

Know the signs and symptoms. Make sure staff can identify students who may be at risk for substance use, and work with the family to get help. Encourage all staff to become certified in Mental Health First Aid. Implement evidence-based drug education and prevention campaigns.

IN THE COMMUNITY Encourage everyone in our community to become certified in Mental Health First Aid to help create a caring and informed community of individuals who know how to respond to substance use and mental health concerns, in crisis and non-crisis situations.

Join the Faith Community Wellness Council through Mental Health Fauquier to become involved in community conversations and complete Spiritual First Aid, which is mental health with a spiritual focus.

Facilitate dialogue about substance use in your community and prevention and treatment options.

Be intentional with the words you use regarding substance use. Help break the stigma that substance use only happens to certain types of people.

Provide the community with facts about the harmful effects of underage drinking and drug use. Being open and honest about the dangers can influence families to make safer decisions.

Consider hosting alcohol-free events to show that social situations can be fun without substances.

RESOURCES Power to the Parent gives facts, strategies, and information, as well a parent quiz, talking points, prom safety, and setting consequences. powertotheparent.org One Choice Prevention provides the 5 prevention basics that all parents and caring adults need to know to understand youth substance use. onechoiceprevention.org Partnership to End Addiction provides one-on-one help to address substance use through early action and prevention, and treatment and recovery. drugfree.org Substance-Free Athletics helps to create conversation around underage substance use to empower coaches and parents. substance-free-athletics.org

Call or text 988 Free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States Mental Health Virginia’s Peer Run Warm Line: 866-400-6428 Encompass Community Supports: 24/7 crisis services 540-825-5656

Visit fauquier-mha.org to sign up for a Mental Health First Aid class or a Spiritual First Aid cohort, register for Lunch & Learns, and access our Resource Guides.

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