State of Arizona youth survey 2002 |
Previous | 1 of 13 | Next |
|
This page
All
Subset |
Arizona Criminal Justice Commission
Statistical Analysis Center Publication
O u r mission is to sustain and enhance the coordination, cohesiveness, productivity and effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System in Arizona
State of Arizona Youth Survey
November
2002
ARIZONA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION
Vice Chairperson RALPH OGDEN Yuma County Sheriff JOSEPH ARPAIO Maricopa County Sheriff DAVID K. BYERS Administrative Office of the Courts, Director TONY ESTRADA Santa Cruz County Sheriff BARBARA LAWALL Pima County Attorney JANET NAPOLITANO Attorney General CHARLES L. RYAN Department of Corrections, Acting Director CARROL de BROEKERT Board of Executive Clemency Chairperson BILL FITZGERALD Yavapai County Adult Probation Officer J.T. McCANN Flagstaff Police Department, Chief ROBERT CARTER OLSON Pinal County Attorney JIM BOLES City of Winslow, Mayor CLARENCE DUPNIK Pima County Sheriff DENNIS GARRETT Department of Public Safety, Director RICHARD MIRANDA Tucson Police Department, Chief RICHARD M. ROMLEY Maricopa County Attorney CHRISTOPHER SKELLY Judge, Retired
MICHAEL D. BRANHAM Executive Director STEVE BALLANCE Statistical Analysis Center, Director DON THOMAS Senior Research Analyst JACKIE MINERO Research Analyst
Arizona Youth Survey Report 1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) would like to thank the Arizona Department of Health Services, Governor's Division of Drug and Gang Policy and the Southwest Prevention Center for their partnership in this project. Additionally, ACJC would like to thank the Arizona Drug and Gang Council Working Group, Arizona Department of Education, Arizona Prevention Resource Center and the Arizona Juvenile Justice Commission for their collaborative effort in taking our needs assessment to a higher level for the State of Arizona. The Statistical Analysis Center received support for this report from numerous state agencies and staff throughout the state. Special thanks to: Jean Ajamie, Arizona Department of Education Cheri Levenson, Arizona Department of Education Conny Holstein, Arizona Department of Health Services Richard Porter, Arizona Department of Health Services Steve Sparks, Arizona Department of Health Services Ed Feingold, Arizona Department of Public Safety Lieutenant James McGuffin, Arizona Department of Public Safety Wendy Wolfersteig, Arizona Prevention Resource Center Charles Katz, Arizona State University West Nancy Rodriguez, Arizona State University West Julie Dybas, Administrative Office of the Courts Elizabeth Eells, Administrative Office of the Courts Brenda Henderson, Governor's Division of Drug and Gang Policy Sheila Hoppe, Governor's Division of Drug and Gang Policy
Arizona Youth Survey Report 2
Table of Contents
Table of Figures and Table.................................................................................................. 4 Executive Summary...............................................................................................................6 Introduction...........................................................................................................................9 Survey Methods.................................................................................................................... 12
Survey Questionnaire................................................................................................................................................12 Completion Rate and Ability to Generalize the Results..................................................................................13 Selection of Statewide Survey Sample..................................................................................................................14 Survey Participants .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Survey Norms and Comparative Data.................................................................................................................16 Validity of the Data ..................................................................................................................................................16
Risk and Protective Factor Descriptions .......................................................................... 18
Community Risk Factors .......................................................................................................................................18 Family Risk Factors ..................................................................................................................................................20 School Risk Factors ..................................................................................................................................................21 Individual-Peer Risk Factors .................................................................................................................................21 Generalizations About Risks ................................................................................................................................. 22 Protective Factors .....................................................................................................................................................23
Survey Results .....................................................................................................................25 Drug, Antisocial Behavior, and School Safety Results ........................................................25
Total Student Use of ATODs............................................................................................................................... 25 Age of Initiation ........................................................................................................................................................28 ATOD Use by Gender ............................................................................................................................................30 Alcohol and Binge Drinking ..................................................................................................................................32 Smokeless Tobacco ..................................................................................................................................................35 Cigarettes .....................................................................................................................................................................37 Marijuana .....................................................................................................................................................................39 Inhalants ...................................................................................................................................................................41 Other Illicit Drugs: Hallucinogens, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Steroids, Heroin, Barbiturates, and Ecstasy .................................................................................................................43 Substance Abuse by Academic Grades ..............................................................................................................52 Perceived Availability of ATODs and Handguns ...........................................................................................54 Perceived Harmfulness ...........................................................................................................................................56 Antisocial Behavior ................................................................................................................................................... 58 Antisocial Behavior by Gender .............................................................................................................................61 School and Safety Issues .........................................................................................................................................63 About Risk and Protective Factors ......................................................................................................................65 How to Read the Risk and Protective Factor Charts...................................................................................... 67 Risk Factor Scores: Arizona 2002 ........................................................................................................................69 Protective Factor Scores: Arizona 2002 ............................................................................................................73
Risk and Protective Factor Results ....................................................................................65
2002 Adult Substance Use Survey .....................................................................................77 Findings ...............................................................................................................................85 Summary .............................................................................................................................90 APPENDIX A: 2002 Arizona Youth Survey .................................................................. 92 APPENDIX B: Item Construct Dictionary ..................................................................... 93
Arizona Youth Survey Report 3
Table of Figures and Tables
Executive Summary
Table 1: Arizona and National 30-Day and Lifetime ATOD Use...................................... 7
Survey Methods
Table 2: Arizona Youth Survey: 2002 Participation and Demographics ......................... 15
Survey Results
Drug, Antisocial Behavior, and School Safety Results Table 3: Total Arizona ATOD Use--30-Day and Lifetime.............................................. 26 Figure 1: Total Arizona 30-Day ATOD Use ....................................................................... 26 Figure 2: Total Arizona Lifetime ATOD Use .................................................................... 27 Table 4: Age of Initiation .................................................................................................... 29 Figure 3: 2002 Arizona Substance Use Age of Initiation .................................................. 29 Table 5: Usage of ATODs by Gender ................................................................................ 31 Figure 4: Arizona 30-Day and Lifetime ATOD Usage by Gender ................................... 31 Table 6: Alcohol Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ................................................................. 33 Figure 5: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Alcohol ................................................... 33 Table 7: Binge Drinking in the Last Two Weeks................................................................ 34 Figure 6: Arizona Rates of Student Binge Drinking .......................................................... 34 Table 8: Smokeless Tobacco Usage--30-Day and Lifetime............................................ 36 Figure 7: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Smokeless Tobacco ............................... 36 Table 9: Cigarettes Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ............................................................ 38 Figure 8: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Cigarettes ............................................... 38 Table 10: Marijuana Usage--30-Day and Lifetime............................................................ 40 Figure 9: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Marijuana ............................................... 40 Table 11: Inhalant Usage--30-Day and Lifetime .............................................................. 42 Figure 10: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Inhalants ............................................... 42 Table 12: LSD/Hallucinogens Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ......................................... 45 Figure 11: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Hallucinogens...................................... 45 Table 13: Methamphetamines Usage--30-Day and Lifetime .......................................... 46 Figure 12: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Methamphetamines............................. 46 Table 14: Cocaine Usage--30-Day and Lifetime .............................................................. 47 Figure 13: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Cocaine ................................................. 47 Table 15: Steroid Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ................................................................ 48 Figure 14: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Steroids................................................. 48 Table 16: Heroin Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ................................................................ 49 Figure 15: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Heroin .................................................. 49 Table 17: Barbiturates/Sedatives Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ..................................... 50 Figure 16: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Barbiturates/Sedatives........................ 50 Table 18: Ecstasy Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ............................................................... 51
Arizona Youth Survey Report 4
Figure 17: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Ecstasy ................................................. Table 19: Percentage Using ATODs by Academic Grade................................................ Figure 18: ATOD Use by Academic Grade ....................................................................... Table 20: Perceived Availability of ATODS and Guns ..................................................... Figure 19: Arizona and National Perceived Availability of ATODs ............................... Table 21: Perceived Harmfulness of ATODs .................................................................... Figure 20: Arizona and National Perceived Harmfulness of ATODs ............................. Table 22: The Prevalence of Delinquent Behavior, by Grade.......................................... Figure 21: Prevalence of Delinquent Behavior for Arizona Youth, by Grade ................. Table 23: Percentage of Male and Female Students Who Have Participated in Antisocial Behaviors At Least Once in the Past Year .................................................. Figure 22: Arizona 30-Day Antisocial Behavior by Gender .............................................. Table 24: Safety and School Issues..................................................................................... Figure 23: Safety and School Issues................................................................................... Risk and Protective Factors Table 25: 2002 Arizona Risk Factor Scores ........................................................................ Figure 24: Risk Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 8 Arizona Students................. Figure 25: Risk Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 10 Arizona Students ............... Figure 26: Risk Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 12 Arizona Students ............... Table 26: 2002 Arizona Protective Factor Scores .............................................................. Figure 27: Protective Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 8 Arizona Students ....... Figure 28: Protective Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 10 Arizona Students ...... Figure 29: Protective Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 12 Arizona Students ...... 2002 Adult Substance Use Survey Figure 30: Figure 31: Figure 32: Table 27: Table 28:
51 53 55 55 55 57 57 60 60 62 62 64 64
71 71 72 72 75 75 76 76
Percent of Arrestee's Testing Positive for Marijuana .......................................81 Percent of Arrestee's Testing Positive for Cocaine ...........................................81 Percent of Arrestee's Testing Positive for Methamphetamine ......................82 Maricopa County Testing Positive by Gender for All Offenses........................82 Pima County Testing Positive by Gender for All Offenses................................82
Arizona Youth Survey Report 5
Executive Summary
Arizona Revised Statute 41-2416 requires that the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission conduct a statewide survey to "measure both the attitudes and the actual prevalence and frequency of substance abuse by children and adults." This report is produced to fulfill these requirements. To comply with Arizona Revised Statute 41-2416 the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission's Statistical Analysis Center conducted both a youth and adult assessment and evaluation. First, a survey was administered in a statewide sample of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in public schools throughout Arizona. The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission has been conducting a youth survey for twelve years on a biennial basis; however, notable improvements in the survey model, sampling methods and increased collaboration distinguish the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey from prior surveys. Second, a study of adult drug use based upon adults involved in the criminal justice system was conducted by the Statistical Analysis Center. The Arizona Youth Survey was conducted by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission with technical assistance from the Southwest Center of Prevention at the University of Oklahoma. The Arizona Youth Survey is the result of a partnership between the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Governor's Division of Drug Policy. Further, the development and implementation of the survey is a product of ongoing meetings by state agencies participating in the discussion and evaluation of current statewide surveys over the past two years. The successful implementation of the Arizona Youth Survey can also be attributed to collaborative efforts from the Arizona Prevention Resource Center and the Arizona Department of Education. Finally, the overwhelming cooperation of local school administrators directly contributed to the success of the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey. The survey was administered from January through February 2002 in Arizona public and private schools. A random sample drawn from the 15 counties resulted in a total of 12,203 valid surveys from 59 individual schools. This report provides a statewide perspective, however, for the first time, participating schools and county officials will receive community specific data in the form of individual reports to assist in analysis and comparison, as well as for planning strategies and program development. Due to enhancements made in ACJC's methodology for the 2002 survey, we must caution against comparisons to past survey results, however, it is noteworthy that alcohol is still the most common substance used by Arizona students. In the past month, 46.4% of students have used alcohol, and 69.2% of students have used alcohol in their lifetime. Cigarette use traditionally the second most used substance for youth and adults is the third most used by Arizona youth. While regular (30-day) cigarette use is usually higher than marijuana use, results from the survey indicate that more Arizona youth have used marijuana in the past month than have used cigarettes (20.5% compared to 16.5%). Such a shift in past month use, may suggest future directions for Arizona prevention efforts. Other unexpected results are seen in comparing male and female use. While males have generally tended to have higher use rates of substances, the survey shows that Arizona females actually have higher use rates of alcohol (30-day and lifetime use), cigarettes (30-day and lifetime use), inhalants
Arizona Youth Survey Report 6
(30-days), heroin (30-days), methamphetamines (lifetime) and ecstasy (lifetime). In the case of Arizona, we see that an increase in prevention efforts directed towards females could be beneficial. A comparison of the Arizona Youth Survey and the National Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey is a measure for assessing current substance abuse and risk behaviors of Arizona youth. While students in the national sample tended to experiment with drugs more, and generally had higher lifetime use of most drugs except smokeless tobacco and marijuana, Arizona youth generally had somewhat higher regular/past month use rates of nearly all substances alcohol, marijuana, inhalants, hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates and ecstasy. Complete results can be seen in the table below.
Table 1
Arizona and National Lifetime Use 8th Grade
Arizona National 50.5% 36.6% 11.7% 20.4% 17.1% 4.0% 4.3% 4.4% 2.8% 1.7% -5.2%
10th Grade
Arizona 72.3% 49.8% 23.2% 41.6% 10.4% 8.3% 8.2% 6.8% 2.7% 3.2% 5.7% 8.2% National 70.1% 52.8% 19.5% 40.1% 15.2% 7.8% 5.7% 6.4% 3.5% 1.7% -8.0%
12th Grade
Arizona 80.8% 61.1% 24.1% 50.8% 10.1% 12.6% 12.0% 8.6% 2.7% 3.8% 7.4% 12.0% National 79.7% 61.0% 19.7% 49.0% 13.0% 12.8% 8.2% 6.9% 3.7% 1.8% 8.7% 11.7%
Alcohol Cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco Marijuana Inhalants Hallucinogens Cocaine Methamphetamines Steroids Heroin Sedatives Ecstasy
56.9% 39.6% 25.9% 26.6% 11.9% 2.4% 4.5% 2.9% 2.2% 1.9% 2.1% 5.5%
Arizona and National 30-Day Use 8th Grade
Arizona National 21.5% 12.2% 4.0% 9.2% 4.0% 1.2% 1.2% 1.3% 0.7% 0.6% -1.8%
10th Grade
Arizona 47.9% 18.1% 4.7% 22.4% 3.4% 3.2% 3.5% 2.6% 1.5% 1.4% 2.6% 2.5% National 39.0% 21.3% 6.9% 19.8% 2.4% 2.1% 1.3% 1.5% 0.9% 0.3% -2.6%
12th Grade
Arizona 58.9% 23.2% 5.9% 25.4% 2.0% 3.1% 4.0% 2.2% 0.9% 1.3% 3.4% 3.2% National 49.8% 29.5% 7.8% 22.4% 1.7% 3.2% 2.1% 1.5% 1.3% 0.4% 2.8% 2.8%
Alcohol Cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco Marijuana Inhalants Hallucinogens Cocaine Methamphetamines Steroids Heroin Sedatives Ecstasy
34.4% 9.1% 4.0% 14.3% 6.5% 1.5% 2.6% 1.0% 1.2% 1.2% 1.0% 3.6%
The greatest differences in 30-day use are seen when looking at the use of alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Past month use of alcohol is notably higher for Arizona youth than for youth nationwide. The Arizona Youth Survey results, when compared to the national MTF results, show that for all grades, more Arizona students have used alcohol in the past month than have students in the national sample. Past month use was 8.9% to 12.9% higher for youth in Arizona than for youth in the national sample. Arizona 8th grade students' 30-day alcohol use rate was 12.9% higher than the national sample (34.4% compared to 21.5%), Arizona 10th graders' use rate was 8.9% higher than the national sample (47.9% compared to 39.0%) and Arizona 12th graders' use rate was 9.1% higher than the national sample (58.9% compared to 49.8%).
Arizona Youth Survey Report 7
More Arizona youth than national youth are using marijuana experimentally. Arizona 30-day and lifetime usage rates of marijuana are higher than national rates for 8th, 10 th and 12 th grades. Rates of 30-day usage are 2.6% (grade 10) to 5.1% (grade 8) higher for Arizona youth than for the national sample. For lifetime usage, Arizona rates were 1.5% (grade 10) to 6.2% (grade 8) higher than national students. As for cocaine use, while the use for Arizona youth and MTF youth is relatively low in comparison to other substances, it appears that Arizona youth are using cocaine more than students nationwide. In comparing Arizona results to MTF results, past month and lifetime use rates are higher for Arizona youth in all grades. Similarly, the lifetime use of Ecstasy is above the national average for all grades and more than double in the 30-day use of 8th grade students. An explanation for this difference in use could possibly be gathered by comparing Arizona and national rates of perceived harmfulness of substances. When students were asked how much of a risk (health and otherwise) there was in using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, students in Arizona generally believed that there is less risk in using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) than students nationwide. The greatest difference is seen in the perceived harm of smoking marijuana regularly. For all grades of the Arizona students surveyed, there was a perception that marijuana was less harmful than was the perception of their national counterparts. Such results could potentially explain the higher experimental and lifetime marijuana use rate for Arizona youth, since students who are not afraid of using substances, and who believe they will not be harmed by using substances, tend to use substances more than students who perceive harm in using a substance. It could be beneficial for prevention programs to increase the focus on the harmful effects of drugs. The analysis of the data obtained from the survey is quite extensive and therefore the results are not intended to be exhaustive. Rather, it is believed that the data and highlights contained within this report will provide insights for future decisions pertaining to the well being of Arizona youth. Specifically, the purpose of the Arizona Youth Survey is to provide policy and decision makers with better information to aid in the development of prevention and intervention strategies throughout the state.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 8
Introduction
This report describes the findings of a survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in the state of Arizona. The survey was sponsored by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. Arizona Revised Statute 41-2416 requires that the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) conduct a statewide survey to "measure both the attitudes and the actual prevalence and frequency of substance abuse by children and adults." This report has been created to fulfill this requirement. The Arizona Youth Survey was conducted by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission with technical assistance from the Southwest Center of Prevention at the University of Oklahoma. The Arizona Youth Survey is the result of a partnership between the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the Governor's Division of Drug Policy. This report describes the conduct and findings of the 2002 survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in Arizona. The survey data was collected January through February in Arizona public and private schools. Further, the development and coordination of the survey is a product of ongoing meetings by state agencies participating in the discussion and evaluation of current statewide surveys over the past two years. The successful implementation of the Arizona Youth Survey can also be attributed to collaborative efforts from the Arizona Prevention Resource Center and the Arizona Department of Education. Finally, the overwhelming cooperation of local school administrators directly contributed to the success of the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey. It is important to note that in Arizona, there is consensus on the need to provide both services and data in a collaborative manner. There is agreement by the Arizona Drug and Gang Council and Working Group (representing twelve state agencies) and the Arizona Juvenile Justice Commission that the Arizona Youth Survey, the Social Indicators and the Program Inventory should be instruments adopted by the state for the future collection of data on youth, families, communities, and programs. The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission made a decision to change the substance abuse survey instrument to a stronger model that would also benefit multiple agencies in the state. The Arizona Youth Survey, based upon the Communities that Care model, is supported by numerous state agencies and has national recognition. The Communities that Care (CTC) model is based upon a comprehensive prevention model developed by J. David Hawkins, Ph.D. and Richard F. Catalano, Ph.D. at the University of Washington. The CTC model identifies "the factors that in-
Arizona Youth Survey Report 9
crease and mitigate the likelihood of delinquent involvement and other dysfunctional behaviors. The model emphasizes the need for community-wide efforts to ameliorate those risk factors." (OJJDP, 1995). Risk and protective focused prevention is based on a simple premise: to prevent a problem from happening, we need to identify the factors that increase the risk of that problem developing and then find ways to reduce the risks. The substance abuse prevention field has been evolving over time, often through induction based upon applied empirical research. The science-based theories and theoretical frameworks in substance abuse prevention and programming in recent years are among the most important developments. The focus has been on risk and protective factors as a unifying descriptive and predictive framework for development and evaluation of prevention programs. Substance abuse prevention programs aim to deter the onset of risky activities, such as alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, by changing the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of people. To have an impact, a person's environment needs to be affected. The environmental areas consist of four domains most commonly referred to as the individual and/or peer group, the family, the community, and school. Within each domain are key characteristics that can serve to suppress risk and/or augment protection. These characteristics are referred to as risk and protective factors. Knowing the prevalence of risk and protective factors helps implement programs that have objectives, strategies and funding geared to meeting individual, family, school and community needs (Arizona Drug and Gang Prevention Resource Center, 1999). The ACJC has had a long history of state substance abuse evaluations. In previous years, to collect substance use information throughout Arizona, the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission's Statistical Analysis Center conducted two separate evaluations. First, a survey was administered in a statewide sample of public schools. Teachers working in the selected schools administered the survey to students in grades three through twelve. The Commission conducted that survey for twelve years on a biennial basis. Second, Commission staff talked with adult probation officers about adult probationer drug use by conducting three group interviews across the state. Although quality information has been gathered in previous surveys, any comparison of survey data with previous studies is problematic due to the limitations of the sampling and weighting methods used in prior years as well as the difference in the model
Arizona Youth Survey Report 10
used. For this reason, no formal analysis was conducted between previous evaluations and this study. The Arizona Youth Survey was administered in January and February of 2002. School principals and teachers were provided detailed instructions for administering the survey. Students' anonymity was emphasized and facilitated through the provision of blank cover sheets to conceal answers while completing the survey. Upon completion, all surveys were returned and electronically scanned by an outside vendor, the Southwest Prevention Center at the University of Oklahoma. This report is organized into five sections: 1. Survey Methods, which describes how the survey was conducted, who participated, and procedures that were used to ensure that valid information was collected. 2. Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Abuse and Other Youth Problems, which provides a description of the risk and protective factor model of substance abuse prevention, including the four domains of risk and protection (community, family, school, and peer/individual). 3. Survey Results, which has two sub-sections. The first presents drug, anti-social and school safety results data on recent and lifetime use of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) among Arizona's youth. The second presents risk factor scores and protective factor scores. These results are often compared to the results of a national survey, Monitoring the Future. 4. 2002 Adult Substance Abuse survey, which provides summary information from Probation Departments throughout the state, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and from the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) project. 5. Survey Findings, which fully summarize the results and conclusions of the report.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 11
Survey Methods
Information was gathered using the Arizona Youth Survey (Appendix A). The goal of the survey was to develop a tool which provided scientifically sound information about the levels of risk and protection in a community. The information gathered on youth drug use and delinquency is essential in supporting prevention planning, intervention planning, and needs assessment at the local and state levels. Risk factors are those conditions or situations that increase the likelihood that a child will develop one or more health and/or behavior problems in adolescence. Protective factors are the conditions or situations which decrease the likelihood of future behavior problems. Risk and protective factors are found in four domains -- community, school, family, and the peer/individual. There are 18 risk factors and 10 protective factors measured through the Arizona survey, and the survey uses 24 risk factor scales and 9 protective factor scales to measure them. The remainder of this section will discuss the survey questionnaire, how it was administered, the demographics of participants, completion rates, and the ability to generalize the results to other populations.
Risk Factors increase the likelihood that a child will develop one or more health and/or behavior problems.
Protective Factors are conditions or situations which decrease the likelihood of future behavior problems.
Survey Questionnaire
The survey questionnaire was developed through the combined efforts of six states and the Social Development Research Group at the University of Washington. The collaborative survey development process was a Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) project called the Six-State Consortium. The goal of the Consortium was to develop a survey that provided scientifically sound information about the levels of risk and protection in a community. The survey has been further refined through the Diffusion Consortium Project that involves seven states and is funded by four federal agencies: the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and CSAP. Risk and protective factors are characteristics of a community that are reported by the youth who complete the survey. Besides measuring risk and protective factors, the survey also assesses the current prevalence of ATOD use. The substances that are measured by the survey include: 1) alcohol; 2) cigarettes; 3) smokeless tobacco; 4) marijuana ; 5) hallucinogens; 6) cocaine;
Arizona Youth Survey Report 12
7) inhalants; 8) methamphetamines; 9) barbiturates; 10) heroin; 11) ecstasy; and 12) steroids. The questions that ask about substance use are similar to those used in the national survey, Monitoring the Future (MTF), so comparisons between the two surveys can easily be made. There are a total of 18 risk factors and 10 protective factors that are measured by the survey. However, some of the risk factors are broad enough to require more than one scale for adequate measurement. As a result, there are 24 separate risk factor scales and 9 protective factor scales. There are approximately four survey items that measure each risk factor. Reliability for the constructs is good (the average value for Cronback's was alpha = .79). The questionnaire has 124 questions, however, many of the questions have multiple components so students actually responded to a total of 198 items. The questions were printed in a test booklet that was machine scoreable. See Appendix A for a copy of the questionnaire. Students from all grades could easily complete the questionnaire in one class period. A complete item dictionary that lists the risk and protective factor scales and the items they contain as well as the outcome variables can be seen in Appendix B.
Completion Rate and Ability to Generalize the Results
Not all Arizona students participated in the survey. Some students individually chose not to participate, some students' parents refused to give consent for them to participate, and some students were absent on the day the survey was administered. A weighted sample of 12,909 surveys was selected from the total survey pool (see Selection of Statewide Survey Sample section on page 14 for information on sampling and weighting procedures). This is a very high completion rate for a school survey and resulted in an adequate number of students for analysis. It should be noted that not all of the surveys that were completed contained valid information. Some (706) were eliminated because students were deemed not truthful in their responses, or did not complete some of the questions (see Validity of the Data section on page 16 for the validity criteria).
Arizona Youth Survey Report 13
Selection of Statewide Survey Sample
The purpose of the survey was to gather information that could be used by participating schools, the counties, and the state. In order to have a sample of students that was representative of all of the students in Arizona, careful attention was paid to sample selection. First, the schools in Arizona were divided into three groups according to size: small, medium and large. Then, a random sample from each group was chosen to assure representation of students in the small rural schools, middle sized schools, and large metropolitan schools. Because this procedure resulted in over-sampling some areas of the state, a weighting procedure was used to weight the results to more accurately represent the student composition in the three grades: eight, ten and twelve; and the 15 counties. Thus, careful selection of the schools that were sampled and uniform administration of the survey resulted in survey data that are valid and representative of the students in grades 8, 10, and 12 in Arizona's 15 counties. In general, the statewide sample was chosen so that those conducting the survey were 95% confident that the margin of error was less than 1.5% for each grade. For the counties, the overall sample of students was chosen to produce a margin of error of less than 5% at the 95% confidence level. In addition to the statewide sample discussed above, all of the schools in Arizona were given the opportunity to participate in the survey. Schools that chose to participate were provided reports in which their data were compared to that of the overall statewide sample. However, none of the data from the volunteer schools were used in the statewide analysis.
Survey plans called for participation of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade Arizona students. Fortythree Arizona school districts participated in the survey, which is a very high rate of participation for a voluntary school survey. A total sample of 12,909 surveys were sampled from the surveys returned to SWCAPT for scoring and analysis. A total of 12,203 students turned in valid surveys.
Survey Participants
The goal was to sample students in grades 8, 10, and 12 in the state of Arizona. The randomly selected sample, and weighted results ensure that the survey results reported here are a good estimate of the rates of ATOD use and levels of risk and protective factors of youth in the state of Arizona. At the school level, the results provide specific information about the problems faced by youth, and about areas of risk and protection for the school. The survey results are an excellent tool for community and school prevention planning.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 14
Of 2002 survey participants, 50.7% were female and 49.3% were male; 51.8% were Caucasian and 30.3% were Hispanic.
The characteristics of the youth who took the survey are presented in Table 2 below. In comparing the sample characteristics to Arizona student enrollment data gathered from the Arizona Department of Education website, some similarities between the sample and Arizona student enrollment figures can be seen. Such similarities provide more assurance that the data gathered through the Arizona Youth Survey is representative of the state as a whole. For example, in the 2002 survey, there were nearly an equal number of males and females who took the survey in all grades (female = 50.7% and males = 49.3%), while the Department of Education website found similar percentages for Arizona (female = 48.8% and males = 51.2%). Of the respondents, 51.8% were White and 30.3% were Hispanic (similar to the Department of Education website findings -- 56.8% white and 29.7% Hispanic). The other ethnic groups accounted for 17.9% of the respondents. Table 2 also shows that English is the primary language spoken in 82.1% of homes. (Arizona student enrollment data gathered from the Arizona Department of Education website--http://www.ade.state.az.us).
Table 2
Arizona Youth Survey: 2002 Participation and Demographics
Grade 8 Gender Male Female Ethnicity White African-American Hispanic Asian/Pac. Islander Native American Other Language Spoken at Home English Spanish Other Home Structure Both Parents Step-family Mother Only Father Only Other
49.1% 50.9% 40.9% 3.8% 35.8% 1.5% 15.2% 2.8% 79.6% 17.8% 2.6% 55.8% 0.3% 31.9% 6.0% 6.1%
Grade 10
49.0% 51.0% 55.1% 1.9% 30.1% 2.0% 8.0% 2.9% 81.5% 15.6% 2.8% 57.0% 0.1% 30.9% 6.5% 5.4%
Grade 12
50.0% 50.0% 57.2% 1.9% 25.7% 2.9% 9.1% 3.3% 85.0% 11.8% 3.2% 57.4% 0.2% 28.7% 6.7% 7.0%
Total
49.3% 50.7% 51.8% 2.4% 30.3% 2.2% 10.3% 3.0% 82.1% 15.0% 2.9% 56.8% 0.2% 30.5% 6.4% 6.1%
Arizona Youth Survey Report 15
Survey questions, measurements, and protocol for the Arizona Youth Survey and the MTF surveys are similar, making comparisons possible.
Survey Norms and Comparative Data
It is important to know how results from Arizona students are compared to other national comparison data. The 2002 Arizona Youth Survey data are compared throughout this report to the national Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey data from 2001. State results from the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades are compared to national results from the same grades. The survey is conducted annually through the University of Michigan, and is designed to provide ATOD use information on a sample of students representative of the United States as a whole. The survey questions, measurements, and protocol for both the Arizona Youth Survey and the MTF surveys are similar, making the comparisons valid. More information on the Monitoring the Future survey and survey results can be found at http://www.monitoringthefuture.org.
Validity of the Data
The information presented in this report is based entirely on the truthfulness, recall, and comprehension of the youth who participated in the survey. Many studies have shown that most adolescents are truthful in their responses to the questions on similar surveys. For example, ATOD trends for repeated national and state surveys are very similar. Also, the changes reported by youth parallel the changes during the same period in adolescent admissions to treatment for substance abuse. Finally, the relationships between different kinds of behaviors and the problems adolescents report is very consistent over a wide range of studies. This study was carefully designed to ensure honest responses from participants. The confidentiality of the survey was stressed through the instructions and administration procedures. Participants were assured that the survey was voluntary, anonymous, and confidential. They were told that no one would see their answers and that there was no way that a survey could be traced back to an individual student. Because the survey was anonymous, most of the reasons to exaggerate or deny behaviors were eliminated. However, several checks were built into the analysis to minimize
Arizona Youth Survey Report 16
the impact of students who were not truthful in their responses. Students whose surveys were deemed not truthful were eliminated. There were a total of 12,909 survey questionnaires in the sample. However, not all of the sampled questionnaires contained valid information. Seven hundred (700 or 5.42%) of the surveys were eliminated from the final analyses because they reported an impossibly high level of substance use, claimed to use a nonexistent drug, or reported that they were, "Not honest at all" in completing the survey. After these invalid surveys were taken out of the sample, there were 6 (.049%) surveys that were blank or that students did not answer enough of the validity questions to determine whether or not they were honest in their responses. These surveys were not included in the final analyses. This resulted in a total of 706 (5.47%) questionnaires that were eliminated from most analyses. A total of 12,203 valid surveys are included in the final analyses reported here. Other measures to reduce response bias included carefully pretesting the questionnaire to ensure that students understood the meaning of each question, using a well developed and tested administration protocol, and reading the same instructions to all students who participated in the survey.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 17
Risk and Protective Factor Descriptions
In the past century, doctors have discovered factors that put people at risk for things such as heart disease and diabetes, and factors that prevent them from such conditions. The Risk and Protective Factor model discussed here, follows the same model for prevention for our communities' children. Risk-focused prevention is based on a simple premise: to prevent a problem from happening, we need to identify the factors that increase the risk of that problem developing and then find ways to reduce the risks. Risk focused prevention is based on the work of J. David Hawkins, Ph.D.; Richard F. Catalano, Ph.D.; and a team of researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle. In the early 1980's, they conducted a review of thirty years of youth substance abuse and delinquency research and identified risk factors for adolescent drug abuse and delinquency. They have continually updated this review. Other researchers, including Joy Dryfoos, Robert Slavin, and Richard Jessor, have reviewed the literature on behavior problems, such as school dropout and teen pregnancy, and identified risk factors of these problems. Not surprisingly, there is an interrelationship between adolescent drug abuse, delinquency, school dropout, teen pregnancy, and violence and identified risk factors for these problems. Young people who are seriously involved in either juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, school dropout, teenage pregnancy, or violence are more likely to engage in one or more of the other problem behaviors. Furthermore, all of these teen problems share many common risk factors. The risk and protective factors have been organized into the four important areas of a young person's life: 1) the community; 2) the family; 3) the school; and 4) within individuals themselves and their peer interactions. Each are summarized below. (Note: Below each risk factor, and placed in parentheses, are the problem behaviors that are linked to that factor. When applicable, risk and protective factor scales are listed above risk and protective factor summaries.)
Community Risk Factors
Availability of Drugs and Firearms (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and Violence) The more available drugs are in a community, the higher the risk that young people will abuse drugs in that community. Perceived availability of drugs is also associated with risk. For example, in schools where students just think drugs are more available, a higher rate of drug use occurs. Firearm availability and firearm homicide have increased together since the late 1950s. If a gun is present in the home, it is much more likely to be used against a relative or friend than an intruder or stranger. Also, when a firearm is used in a crime or assault instead of another weapon or no weapon, the outcome is much more likely to be fatal. While a few studies report no association between firearm availability and violence, more studies show a positive relationship. Given the lethality of firearms, the increase in the studies show a conflict escalating into homicide when guns are present, and the strong association between availability of guns and homicide rates, firearm availability is included as a risk factor.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 18
Community Laws and Norms Favorable Towards Drug Use, Firearms, and Crime (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and Violence) Community norms, the attitudes and policies a community holds about drug use and crime, are communicated in a variety of ways: through laws and written policies, through informal social practices, and through the expectations parents and other community members have of young people. When laws and community standards are favorable toward drug use or crime, or even if they are just unclear, youth are at higher risk. Transitions and Mobility (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and School Dropout) Even normal school transitions predict increases in problem behaviors. When children move from elementary school to middle school or from middle school to high school, significant increases in the rates of drug use, school misbehavior, and delinquency result. Communities with high rates of mobility appear to be linked to an increased risk of drug use and crime problems. The more often people in a community move, the greater the risk of both criminal behavior and drug-related problems in families. While some people find buffers against the negative effects of mobility by making connections in new communities, others are less likely to have the resources to deal with the effects of frequent moves, and are more likely to have problems. Low Neighborhood Attachment and Community Disorganization (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and Violence) Scales: Low Neighborhood Attachment, Community Disorganization Higher rates of drug problems, juvenile delinquency and violence occurs in communities or neighborhoods where people have little attachment to the community, where the rates of vandalism are high, and where there is low surveillance of public places. These conditions are not limited to low-income neighborhoods, they can also be found in wealthier neighborhoods. The less homogeneous a community (in terms of race, class, religion, and even the mix of industrial to residential neighborhoods) the less connected its resident may feel to the overall community, and the more difficult it is to establish clear community goals and identity. The challenge of creating neighborhood attachment and organization is greater in these neighborhoods. Perhaps the most significant issue affecting community attachment is whether residents feel they can make a difference in their own lives. If the key players in the neighborhood, such as merchants, teachers, police and human services personnel, live outside the neighborhood, residents' sense of commitment will be less. Lower rates of voter participation and parental involvement in schools also indicate lower attachment to the community.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 19
Family Risk Factors
Family History of the Problem Behavior (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) If children are raised in a family with a history of addiction to alcohol or other drugs, the risk of their children having alcohol and other drug problems themselves increases. If children are born or raised in a family with a history of criminal activity, their risk of juvenile delinquency increases. Similarly, children who are raised by a teenage mother are more likely to become teen parents, and children of dropouts are more likely to dropout of school themselves. Family Management Problems (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) Scales: Family Management, Family Discipline Poor family management practices include lack of clear expectations for behavior, failure of parents to monitor their children (knowing where they are and who they are with), and excessively severe or inconsistent punishment. Family Conflict (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) Persistent, serious conflict between primary care givers or between caregivers and children appears to enhance risk for children raised in these families. Conflict between family members appears to be more important than family structure. Whether the family is headed by two biological parents, a single parent, or some other primary care giver, children raised in families high in conflict appear to be at risk for all of the problem behaviors. Favorable Parental Attitudes and Involvement in Drug Use, Crime, and Violence (Substance Abuse, Delinquency and Violence)` Scales: Favorable Parental Attitudes Toward Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use, Favorable Parental Attitudes Toward Antisocial Behavior Parental attitudes and behavior toward drugs, crime, and violence influence the attitudes and behavior of these children. Parental approval of young people's moderate drinking, even under parental supervision, increases the risk of the young person using marijuana. Similarly, children of parents who excuse their children for breaking the law are more likely to develop problems with juvenile delinquency. In families where parents display violent behavior toward those outside or inside the family, there is an increase in the risk that a child will become violent. Further, in families where parents involve children in their own drug or alcohol behavior, for example, asking the child to light the parent's cigarette or to get the parent a beer, there is an increased likelihood that their children will become drug abusers in adolescence.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 20
School Risk Factors
Academic Failure (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) Beginning in the late elementary grades, academic failure increases the risk of drug abuse, delinquency, violence, teen pregnancy, and school dropout. Students fail for many reasons. It appears that the experience of failure, not necessarily the student's ability, increases the risk of problem behaviors. Lack of Commitment to School (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) Lack of commitment to school means the young person has ceased to see the role of student as a viable one. Young people who have lost this commitment to school are at higher risk for all five problem behaviors.
Individual and Peer Risk Factors
Alienation and Rebelliousness, (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and School Dropout) Young people who feel they are not part of society, are not bound by rules, don't believe in trying to be successful or responsible, or who take an active rebellious stance toward society are at higher risk of drug abuse, delinquency, and school dropout. Friends Who Engage in the Problem Behavior (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) Scales: Friends Who Engage in ATOD Use, Interactions with Antisocial Peers Youth who associate with peers who engage in problem behaviors are much more likely to engage in the same problem behaviors. This is one of the most consistent predictors the research has identified. Even when young people come from well-managed families and do not experience other risk factors, just hanging out with those who engage in problem behaviors greatly increases their risks. However, young people who experience a low number of risk factors are less likely to associate with those who are involved in problem behaviors. Favorable Attitudes Toward the Problem Behavior (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, and School Dropout) Scales: Attitudes Favorable Toward ATOD Use, Rewards for Antisocial Behavior, Attitudes Favorable Toward Antisocial Behavior During the elementary school years, children usually express anti-drug and pro-social attitudes. They have difficulty imagining why people use drugs, commit crimes, and drop out of school. In middle school, as others they know participate in such activities, their attitudes often shift toward greater acceptance of these behaviors. This places them at higher risk.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 21
Early Initiation of the Problem Behavior (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) The earlier young people begin using drugs, committing crimes, engaging in violent activity, becoming sexually active, and dropping out of school, the greater the likelihood that they will have problems with these behaviors later on. For example, research shows that young people who initiate drug use before age fifteen are at twice the risk of having drug problems as those who wait until after age nineteen. Antisocial Behavior (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) This risk factor also includes persistent antisocial behavior in early adolescence, like misbehaving in school, skipping school, and getting into fights with other children. Young people, both girls and boys, who engage in these behaviors during early adolescence, are at increased risk for drug abuse, delinquency, teen pregnancy, school dropout, and violence.
Generalizations About Risks
Risks Exist in Multiple Domains Risk factors exist in all areas of life. If a single risk factor is addressed in a single area, problem behaviors may not be significantly reduced. Communities should focus on reducing risks across several areas. The More Risk Factors Present, the Greater the Risk While exposure to one risk factor does not condemn a child to problems later in life, exposure to a greater number of risk factors increases a young person's risk exponentially. Even if a community cannot eliminate all the risk factors that are present, reducing or eliminating even a few risk factors may significantly decrease risk for young people in that community. Risk Factors Show Much Consistency in Effects Across Different Races, Cultures, and Classes While levels of risk may vary in different racial, cultural or socioeconomic groups, the way in which these risk factors work does not appear to vary. One implication for community prevention is to prioritize prevention efforts for groups with higher levels of risk exposure. Protective Factors May Buffer Exposure to Risk Knowledge of risk factors can help communities know what to focus on to reduce health and behavior problems. Communities must know how to reduce risk. Protective factors are conditions that buffer young people from the negative consequences of exposure to risks by either reducing the impact of the risk or changing the way a person responds to the risk.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 22
Protective Factors
Some young people who are exposed to multiple risk factors do not become substance abusers, juvenile delinquents, teen parents, or school dropouts. Balancing the risk factors are protective factors, those aspects of people's lives that counter risk factors or provide buffers against them. They protect by either reducing the impact of these risks or by changing the way a person responds to the risks. A key strategy to counter risk factors is to enhance protective factors that promote positive behavior, health, well-being, and personal success. Research indicates that protective factors fall into three basic categories: individual characteristics, bonding, and health beliefs and clear standards. Community Bonding Scales: Opportunity for Positive Involvement, Rewards for Conventional Involvement (Recognition) Family Bonding Scales: Opportunity for Positive Involvement, Rewards for Conventional Involvement (Recognition), Family Attachment (Influences Bonding) School Bonding Scales: Opportunity for Positive Involvement, Rewards for Conventional Involvement (Recognition) Positive bonding makes up for many other disadvantages caused by other risk factors or environmental characteristics. Children who are attached to positive families, friends, schools, and communities and who are committed to achieving the goals valued by these groups are less likely to develop problems in adolescence. Studies of successful children who live in high-risk neighborhoods or situations indicate that strong bonds with a caregiver can keep children from getting into trouble. To build bonding, three conditions are necessary: opportunities, skills and recognition. Children must be provided with opportunities to contribute to their community, family, peers, and school. The challenge is to provide children with meaningful, challenging opportunities that help them feel responsible and significant. Children must be taught the skills necessary to effectively take advantage of the opportunities they are provided. If they do not have the necessary skills to be successful, they experience frustration and/or failure. Children must also be recognized and acknowledged for their efforts. This gives them the incentive to contribute, and reinforces their skillful performance. Individual characteristics Scales: Impulsiveness, Pro-Social Orientation, Resiliency, Social Skills Research has identified four individual characteristics as protective factors. These attributes are considered to be inherent in the youngster and are difficult to change. They consist of gender; a resilient temperament; a positive social orientation; and intelligence, however, intelligence does not protect against substance abuse.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 23
Healthy Beliefs and Clear Standards (Belief in the Moral Order) Youth need to be bonded to people who have clear, positive standards for behavior. The content of these standards is what protects young people. When parents, teachers and communities set clear standards for children's behavior, when they are widely and consistently supported, and when the consequences for not following the standards are consistent, young people are more likely to follow the standards.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 24
Survey Results: Drug, Antisocial Behavior, and School Safety
Total Student Use of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATODs)
The survey gathers data on current (30-day) and lifetime use. Overall, Arizona student use of ATODs is at levels that are similar to current national trends. The results for all substances are presented for two prevalence periods: lifetime (whether the students have ever used the substance), and past 30 days (whether the student has used the substance in the last month). The lifetime prevalence period is the best measure of experimentation occurring among students. The 30-day prevalence period is considered the best measure for current use. This report focuses largely on the 30-day use (current use). Lifetime and 30-Day Use As can be seen in Table 3 and in Figures 1 and 2 on the next two pages, Arizona students used alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes more than other substances in 2002. A majority of students (69.2% in 2002) have used alcohol in their lifetime, 49.3% of students have used cigarettes in their lifetime, and 38.8% have used marijuana. As for past month use, nearly half (46.4%) of students have used alcohol in the past month. More Arizona students have used marijuana in the past month than have used cigarettes-- 20.5% have used marijuana compared to the 16.5% who have used cigarettes. Of the sampled Arizona youth, 4.8% have used smokeless tobacco in the past month and 24.4% have used smokeless tobacco in their lifetime. Use rates of other drugs--inhalants, hallucinogens, cocaine, methamphetamines, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy-- ranged from 1.2% (steroids) to 4.1% (inhalants) for past month use and 2.5% (steroids) to 10.9% (inhalants) for lifetime use. Individual substance use by grade and gender will be discussed further throughout the report. Table 3 and Figures 1 and 2 are located on the following pages.
Survey participants in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades indicated highest past-month and lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco products, and marijuana.
More Arizona students have used marijuana in the past month than have used cigarettes. Results from the Arizona Youth Survey show that 20.5% of students have used marijuana in the past month, compared to 16.5% of students who have used cigarettes.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 25
Table 3
Total Arizona ATOD Use 30-Day and Lifetime
30-Day Usage Alcohol Smokeless Tobacco Cigarettes Marijuana Inhalants Hallucinogens Cocaine Methamphetamines Steroids Heroin Sedatives/Barbituates Ecstasy Lifetime Usage Alcohol Smokeless Tobacco Cigarettes Marijuana Inhalants Hallucinogens Cocaine Methamphetamines Steroids Heroin Sedatives/Barbituates Ecstasy
69.2% 24.4% 49.3% 38.8% 10.9% 7.4% 8.0% 5.9% 2.5% 2.9% 4.9% 8.3% 46.4% 4.8% 16.5% 20.5% 4.1% 2.6% 3.3% 2.0% 1.2% 1.3% 2.3% 3.1%
Figure 1
Total Arizona 30-Day ATOD Use
100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0%
He Se roi da n tive s/B arb itu ate s Inh ala nts Alc oh Sm ol ok ele ss To ba cc o Co ca ine Me tha mp het am ine s Cig are tte s Ma riju an a Ha l uc ino ge ns Ste roi ds Ec sta sy
Percent of sample that have used in the past 30 days
Arizona Youth Survey Report 26
Figure 2
Percent of sample that have used at least once in their lifetime 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 0.0%
Sm oke les s To bac co Cig are ttes Ma riju an a Inh ala nts Ha l uc ino ge ns Co cai ne Me tha mp he tam ine s Ste roid s He Se roi da n tive s/B arb itu ate s
Alc oh ol
Total Arizona Lifetime ATOD Use
Arizona Youth Survey Report 27
Ec sta sy
Age of Initiation of ATOD Use
Age of Initiation is the average age of the first use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The earlier young people begin using drugs, committing crimes, engaging in violent activity, and becoming involved in other behaviors, the greater the likelihood that they will have problems with these behaviors later on. The Arizona Student Survey asks students to report how old they were when, if ever, they first used ATODs. Asking students to report their age of first substance use allows us to determine the average age when students generally begin using a substance. This not only gives prevention planners an age group in which to target interventions, but also gives the State of Arizona a better idea of the seriousness of the problem--the younger the age of initiation, the more serious the problem is. Through future surveys, age of initiation can be tracked, and if prevention programs are successful, the age of initiation will increase over time. In Table 4 and Figure 3 on the following page, the average age of first use, or age of initiation, is reported. Cigarette Use Students begin using cigarettes at a younger age than other drugs. The average age of first use of cigarettes in 2002 was 12.38 years. Alcohol Use In alcohol use, a distinction can be made between the first experimental use of alcohol (having more than a or two sip of alcohol) and the first regular use of alcohol (drinking alcoholic beverages regularly, or at least once or twice a month). Arizona students, on average, reported having their first drink of alcohol (having more than a sip or two of alcohol) at age 13.05 years, while the average age of first regular use of alcohol (drinking alcoholic beverages regularly, or at least once or twice a month) was over a year later at age 14.41 years. Marijuana Use The survey results also show that those students who have used marijuana, on average, try marijuana at a younger age than students who began regularly using alcohol. In 2002, the average age of initiation for marijuana use was 13.52 years, while students began regularly using alcohol at 14.41 years. Table 4 and Figure 3 are located on the following page.
Students use cigarettes at a younger age (12.38 years) than they use alcohol or marijuana.
Arizona students reported having their first drink of alcohol more than a year before they began drinking alcoholic beverages regularly. Age of first drink was 13.05 years, and age of first regular drink was 14.41 years.
The survey results show that of students using marijuana and students regularly using alcohol, students begin using marijuana at a younger age than alcohol.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 28
Table 4
Age of Initiation
Substance Use First Drink (More Than a Sip or Two) of Alcohol First Regular Alcohol Consumption First Cigarette Use First Marijuana Use 2002
13.05 14.41 12.38 13.52
Figure 3
2002 Arizona Substance Use Age of Initiation
Marijuana
13.52
Cigarettes
12.38
Alcohol Beverage
14.41
Sip of Alcohol
13.05
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
Average age of first use
Arizona Youth Survey Report 29
ATOD Use by Gender
Typically, males tend to use ATOD substances more than females. That trend is also somewhat evident when looking at Arizona student results by gender in Table 5 and Figure 4 on the following page. In the 2002 survey, for most ATODs, more males than females had used. However, differences in use were often very similar, and females had higher use rates in several drug categories. Differences in Male and Female ATOD Use For most substances, the difference in male use and female use was small. For example, in 2002, 44.5% of males used alcohol in the past 30-days compared to 48.4% of females. The greatest difference in usage can be seen in lifetime smokeless tobacco and cigarette use rates. In the 2002 survey, for lifetime use, 13.9% of males indicated they had used smokeless tobacco, while 4.7% of females indicated they had used. For lifetime cigarette use, females use at a higher rate (49.7% for females compared to 41.8% of males). Also, males use marijuana more than females, both in 30-day and lifetime use. Past month marijuana use for males is 22.2%, while it is 19.1% for females. Of males, 40.1% have used marijuana at least once in their lifetime, while 36.5% of females have used marijuana. As indicated before, females have slightly higher use rates than males in several ATOD categories. For past month use, more females than males used alcohol (48.4% for females compared to 44.5% for males), cigarettes (17.4% compared to 15.7%), inhalants (4.4% compared to 3.7%), and heroin (1.5% compared to 1.2%). For lifetime use, females had higher use rates of alcohol (69.2% for females compared to 66.5% for males), cigarettes (49.7% compared to 41.8%), methamphetamines (5.4% compared to 5.2%), and ecstasy (8.1% compared to 7.9%). Table 5 and Figure 4 are located on the following page.
In general, more Arizona males use ATOD substances than females. However, for most substances, the differences in use were small.
The greatest differences between male and female use are in lifetime smokeless tobacco use (males used more than females) and cigarette use (females used more than males).
Arizona Youth Survey Report 30
Table 5
Usage of ATODs by Gender
Arizona 2002
Males
30-Day Usage Alcohol (30-Day) Binge Drinking (Past 2 weeks) Cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco Marijuana Inhalants Methamphetamines Cocaine Hallucinogens Steroids Heroin Barbituates/Sedatives Ecstacy Lifetime Usage Alcohol Cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco Marijuana Inhalants Methamphetamines Cocaine Hallucinogens Steroids Heroin Barbituates/Sedatives Ecstacy
44.5% 25.3% 15.7% 6.5% 22.2% 3.7% 2.0% 3.6% 3.2% 1.5% 1.2% 2.3% 3.5% 66.5% 41.8% 13.9% 40.1% 10.4% 5.2% 7.6% 7.5% 2.6% 2.6% 4.6% 7.9%
Females
48.4% 22.4% 17.4% 3.1% 19.1% 4.4% 1.8% 3.1% 2.1% 0.9% 1.5% 2.3% 2.7% 69.2% 49.7% 4.7% 36.5% 10.0% 5.4% 7.4% 6.2% 1.3% 2.3% 4.4% 8.1%
Figure 4
Arizona 30-Day and Lifetime ATOD Usage by Gender
Males
80.0%
Females
70.0% Percent of sample that have used ATODs
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0% 30-Day Alcohol Use 30-Day Cigarette Use 30-Day Marijuana Use 30-Day Inhalant Lifetime Alcohol Lifetime Use Use Cigarette Use Lifetime Marijuana Use Lifetime Inhalant Use
Arizona Youth Survey Report 31
Alcohol and Binge Drinking
Tables 6 and 7, and Figures 5 and 6 on the next two pages show that usage of alcohol increases with increased grade level. While 58.9% of 12th graders indicated 30-day alcohol use in 2002, only 34.4% of 8th graders indicated use. 30-Day Alcohol Use According to the 2002 survey, 34.4% of 8th graders, 47.9% of 10th graders, and 58.9% of 12th graders had used alcohol in the past 30 days. Overall, 46.4% of Arizona students have used alcohol at least once in the past month. Lifetime Alcohol Use A greater percentage of students reported having used alcohol at least once in their lifetime. The survey reports that 56.9% of 8th graders, 72.3% of 10th graders, and 80.8% of 12th graders have tried alcohol in their lifetime. A total of 69.2% of Arizona students have used alcohol in their lifetime. Binge Drinking Use Rates of student binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks in a row at least once in the past two weeks) also increases with increased grade level. The survey results show that 14.1% of 8th graders, 26.0% of 10th graders, and 32.2% of 12th graders have consumed more than five drinks in a row in the past two weeks. State and National Comparisons The Arizona Youth Survey results, when compared to the national MTF results, show that more Arizona students have used alcohol than have students in the national sample. Arizona 8th grade students' 30-day alcohol use rate was 12.9% (34.4% compared to 21.5%) higher than the national sample, Arizona 10th graders' use rate was 8.9% (47.9% compared to 39.0%) higher than the national sample, and Arizona 12th graders' use rate was 9.1% (58.9% compared to 49.8%) higher than the national sample. However, in looking at the lifetime results, Arizona rates and national rates are more comparable. While more Arizona 8th graders have used alcohol in their lifetime than national 8th graders (56.9% compared to 50.5%), lifetime use rates for the 10th and 12th grades are similar for Arizona and national youth. Alcohol differed only by 2.2% for 10th graders, and 1.1% for 12th graders. Tables 6 and 7, and Figures 5 and 6 are located on the following pages.
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance by Arizona students. In the past 30 days 46.4% of students have used alcohol, and 69.2% of students have used alcohol in their lifetime.
Of the students included in the Arizona Youth Survey sample, 23.7% indicated they had consumed more than five alcoholic beverages in a row at least once in the past two weeks.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 32
Table 6
Alcohol Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
34.4% 47.9% 58.9% 46.4% 56.9% 72.3% 80.8% 69.2% 21.5% 39.0% 49.8% --50.5% 70.1% 79.7% ---
Figure 5
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Alcohol
Arizona 2002 100.0% 90.0% Percent of sample that used alcohol in the past 30-days 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 8 t h Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 33
Table 7
Binge Drinking in the Last Two Weeks Arizona 2002
8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
14.1% 26.0% 32.2% 23.7%
Figure 6
Arizona Rates of Student Binge Drinking
(Consuming 5 or More Alcoholic Drinks in a Row)
Arizona
100.0% 90.0% Percent of sample that binge drank in the past 2 weeks 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade
Arizona Youth Survey Report 34
Smokeless Tobacco
Compared to cigarette use, there was relatively low use of smokeless tobacco in Arizona. This is almost always true of school age populations. In the past month, 4.8% of Arizona students have used smokeless tobacco, and 24.4% students have used smokeless tobacco in their lifetime. 30-Day Smokeless Tobacco Use In alcohol use results, there were differences in the use of younger students and older students. However, for smokeless tobacco, the differences are small. The 2002 data in Table 8 and Figure 7 on the following page shows that 4.0% of 8th graders had used, 4.7% of 10th graders had used, and 5.9% of 12th graders had used. Lifetime Smokeless Tobacco Use For lifetime use, 25.9% of 8th graders, 23.2% of 10th graders, and 24.1% of 12th graders have tried smokeless tobacco before. State and National Comparisons Comparisons between the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey and the 2001 national MTF survey show differences in use, with students in the national sample using smokeless tobacco at higher rates of 30-day use, and lower rates of lifetime use, than students in the Arizona sample. For 30-day use, the 8th grade use rate of smokeless tobacco was the same (4.0%). For the 10th grade, the national rate was higher (6.9% national compared to 4.7% for Arizona), and the national rate for 12th graders was also higher (7.8% compared to 5.9%). Arizona lifetime use rates were 14.2% higher for 8th graders (25.9% compared to 11.7%), 3.7% higher for 10th graders (23.2% compared to 19.5%), and 4.4% higher for 12th graders (24.1% compared to 19.7%). The difference in national and Arizona rates described above indicates that substantially more Arizona students experiment with smokeless tobacco, but more national students use smokeless tobacco on a regular basis. Table 8 and Figure 7 are located on the following page.
Substantially more Arizona students experiment with smokeless tobacco, but more national students use smokeless tobacco on a regular basis.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 35
Table 8
Smokeless Tobacco Usage 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
National 2001
4.0% 6.9% 7.8% --11.7% 19.5% 19.7% ---
2002
4.0% 4.7% 5.9% 4.8% 25.9% 23.2% 24.1% 24.4%
Figure 7
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Smokeless Tobacco
Arizona 2002 100.0% Percent of sample that used smokeless tobacco in the past 30-days 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 36
Cigarettes
Cigarette use increases with increased grade level. In the past month, 16.5% of Arizona students have used cigarettes, and 49.3% have used cigarettes at least once in their lifetime. In the past month, 16.5% of Arizona students have used cigarettes, and 49.3% have used cigarettes at least once in their lifetime. 30-Day Cigarette Use In 2002, 9.1% of 8th graders, 18.1% of 10th graders, and 23.2% of 12th graders smoked in the past month. Table 9 and Figure 8 on the following page clearly show that the greatest increase in cigarette use occurs after the 8th grade--use nearly doubled. This finding indicates that prevention efforts should be focused on middle school youth as this is the time when many students encounter pressure to use tobacco for the first time. Lifetime Cigarette Use By the time Arizona students graduate from high school, a majority of them have tried cigarettes at least once in their lifetime. In the 2002 survey 39.6% of 8th graders, 49.8% of 10th graders, and 61.1% of 12th graders reported having used cigarettes at least once. State and National Comparisons Arizona 30-day use is lower than in the national survey. National 30-day smoking rates are 3.1% higher for the 8th grade (12.2% compared to 9.1%)) and 6.3% higher for the 12 grade (29.5% compared to 23.2%) higher than Arizona use rates. More Arizona 8th graders than national 8th graders have used cigarettes at least once in their lifetime (39.6% for Arizona compared to 36.6% for the national sample). However, for the 10th grade, the national sample had a higher lifetime use rate (52.8% compared to 49.8%); and for the 12th grade, the Arizona rate was 0.1% higher than the national rate. Table 9 and Figure 8 are located on the following page.
Arizona youth indicated lower use rates of cigarettes than youth in the national MTF survey.
Table 9 shows that the greatest increase in 30-day use occurs after the 8th grade. These findings suggest that prevention efforts need to be focused on the younger student population.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 37
Table 9
Cigarettes Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
2002
9.1% 18.1% 23.2% 16.5% 39.6% 49.8% 61.1% 49.3%
2001
12.2% 21.3% 29.5% --36.6% 52.8% 61.0% ---
Figure 8
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Cigarettes
Arizona 2002 100.0% 90.0% Percent of sample that used cigarettes in the past 30-days 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 38
Marijuana
In the past 30 days, 20.5% of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders have used marijuana at least one time. While cigarette use is usually higher than marijuana use, results from the survey indicate that more Arizona youth have used marijuana in the past month than have used cigarettes (20.5% compared to 16.5% nationally). 30-Day Marijuana Use Marijuana use increases with increased grade level, with 14.3% of 8th graders using in the past 30 days, 22.4% of 10th graders using, and 25.4% of 12th graders using. These results can be seen in Table 10 and Figure 9 on the following page. As with cigarette use, the biggest increase in usage comes during middle school when students transition from the 8th to the 10th grades. Lifetime Marijuana Use According to the 2002 survey, 26.6% of 8th graders, 41.6% of 10th graders, and 50.8% of 12th graders have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime. State and National Comparisons Arizona 30-day and lifetime usage rates of marijuana are higher than national rates for all grades. Rates of 30-day usage are 2.6% (grade 10) to 5.1% (grade 8) higher for Arizona youth than for the national sample. For lifetime usage, Arizona rates were 1.5% (grade 10) to 6.2% (grade 8) higher than national students. Table 10 and Figure 9 are located on the following page.
As with cigarette use, the 2002 survey shows that the greatest increase in marijuana use occurs in middle school.
In each grade, Arizona 30-day and lifetime use rates of marijuana were higher than national MTF use rates.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 39
Table 10
Marijuana Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
14.3% 22.4% 25.4% 20.5% 26.6% 41.6% 50.8% 38.8% 9.2% 19.8% 22.4% --20.4% 40.1% 49.0% ---
Figure 9
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Marijuana
Arizona 2002 100.0% 90.0% Percent of sample that used marijuana in the past 30-days 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 40
Inhalants
While use of other drugs tends to increase with increased grade level, a common pattern for inhalant use is to peak in middle school and decline significantly after the 8th grade. This trend can be seen in the Arizona results as well. The difference in inhalant use trends may be related to the fact that younger students have more access to inhalants than they do other drugs. 30-Day Inhalant Use As Table 11 and Figure 10 show, 2002 30-day inhalant use peaks in the 8th grade (6.5%), and then decreases. Twelfth grade 30-day inhalant usage is lower at 2.0%. State and National Comparisons While 30-day inhalant use in Arizona is higher than national levels, Arizona lifetime use is lower than national levels. This indicates a higher rate of inhalant experimentation on the national level. For 30-day use, Arizona rates were 0.3% (grade 12) to 2.5% (grade 8) higher than in the national sample. Greater differences are seen in the lifetime use results. National inhalant use rates were 2.9% (grade 12) to 5.2% (grade 8) higher than Arizona rates. Table 11 and Figure 10 are located on the following page.
Use of most ATODs increases with increased grade level, but use of inhalants is highest in the 8th grade. In 2002, while 2.0% of 12th graders used inhalants in the past month, 6.5% of 8th graders used.
Past month inhalant use in Arizona is higher than national levels, while Arizona lifetime use is lower than national levels.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 41
Table 11
Inhalants Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
6.5% 3.4% 2.0% 4.1% 11.9% 10.4% 10.1% 10.9% 4.0% 2.4% 1.7% --17.1% 15.2% 13.0% ---
Figure 10
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Inhalants
Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used inhalant in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 42
Other Illicit Drugs: Hallucinogens, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Steroids, Heroin, Barbiturates, and Ecstasy
An overwhelming majority of students never try illicit drugs such as hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy. An overwhelming majority of students never try illicit drugs such as hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy. Whereas no more than 12.6% of Arizona students have used these drugs in their lifetime, an even lower percentage of students regularly use these illicit drugs. This section will report the Arizona rates of the previously mentioned illicit drugs. Total past month use was 2.6% for hallucinogens, 3.3% for cocaine, 2.0% for methamphetamines, 1.2% for steroids, 1.3% for heroin, 2.3% for barbiturates, and 3.1% for ecstasy. Complete results can be seen in Tables 1 and 12-18, and Figures 11-17. 30-Day Illicit Drug Use Use of these illicit drugs increases slightly with increased grade level. Past month use of hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy, are similar when looked at by grade. Of eighth graders in the 2002 survey, 1.5% had used hallucinogens, 1.0% had used methamphetamines, 2.6% had used cocaine, 1.2% had used steroids, 1.2% had used heroin, 1.0% had used barbiturates, and 3.6% had used ecstasy. Of tenth graders, 3.2% had used hallucinogens, 2.6% had used methamphetamines, 3.5% had used cocaine, 1.5% had used steroids, 1.4% had used heroin, 2.6% had used barbiturates, and 2.5% had used ecstasy. Of twelfth graders, 3.1% had used hallucinogens, 2.2% had used methamphetamines, 4.0% had used cocaine, 0.9% had used steroids, 1.3% had used heroin, 3.4% had used barbiturates, and 3.2% had used ecstasy. Of the seven illicit drugs discussed in this section, Arizona 8th graders have experimented with ecstasy more that the other six drugs. Lifetime Illicit Drug Use Lifetime use of each illicit drug was less similar when looked at by grade. Of the seven illicit drugs discussed in this section, Arizona 8th graders have experimented with ecstasy more than the other seven drugs--5.5% of 8th graders have tried ecstasy at least once. For 10th graders, the drug most experimented with was also ecstasy--8.2% of 10th graders have tried ecstasy at least once in their lifetime. Hallucinogens were the drug most often experimented with by 12th graders--12.6% have tried hallucinogens at least once in their lifetime.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 43
While all use rates of illicit substances are very low for Arizona and national students, past 30-day rates for hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy tended to be slightly higher for Arizona youth.
State and National Illicit Drug Use Comparisons In comparison to national MTF survey results, the Arizona Youth Survey indicates that 30-day and lifetime use rates of hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy are similar and comparable. Differences in use were small. While all use rates of illicit substances are very low for Arizona and national students, past month rates for hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy tended to be slightly higher for Arizona youth. Past month use rates of the seven substances for Arizona 8th, 10th, and 12th graders are anywhere from 0.1% to 2.2% higher than the national sample. For a majority of the substances and grades, Arizona past month use rates are less than one percent more than national rates. Rates that were less than one percent higher than national rates were: Arizona 8th grade use of hallucinogens, 12th grade use of methamphetamines, 8th grade use of steroids, 10th grade use of steroids, 8th grade use of heroin, 10th grade use of heroin, 12th grade use of heroin, 12th grade use of sedatives, and 12th grade use of ecstasy. Rates that were more than one percent higher than national rates were: Arizona 10th grade use of hallucinogens and methamphetamines (1.1% higher), 8th grade use of ecstasy (1.8% higher). All of these rates indicate a slightly higher regular use rate of illicit drugs. While the rates are only slightly higher, the consistently higher rates are disturbing. Perhaps a notable difference in use is found when looking at past month use rates of cocaine, where use is higher for Arizona students in the 8th grade (1.4% higher), 10th grade (2.2% higher), and 12th grade (1.9% higher). For lifetime use of the seven substances, national rates tended to be more similar to rates for Arizona youth. National lifetime use rates were higher for hallucinogens (grades 8 and 12), methamphetamines (grade 8), steroids (grades 8, 10, and 12), and barbiturates (grade 12). The instances where Arizona had higher lifetime use rates in all grades were for heroin (Arizona's rates were 0.2% to 2.0% higher), cocaine (Arizona's rates were 0.2% to 3.8% higher), and ecstasy (Arizona's rates were 0.2% to 0.3% higher). Tables 12-18 and Figures 11-17 are located on the following pages.
For a majority of the substances and grades, Arizona past month use rates are less than one percent more than national rates. While these rates are only slightly higher, the consistently higher rates are cause for concern.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 44
Table 12
LSD/Hallucinogens Usage 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona 2002
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
1.5% 3.2% 3.1% 2.6% 2.4% 8.3% 12.6% 7.4%
National 2001
1.2% 2.1% 3.2% --4.0% 7.8% 12.8% ---
Figure 11
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Hallucinogens
Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Percent of sample that used hallucinogens in the past 30-days
Arizona Youth Survey Report 45
Table 13
Methamphetamines Usage 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona 2002
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
1.0% 2.6% 2.2% 2.0% 2.9% 6.8% 8.6% 5.9%
National 2001
1.3% 1.5% 1.5% --4.4% 6.4% 6.9% ---
Figure 12
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Methamphetamines
Arizona 2002 50.0% Percent of sample that used methamphetamines in the past 30-days 45.0% 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 46
Table 14
Cocaine Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
2.6% 3.5% 4.0% 3.3% 4.5% 8.2% 12.0% 8.0% 1.2% 1.3% 2.1% --4.3% 5.7% 8.2% ---
Figure 13
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Cocaine
Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used cocaine in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 47
Table 15
Steroids Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
1.2% 1.5% 0.9% 1.2% 2.2% 2.7% 2.7% 2.5% 0.7% 0.9% 1.3% --2.8% 3.5% 3.7% ---
Figure 14
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Steroids
Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used steroids in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 1 0 t h Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 48
Table 16
Heroin Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
1.2% 1.4% 1.3% 1.3% 1.9% 3.2% 3.8% 2.9% 0.6% 0.3% 0.4% --1.7% 1.7% 1.8% ---
Figure 15
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Heroin
Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used heroin in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 49
Table 17
Barbituates/Sedatives Usage 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona 2002
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
1.0% 2.6% 3.4% 2.3% 2.1% 5.7% 7.4% 4.9%
National 2001
----2.8% ------8.7% ---
Figure 16
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Barbituates/Sedatives
Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used barbituates in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 50
Table 18
Ecstasy Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001
30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total
3.6% 2.5% 3.2% 3.1% 5.5% 8.2% 12.0% 8.3% 1.8% 2.6% 2.8% --5.2% 8.0% 11.7% ---
Figure 17
Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Ecstasy
Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used ecstasy in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 51
Substance Use by Academic Grades
Table 19 and Figure 18 show a clear relationship between substance use and academic grades. Of the students who report getting better grades, fewer have tried ATODs and fewer are currently using ATODs than those who report poorer grades. `D' students are approximately 15 times more likely to have indicated use of alcohol in the past 30 days than `A' students. `D' students are also six times more likely to use marijuana, seven times more likely to use cigarettes, and six times more likely to use inhalants in the past 30 days than `A' students. Similar and more dramatic differences can be seen for individual drugs. See Table 19, and Figure 18 for complete results. The students getting A's are more invested in the education process and more bonded to school. It is unclear why `D' students indicated a higher use rate than `F' students. It is interesting to note that the first large increase in use occurs in `C' students; Figure 18 shows that while `A' and `B' students have similar use rates, the difference between `B' and `C' students is much larger. In fact, `C' and `D' student have similar rates of marijuana and inhalant use, and `C' students actually indicated a higher use rate for cigarettes than `D' students. Finally, it is important to note that students who reported not using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs in the past 30-days performed significantly better in school than those students who did report ADOT use during the same time frame. See Table 19 on the following page to review the correlation between drug usage and lower grade performance.
Of the students who report getting better grades, fewer have tried ATODs and fewer are currently using ATODs than those who report poorer grades.
`D' students are approximately 15 times more likely to have indicated use of alcohol in the past 30 days than `A' students.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 52
Table 19
Percentage Using ATODs by Academic Grades
Drugs Used Alcohol Lifetime Alcohol 30 Days Marijuana Lifetime Marijuana 30 Days Cigarettes Lifetime Cigarettes 30 Days Inhalants Lifetime Inhalants 30-Day Hallucinogens Lifetime Hallucinogens 30-Day Cocaine Lifetime Cocaine 30-Day Stimulants Lifetime Stimulants 30-Day Sedatives Lifetime Sedatives 30-Day Steroids Lifetime Steroids 30-Day Heroin Lifetime Heroin 30-Day Ecstasy Lifetime Ecstasy 30-Day Mostly A's
2.3% 2.5% 3.5% 4.1% 2.9% 4.8% 3.9% 5.3% 4.4% 5.9% 4.7% 5.2% 5.9% 6.7% 4.0% 3.8% 4.9% 6.4% 6.0% 5.6% 4.1% 4.5%
Mostly B's
6.3% 6.8% 8.7% 10.4% 7.4% 9.0% 9.6% 10.4% 9.9% 10.9% 10.4% 12.3% 13.4% 14.6% 8.0% 6.8% 13.4% 13.5% 11.7% 12.3% 11.2% 14.9%
Academic Grades Mostly C's Mostly D's
28.8% 29.7% 33.3% 34.6% 32.0% 36.5% 32.3% 31.2% 35.2% 36.8% 38.7% 37.7% 37.2% 36.3% 31.4% 29.7% 29.6% 25.5% 41.9% 42.0% 36.7% 36.5% 38.2% 37.9% 37.3% 35.7% 38.4% 35.5% 35.6% 32.8% 33.3% 31.9% 31.9% 32.2% 30.6% 29.2% 36.2% 38.6% 33.1% 34.0% 29.9% 31.5% 32.7% 32.0%
Mostly F's
24.3% 23.0% 17.3% 15.2% 19.2% 14.1% 18.6% 20.3% 17.2% 14.5% 14.3% 12.6% 13.0% 13.1% 20.5% 21.2% 19.0% 20.6% 10.5% 8.6% 15.3% 12.1%
Figure 18
ATOD Use by Academic Grade
Mostly A's
40.0%
Mostly B's
Mostly C's
Mostly D's
Mostly F's
35.0% Percentage of sample that used in the past 30 days
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0% Alcohol 30 Days Marijuana 30 Days Cigarettes 30 Days Inhalants 30 Days
Arizona Youth Survey Report 53
Perceived Availability of ATODs and Handguns
Prevention researchers have identified that there is a higher risk that youth will abuse drugs when there are more drugs available in a community. In addition to the actual availability of drugs, perceived availability is also associated with risk. For example, in schools and communities where students just think drugs are more available, a higher rate of drug use occurs. The Arizona Youth Survey measures perceived availability of ATODs by asking students how easy they think it would be to get ATODs and handguns. This section focuses on the percentage of students who reported that they believed it was "Sort of easy" or "Very easy" to get alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine or other drugs, marijuana, or a handgun. Perceived availability data can also be found on the following page in Table 20 and Figure 19. 2002 Perceived Availability According to survey participants, cigarettes are perceived to be the easiest substance to get--65.4% of students indicated that it was "Sort of easy" or "Very easy" to get cigarettes. The survey also found that 64.1% of students indicated that alcohol (beer, wine, or hard liquor) was easy to get, and 64.0% indicated that marijuana was easy to get. The substance perceived as being least available was cocaine and other drugs--only 32.8% of students perceived these drugs to be "Sort of easy" or "Very easy" to get. Also, 25.8% indicated that handguns were easy to get. State and National Perceived Availability Comparisons A comparison of the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey results to the national MTF survey results shows that students in Arizona believe that alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are more difficult to get than students nationwide. The greatest differences are found in perceived availability of alcohol and perceived availability of cigarettes. For perceived availability of alcohol, 27.0% more 8th graders nationwide than Arizona 8th graders perceive alcohol as being easy to get; while 19.5% more 10th graders and 11.8% more 12th graders in the national sample perceive the substance as easily available. For perceived availability of cigarettes, national rates are 25.6% higher for 8th graders than Arizona 8th graders and 18.3% higher for national 10th graders than Arizona 10th graders. The differences in perceived availability of marijuana are smaller, with rates being only 3.8% to 8.7% higher for national students than for Arizona students. Table 20 and Figure 19 are located on the following page.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 54
Perceived availability is a measurement of how easy students believe it is to get ATODs and handguns.
The substance perceived to be the easiest to get was cigarettes.
Survey respondents indicated that the substances perceived to be the most difficult to get were cocaine and other drugs.
A comparison of national MTF and Arizona survey results shows that students in Arizona believe that alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are more difficult to get than students nationwide.
Table 20
Perceived Availability of ATODs and Guns: Percent of students that believed it would be "Sort of easy" or "Very easy" to get one of the following: Grade 8
Arizona 2002 National 2001 70.6% 67.7% --48.1% ---
Grade 10
Arizona 2002 68.2% 68.0% 33.0% 68.7% 24.8% National 2001 87.7% 86.3% --77.4% ---
Grade 12
Arizona 2002 82.5% 89.4% 44.6% 80.3% 32.6% National 2001 94.3% ----88.5% ---
Total
Arizona 2002 64.1% 65.4% 32.8% 64.0% 25.8%
Beer, wine, or hard liquor Cigarettes Cocaine or other drugs Marijuana Handgun
43.6% 42.1% 22.1% 44.3% 21.0%
Figure 19
Arizona and National Perceived Availability of ATODs
Arizona 2002
100.0% 90.0% Percent of sample that believed it would be "Sort of easy" or "Very easy" to access ATODs 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Grade 8 Grade 10 Grade 12 Grade 8 Grade 10 Cigarettes Grade 12 Grade 8 Grade 10 Marijuana Grade 12 Beer, wine, or hard liquor
National 2001
Arizona Youth Survey Report 55
Perceived Harmfulness
Prevention research also indicates that students are at a greater risk for substance abuse when they perceive little or no risk in using ATODs. When students believe that using alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana occasionally or often will not harm them, they are more likely to use them. This section reports the percentage of students who believed that there was "Great risk" in smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day; trying marijuana once, twice, or regularly; or taking one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage nearly every day. Perceived harmfulness data can also be found on the following page in Table 21 and Figure 20. 2002 Perceived Harmfulness The 2002 survey results show that students perceive experimental marijuana use to be the least harmful of ATOD substances--only 21.1% of students believed that there was great risk in trying marijuana once or twice. However, students indicated that they believed using marijuana more regularly was more harmful-- 48.9% believed that there was "Great risk" in smoking marijuana regularly. Students perceived the greatest risk in smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day. A majority of students (62.8%) believed that there was great risk in this use of cigarettes. State and National Perceived Harmfulness Comparisons A comparison of the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey results to the National MTF survey results shows that students in Arizona believe that there is less risk in using ATODs than students nationwide. Arizona 8th graders perceived greater risk in smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day and trying marijuana once or twice. National 10th and 12th grade rates were higher for all substance categories. The greatest difference is seen in the perceived harm of smoking marijuana regularly, with 13.7% more national 8th graders perceiving great risk (72.2% compared to 58.5%), 17.6% more 10th graders perceiving risk (62.8% compared to 45.2%), and 5.4% of 12th graders perceiving risk (57.4% compared to 52.0%). Rates of perceived risk of trying marijuana once or twice were comparable for the Arizona Youth Survey sample and the national MTF sample. Table 21 and Figure 20 are located on the following page.
Perceived Harmfulness measures the percentage of students that believed there was "Great risk" in using ATOD substances occasionally or often.
The form of substance use which was perceived as being the least harmful was experimental marijuana use (used only once or twice).
The form of substance use which was perceived as being the most harmful was heavy smoking (smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day).
Arizona Youth Survey Report 56
Table 21
Perceived Harmfulness of ATODs: Percent of students that believed there was "Great risk" in the following: Grade 8
Arizona 2002 National 2001 57.1% 27.7% 72.2%
Grade 10
Arizona 2002 64.6% 17.8% 45.2% National 2001 64.7% 17.9% 62.8%
Grade 12
Arizona 2002 64.1% 15.0% 52.0% National 2001 73.3% 15.3% 57.4%
Total
Arizona 2002 62.8% 21.1% 48.9%
Smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day Trying marijuana once or twice Smoking marijuana regularly
59.8% 29.7% 58.5%
Figure 20
Arizona and National Perceived Harmfulness of ATODs
Arizona 2002
Percent of sample that believed there was "Great risk" in using ATODs 80.0%
National 2001
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0% Grade 8 Grade 10 Grade 12 Grade 8 Grade 10 Grade 12 Grade 8 G r a d e 10 Grade 12
Smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day
Trying marijuana once or twice
Smoking marijuana regularly
Arizona Youth Survey Report 57
Antisocial behavior
The Arizona Youth Survey also asks students how often they participated in delinquent behavior in the past year. The results of these questions are summarized below. Antisocial behaviors most often participated in by students were being suspended from school and being drunk or high at school. Antisocial behavior rates peaked in the 8th grade for five out of the eight behaviors. More detailed information can be seen in Table 22 and Figure 21. For the 8th grade, the greatest antisocial behavior participated in was being suspended from school. The antisocial behavior participated in by the most 10th and 12th graders was being drunk or high at school. Arrested Of all students surveyed, 8.5% (1,000) indicated that they had been arrested at least once in the past year. Rates peaked in the 8th grade at 9.1% . Attacked Someone with the Intention of Seriously Hurting Them When students were asked this question, 10.6% (1,245) indicated that they had attacked someone with the intention of seriously hurting them at least once in the past year. Rates of student attack peaked in the 8th grade at 11.6% . Carried a Handgun in Neighborhood Of all students surveyed, 5.6% (663) indicated that had carried a handgun in their neighborhood in the past year. Rates of carrying a handgun peaked in the 8th grade at 6.7%. Went to School While Drunk or High Of all students surveyed, 19.6% (2,318) indicated that they had gone to school while drunk or high at least once in the past year. Rates of being drunk or high at school peaked in the 12th grade at 23.8%. Had Taken a Handgun to School When students were asked this question, 1.2% (147) indicated that they had taken a handgun to school at least once in the past year. Rates of taking a handgun to school peaked in the 8th grade at 1.4% .
Students were asked a series of questions on how often they participated in antisocial behaviors.
The antisocial behavior with the highest rate of participation was being drunk or high at school (19.6%).
Rates of taking a handgun to school were the lowest (1.2% ) of all student antisocial behaviors.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 58
Sold Illegal Drugs Of all students surveyed, 8.4% (998) indicated that they had sold illegal drugs in the past year. Rates of selling illegal drugs peaked in the 12th grade at 10.0%. Suspended from School Of all students surveyed, 12.9% (1,536) indicated that they had been suspended from school at least once in the past year. Rates peaked in the 8th grade at 18.1%. It should be noted that it is difficult to interpret school suspension rates, because school suspension rates vary substantially from district to district depending on district policies and practices. Stole a Vehicle When students were asked this question, 3.0% (360) indicated that they had stolen a vehicle at least once in the past year. Rates of vehicle theft peaked in the 10th grade at 3.6%.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 59
Table 22
The Prevalence of Delinquent Behavior, By Grade 8th # % Suspended from School Drunk or High At School Sold Illegal Drugs Vehicle Theft Arrested Attacked Someone with Intention of Hurting Carried a Handgun in Neighborhood Has Taken a Gun to School
765 646 239 137 382 483 283 59 18.1% 15.4% 5.7% 3.3% 9.1% 11.6% 6.7% 1.4%
10th #
495 871 423 153 341 457 214 57
12th % #
276 801 336 70 277 305 166 31
Total % #
1536 2318 998 360 1000 1245 663 147
%
12.9% 19.6% 8.4% 3.0% 8.5% 10.6% 5.6% 1.2%
11.6% 20.5% 9.9% 3.6% 8.0% 10.8% 5.0% 1.3%
8.1% 23.8% 10.0% 2.1% 8.2% 9.1% 4.9% 1.0%
Figure 21
Prevalence of Delinquent Behavior for Arizona Youth, By Grade
Percent of sample that participated in the behavior in the past 12 months 25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0% Arrested Attacked Someone with Intention of Hurting Carried a Handgun in Neighborhood Drunk or High A t School Has Taken a Gun to School Sold Illegal Drugs Suspended from School Vehicle Theft
Arizona Youth Survey Report 60
Antisocial Behavior by Gender
Just as males typically use ATODs at higher rates than females, so do males participate in antisocial behaviors more than females. The difference in male and female antisocial behavior use is much larger than the difference in male and female ATOD use. The differences are shown in Table 23 and Figure 22 on the following page. Differences in Male and Female Rates of Antisocial Behavior Great differences can be seen in all categories of antisocial behavior. For example, in the 2002 survey, 11.4% of males indicated that they had been arrested at least once in the past year, compared to 5.5% of females (less than one-half the male arrest rate). While 9.1% of males indicated that they had carried a handgun in their neighborhood, only 2.1% of females indicated that they had done the same. While these rates are relatively low for both genders, it is important to note that males participate in this behavior over 4 times more than females. Male rates of antisocial behavior were 1.8% to 7.0% higher than female rates in all categories. The results of the 2002 survey show that the behaviors that males most often participated in were being drunk or high at school (21.6%), being suspended from school (16.3%), and attacking someone with the intention of hurting them (13.9%). The behaviors that females most often participated in were also being drunk or high at school (17.9%), being suspended from school (9.3% ), and attacking someone (7.3% ). Table 23 and Figure 22 are located on the following page.
More Arizona males participate in all antisocial behaviors than females.
Male and female antisocial behavior rates in 2002 differ by as little as 1.8% and as much as 7.0% .
The antisocial behaviors most often participated in by males and females are being drunk or high at school, being suspended from school, and attacking someone.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 61
Table 23
Percentage of Male and Female Students who Have Participated in Antisocial Behavior at Least Once in the Past Year
Males Females
2002 Arrested Attacked Someone with Intention of Hurting Carried a Handgun in Neighborhood Drunk or High At School Has Taken a Gun to School Sold Illegal Drugs Suspended from School Vehicle Theft
11.4% 13.9% 9.1% 21.6% 2.1% 12.0% 16.3% 4.1%
2002
5.5% 7.3% 2.1% 17.9% 0.3% 5.1% 9.3% 1.9%
Figure 22
Arizona 30-Day Antisocial Behavior by Gender
Males 2002
100.0% 90.0% P e r c e n t of sample participating in behavior at least once in the past year 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Arrested Attacked Someone D r u n k or High At Has Taken a Gun to Sold Illegal Drugs School School Suspended from School Vehicle Theft
Females 2002
Arizona Youth Survey Report 62
Safety and School Issues
Overall, a large majority of students feel safe at school, have never been in a fight at school, have never been injured or threatened at school, and have never taken a weapon to school. The Arizona Youth Survey also asked students questions regarding their safety on school property. Students were asked to indicate the number of days in the past month that they carried a weapon to school and the number of days that they didn't go to school because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to school. Additionally, students were asked how many times in the past year they were threatened by someone or injured with a weapon on school property and how many times they had a physical fight at school. Results for these questions are found on the following page in Table 24 and Figure 23. Overall, a large majority of students feel safe at school, have never been in a fight at school, have never been injured or threatened at school, and have never taken a weapon to school. However, just as with illicit drug use, even small percentages for these safety issues can be serious. For example, of the 8th graders sampled, 5.37% have taken a weapon to school at least once in the past month. Of the 10th grade sample, 5.8% of students have taken a weapon to school, and of the 12th grade sample, 6.76% of students have taken a weapon to school. While the other safety issues show a decrease with increased grade level, the rate of taking a weapon to school increases with increased grade level. According to survey results, 5.34% of 8th graders, 2.29% of 10th graders, and 2.58% of 12th graders indicated they had skipped school because they felt unsafe. More Arizona youth indicated that they had been threatened or injured by someone at school. One out of ten 8th graders indicated that they had been threatened by someone or injured with a weapon at school. This percentage decreases with increased grade level, with 9.0% of 10th graders and 5.58% of 12th graders reporting that it had happened to them. Finally, the safety issue with the highest rating is fighting on school property. Students in the 8th grade are the most likely to be in a physical fight at school, with 21.48% indicating they had been in a fight at least once in the last year. This rate decreases with increased grade level, with 12.37% of 10th graders and 6.46% of 12th graders indicating they had fought at school.
The least serious issue seems to be with students not going to school because they feel unsafe.
One out of 10 8th graders indicated that they had been threatened by someone or injured with a weapon at school.
The safety issue with the highest rate is fighting on school property. Students in the 8th grade are most likely to be in a physical fight at school, with 21.48% indicating they had been in a fight at least once in the last year.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 63
Table 24
Safety and School Issues
Grade 8 At least one 0 Days day Grade 10 At least one 0 Days day Grade 12 At least one 0 Days day
During the past 30 days, on how many days did you carry a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club on school property
94.63%
5.37%
94.20%
5.80%
93.24%
6.76%
During the past 30 days, on how many days sdid you not go to school because you felt you would be unsafe at school or on your way to or from school During the past 12 months, how many times has someone threatened or injured you with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club on school property During the past 12 months, how many times were you in a physical fight on school property
94.66%
5.34%
97.71%
2.29%
97.42%
2.58%
89.96%
10.04%
91.00%
9.00%
94.42%
5.58%
78.52%
21.48%
87.63%
12.37%
93.54%
6.46%
Figure 23
Student Safety and School Issues
Grade 8
Percent of sample that experienced the situation at least once in a given period 50.00% 45.00% 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% Carried a weapon on school property (past month) Didn't go to school because felt unsafe at school or on way to school (past month) Has been threatened or injued with a weapon on school property (past year) Has been in a physical fight on school property (last year)
Grade 10
Grade 12
Arizona Youth Survey Report 64
Survey Results: Risk and Protective Factor Results
About Risk and Protective Factors Research during the past 30 years supports the view that alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use; delinquency; school achievement; and other important outcomes in adolescence are associated with specific characteristics in the student's community, school, family environments, and individual characteristics. These characteristics are called risk or protective factors. Risk factors are characteristics that are known to increase the likelihood that a student will engage in one or more problem behaviors. For example, one risk factor in the community environment is the existence of laws and norms favorable to drug use. In those communities where there is acceptance or tolerance of drug use, students are more likely to engage in ATOD use. Protective factors are characteristics in the student's community, school, family, and individual environments that are known to decrease the likelihood that a student will engage in problem behaviors. For example, strong positive attachment or bonding to parents reduces the risk of an adolescent engaging in problem behaviors. The analysis of risk and protective factors is the most powerful paradigm available for understanding the genesis of both positive and negative adolescent behavioral outcomes and how the most successful adolescent prevention programs can be designed. (The risk and protective factors are described fully at the beginning of this report.) There is a substantial amount of research showing that exposure of adolescents to a greater number of risk factors, irrespective of what the specific risk factors are, is associated with more substance use and delinquency. There is also evidence that exposure to a number of protective factors is associated with lower prevalence of these problem behaviors (Bry, McKeon, & Pandina, 1982; Newcomb, Maddahian, & Skager, 1987; Newcomb & Felix-Ortiz, 1992; Newcomb, 1995; Pallard, et. al, 1999; Pollard & Lofquist, 1999; Pollard, Hawkins & Arthur, 1999). Many of the questions on the survey have been combined into risk and protective factor scales. This allows items that gather similar information to be summarized as a scale score. All of the scales were scored so that the higher the score the greater the risk for risk factors, and the greater the protection for protective factors. A student's risk or protective factor scale score is expressed as an average scale score. Because risk is associated with negative behavArizona Youth Survey Report 65
Risk factors increase the likelihood that a student will engage in one or more problem behaviors.
Protective factors decrease the likelihood that a student will engage in problem behaviors.
Research indicates that students exposure to risk factors often leads to more substance use and delinquency.
The risk and protective factor method of prevention allows communities to measure levels of risk and protection among their youth, and then target prevention efforts to the specific needs of the community.
ioral outcomes, it is better to have lower scores, not higher. Conversely, because protective factors are associated with better student outcomes, it is better to have protective factor scores with high values. A benefit of using the risk and protective factor model in dealing with adolescent social problems is that it provides a method of measuring levels of risk and protection. Once the areas of highest risk and the areas of lowest protection are identified, they can be addressed by programs designed to reduce levels of risk and increase levels of protection. The decreases in risk and increases in protection will ultimately result in a reduction of the rate of youth problem behaviors. After the prevention programs have been implemented, the risk and protective factor levels can again be measured to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. There are 18 risk factors and 10 protective factors measured through the Arizona survey, and the survey uses 24 risk factor scales and 9 protective factor scales to measure them. The questions on the survey are used to measure the 24 risk factor scales and nine protective factor scales. An item dictionary that lists the risk and protective factor scales and the questions they contain has been prepared and included in Appendix B for reference. In order to make the results of the 2002 Survey more usable, risk and protective profiles have been developed that show the percentage of youth at each participating Arizona school district who are at risk and the percentage of youth with protection on each scale. The profiles that were sent to individual schools in March 2002 allow a comparison with the percentage of youth at risk for the entire state. An advantage of having the data available from the risk and protective factor questions is that the ATOD use, antisocial behavior, and the percentage of youth at risk and with protection provide a baseline that can be used to compare the results from future surveys. A community can determine whether it is becoming more or less at risk in an area by comparing the survey results from one survey administration to the next. Through future student survey administrations; the state, schools, and communities that deliver prevention services can effectively evaluate their prevention efforts and determine if those efforts are having the desired effect of reducing risk and increasing protection in youth. These changes in risk and protection will, hopefully, result in the reduction of the level of youth problem behaviors in the community.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 66
There are 18 risk factors and 10 protective factors measured through the Arizona survey, and the survey uses 24 risk factor scales and 9 protective factor scales to measure them.
Risk and Protective profiles have been sent to individual Arizona districts and schools to give communities a better idea of how to target prevention to their youth.
How to Read the Risk and Protective Factor Charts In order to read the Risk and Protective Factor Charts (Figures 21-26), there are two features to keep in mind while scanning the chart: 1) cut-points help with distinguishing between students atrisk and those not-at-risk and 2) dashed lines showing comparisons to other state levels.
Cut-Points
Before the percentage of youth at risk on a given scale could be calculated, a scale value or cut-point needed to be determined that would separate the at-risk group from the not-at-risk group. The Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA) survey was designed to assess adolescent substance use, anti-social behavior and the risk and protective factors that predict these adolescent problem behaviors. The Arizona Youth Survey, and other surveys designed for other states and areas, follow the PNA format and have the same goal of gathering information on the prevention needs of students, schools, communities, and states. Since PNA surveys have been given to over 200,000 youth nationwide, it was possible to select two groups of youth, one that was more at risk for problem behaviors and another group that was less at-risk. A cut-point score was then determined for each risk and protective factor scale that best divided the youth from the two groups into their appropriate group, more at-risk or less at-risk. The criteria for selecting the more at-risk and the less at-risk groups included academic grades (the more at-risk group received "D" and "F" grades, the less at-risk group received "A" and "B" grades), ATOD use (the more at-risk group had more regular use, the less at-risk group had no drug use and use of alcohol or tobacco on only a few occasions), and antisocial behavior (the more at-risk group had two or more serious delinquent acts in the past year, the less at-risk group had no serious delinquent acts). The cut-points that were determined by analyzing the results of the more at-risk and less at-risk groups will remain constant and will be used to produce the profiles for future surveys. Since the cut-points for each scale will remain fixed, the percentage of youth above the cut-point on a scale (at-risk) will provide a method for evaluating the progress of prevention programs over time. For example, if the percentage of youth at risk for family conflict in a community prior to implementing a community-wide family/parenting program was 60% and then decreased to 40% one year after the program was implemented, the program would be viewed as helping to reduce family conflict.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 67
Seven-State Norm Line Levels of risk and protection in the state are also compared to a more national sample. The dashed line on each risk and protective factor chart represents the percentage of youth at risk or with protection for the seven-state sample upon which the cut-points were developed. The seven states included in the norm group were Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. All the states have a mix of urban and rural students. For more information about risk and protective factors, please refer to the resources listed on the last page of this report under Contacts for Prevention.
Arizona Youth Survey Report 68
Risk Factor Scores: Arizona 2002
For a majority of the risk scales, Arizona youth had scores that were equal to or higher than the seven-state norm. This indicates that Arizona youth are at the same risk, or are at higher risk, than national youth. Again, risk factors are factors that have been shown to put students at risk for substance abuse and antisocial behaviors. Areas of high risk are more negative
Object Description
| Rating | |
| TITLE | Arizona youth survey state report |
| CREATOR | Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. Statistical Analysis Center. |
| SUBJECT | Youth--Drug use--Arizona; Drug abuse surveys--Arizona; Youth--Arizona--Statistics; Youth--Arizona--Attitudes; High school students--Substance use--Arizona--Surveys; Middle school students--Substance use--Arizona--Surveys; |
| Browse Topic |
Crime and violence |
| DESCRIPTION | This title contains one or more publications. Published biennially. |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. |
| Material Collection |
State Documents Annual Reports |
| Acquisition Note | http://azcjc.gov/publications/publications.asp |
| Source Identifier | CJC 1.3:Y 58/ |
| Location | 80759087 |
| REPOSITORY | Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records--Law and Research Library Division. |
Description
| TITLE | State of Arizona youth survey 2002 |
| DESCRIPTION | 114 pages (PDF version). File size: 390.437 KB. |
| TYPE | Text |
| Acquisition Note | http://azcjc.gov/publications/publications.asp |
| RIGHTS MANAGEMENT | Copyright to this resource is held by the creating agency and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the creating agency. Any attempt to circumvent the access controls placed on this file is a violation of United States and international copyright laws, and is subject to criminal prosecution. |
| DATE ORIGINAL | 2002-11 |
| Time Period | 2000s (2000-2009) |
| ORIGINAL FORMAT | Born Digital |
| Source Identifier | CJC 1.3:Y 58/2002 |
| DIGITAL IDENTIFIER | 010603_AYSFullReport_final.pdf |
| DIGITAL FORMAT | PDF (Portable Document Format) |
| REPOSITORY | Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records--Law and Research Library Division. |
| File Size | 390.437 KB |
| Full Text | Arizona Criminal Justice Commission Statistical Analysis Center Publication O u r mission is to sustain and enhance the coordination, cohesiveness, productivity and effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System in Arizona State of Arizona Youth Survey November 2002 ARIZONA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION Vice Chairperson RALPH OGDEN Yuma County Sheriff JOSEPH ARPAIO Maricopa County Sheriff DAVID K. BYERS Administrative Office of the Courts, Director TONY ESTRADA Santa Cruz County Sheriff BARBARA LAWALL Pima County Attorney JANET NAPOLITANO Attorney General CHARLES L. RYAN Department of Corrections, Acting Director CARROL de BROEKERT Board of Executive Clemency Chairperson BILL FITZGERALD Yavapai County Adult Probation Officer J.T. McCANN Flagstaff Police Department, Chief ROBERT CARTER OLSON Pinal County Attorney JIM BOLES City of Winslow, Mayor CLARENCE DUPNIK Pima County Sheriff DENNIS GARRETT Department of Public Safety, Director RICHARD MIRANDA Tucson Police Department, Chief RICHARD M. ROMLEY Maricopa County Attorney CHRISTOPHER SKELLY Judge, Retired MICHAEL D. BRANHAM Executive Director STEVE BALLANCE Statistical Analysis Center, Director DON THOMAS Senior Research Analyst JACKIE MINERO Research Analyst Arizona Youth Survey Report 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) would like to thank the Arizona Department of Health Services, Governor's Division of Drug and Gang Policy and the Southwest Prevention Center for their partnership in this project. Additionally, ACJC would like to thank the Arizona Drug and Gang Council Working Group, Arizona Department of Education, Arizona Prevention Resource Center and the Arizona Juvenile Justice Commission for their collaborative effort in taking our needs assessment to a higher level for the State of Arizona. The Statistical Analysis Center received support for this report from numerous state agencies and staff throughout the state. Special thanks to: Jean Ajamie, Arizona Department of Education Cheri Levenson, Arizona Department of Education Conny Holstein, Arizona Department of Health Services Richard Porter, Arizona Department of Health Services Steve Sparks, Arizona Department of Health Services Ed Feingold, Arizona Department of Public Safety Lieutenant James McGuffin, Arizona Department of Public Safety Wendy Wolfersteig, Arizona Prevention Resource Center Charles Katz, Arizona State University West Nancy Rodriguez, Arizona State University West Julie Dybas, Administrative Office of the Courts Elizabeth Eells, Administrative Office of the Courts Brenda Henderson, Governor's Division of Drug and Gang Policy Sheila Hoppe, Governor's Division of Drug and Gang Policy Arizona Youth Survey Report 2 Table of Contents Table of Figures and Table.................................................................................................. 4 Executive Summary...............................................................................................................6 Introduction...........................................................................................................................9 Survey Methods.................................................................................................................... 12 Survey Questionnaire................................................................................................................................................12 Completion Rate and Ability to Generalize the Results..................................................................................13 Selection of Statewide Survey Sample..................................................................................................................14 Survey Participants .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Survey Norms and Comparative Data.................................................................................................................16 Validity of the Data ..................................................................................................................................................16 Risk and Protective Factor Descriptions .......................................................................... 18 Community Risk Factors .......................................................................................................................................18 Family Risk Factors ..................................................................................................................................................20 School Risk Factors ..................................................................................................................................................21 Individual-Peer Risk Factors .................................................................................................................................21 Generalizations About Risks ................................................................................................................................. 22 Protective Factors .....................................................................................................................................................23 Survey Results .....................................................................................................................25 Drug, Antisocial Behavior, and School Safety Results ........................................................25 Total Student Use of ATODs............................................................................................................................... 25 Age of Initiation ........................................................................................................................................................28 ATOD Use by Gender ............................................................................................................................................30 Alcohol and Binge Drinking ..................................................................................................................................32 Smokeless Tobacco ..................................................................................................................................................35 Cigarettes .....................................................................................................................................................................37 Marijuana .....................................................................................................................................................................39 Inhalants ...................................................................................................................................................................41 Other Illicit Drugs: Hallucinogens, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Steroids, Heroin, Barbiturates, and Ecstasy .................................................................................................................43 Substance Abuse by Academic Grades ..............................................................................................................52 Perceived Availability of ATODs and Handguns ...........................................................................................54 Perceived Harmfulness ...........................................................................................................................................56 Antisocial Behavior ................................................................................................................................................... 58 Antisocial Behavior by Gender .............................................................................................................................61 School and Safety Issues .........................................................................................................................................63 About Risk and Protective Factors ......................................................................................................................65 How to Read the Risk and Protective Factor Charts...................................................................................... 67 Risk Factor Scores: Arizona 2002 ........................................................................................................................69 Protective Factor Scores: Arizona 2002 ............................................................................................................73 Risk and Protective Factor Results ....................................................................................65 2002 Adult Substance Use Survey .....................................................................................77 Findings ...............................................................................................................................85 Summary .............................................................................................................................90 APPENDIX A: 2002 Arizona Youth Survey .................................................................. 92 APPENDIX B: Item Construct Dictionary ..................................................................... 93 Arizona Youth Survey Report 3 Table of Figures and Tables Executive Summary Table 1: Arizona and National 30-Day and Lifetime ATOD Use...................................... 7 Survey Methods Table 2: Arizona Youth Survey: 2002 Participation and Demographics ......................... 15 Survey Results Drug, Antisocial Behavior, and School Safety Results Table 3: Total Arizona ATOD Use--30-Day and Lifetime.............................................. 26 Figure 1: Total Arizona 30-Day ATOD Use ....................................................................... 26 Figure 2: Total Arizona Lifetime ATOD Use .................................................................... 27 Table 4: Age of Initiation .................................................................................................... 29 Figure 3: 2002 Arizona Substance Use Age of Initiation .................................................. 29 Table 5: Usage of ATODs by Gender ................................................................................ 31 Figure 4: Arizona 30-Day and Lifetime ATOD Usage by Gender ................................... 31 Table 6: Alcohol Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ................................................................. 33 Figure 5: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Alcohol ................................................... 33 Table 7: Binge Drinking in the Last Two Weeks................................................................ 34 Figure 6: Arizona Rates of Student Binge Drinking .......................................................... 34 Table 8: Smokeless Tobacco Usage--30-Day and Lifetime............................................ 36 Figure 7: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Smokeless Tobacco ............................... 36 Table 9: Cigarettes Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ............................................................ 38 Figure 8: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Cigarettes ............................................... 38 Table 10: Marijuana Usage--30-Day and Lifetime............................................................ 40 Figure 9: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Marijuana ............................................... 40 Table 11: Inhalant Usage--30-Day and Lifetime .............................................................. 42 Figure 10: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Inhalants ............................................... 42 Table 12: LSD/Hallucinogens Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ......................................... 45 Figure 11: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Hallucinogens...................................... 45 Table 13: Methamphetamines Usage--30-Day and Lifetime .......................................... 46 Figure 12: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Methamphetamines............................. 46 Table 14: Cocaine Usage--30-Day and Lifetime .............................................................. 47 Figure 13: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Cocaine ................................................. 47 Table 15: Steroid Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ................................................................ 48 Figure 14: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Steroids................................................. 48 Table 16: Heroin Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ................................................................ 49 Figure 15: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Heroin .................................................. 49 Table 17: Barbiturates/Sedatives Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ..................................... 50 Figure 16: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Barbiturates/Sedatives........................ 50 Table 18: Ecstasy Usage--30-Day and Lifetime ............................................................... 51 Arizona Youth Survey Report 4 Figure 17: Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Ecstasy ................................................. Table 19: Percentage Using ATODs by Academic Grade................................................ Figure 18: ATOD Use by Academic Grade ....................................................................... Table 20: Perceived Availability of ATODS and Guns ..................................................... Figure 19: Arizona and National Perceived Availability of ATODs ............................... Table 21: Perceived Harmfulness of ATODs .................................................................... Figure 20: Arizona and National Perceived Harmfulness of ATODs ............................. Table 22: The Prevalence of Delinquent Behavior, by Grade.......................................... Figure 21: Prevalence of Delinquent Behavior for Arizona Youth, by Grade ................. Table 23: Percentage of Male and Female Students Who Have Participated in Antisocial Behaviors At Least Once in the Past Year .................................................. Figure 22: Arizona 30-Day Antisocial Behavior by Gender .............................................. Table 24: Safety and School Issues..................................................................................... Figure 23: Safety and School Issues................................................................................... Risk and Protective Factors Table 25: 2002 Arizona Risk Factor Scores ........................................................................ Figure 24: Risk Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 8 Arizona Students................. Figure 25: Risk Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 10 Arizona Students ............... Figure 26: Risk Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 12 Arizona Students ............... Table 26: 2002 Arizona Protective Factor Scores .............................................................. Figure 27: Protective Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 8 Arizona Students ....... Figure 28: Protective Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 10 Arizona Students ...... Figure 29: Protective Factor Scores: 2002 State Survey, Grade 12 Arizona Students ...... 2002 Adult Substance Use Survey Figure 30: Figure 31: Figure 32: Table 27: Table 28: 51 53 55 55 55 57 57 60 60 62 62 64 64 71 71 72 72 75 75 76 76 Percent of Arrestee's Testing Positive for Marijuana .......................................81 Percent of Arrestee's Testing Positive for Cocaine ...........................................81 Percent of Arrestee's Testing Positive for Methamphetamine ......................82 Maricopa County Testing Positive by Gender for All Offenses........................82 Pima County Testing Positive by Gender for All Offenses................................82 Arizona Youth Survey Report 5 Executive Summary Arizona Revised Statute 41-2416 requires that the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission conduct a statewide survey to "measure both the attitudes and the actual prevalence and frequency of substance abuse by children and adults." This report is produced to fulfill these requirements. To comply with Arizona Revised Statute 41-2416 the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission's Statistical Analysis Center conducted both a youth and adult assessment and evaluation. First, a survey was administered in a statewide sample of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in public schools throughout Arizona. The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission has been conducting a youth survey for twelve years on a biennial basis; however, notable improvements in the survey model, sampling methods and increased collaboration distinguish the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey from prior surveys. Second, a study of adult drug use based upon adults involved in the criminal justice system was conducted by the Statistical Analysis Center. The Arizona Youth Survey was conducted by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission with technical assistance from the Southwest Center of Prevention at the University of Oklahoma. The Arizona Youth Survey is the result of a partnership between the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Governor's Division of Drug Policy. Further, the development and implementation of the survey is a product of ongoing meetings by state agencies participating in the discussion and evaluation of current statewide surveys over the past two years. The successful implementation of the Arizona Youth Survey can also be attributed to collaborative efforts from the Arizona Prevention Resource Center and the Arizona Department of Education. Finally, the overwhelming cooperation of local school administrators directly contributed to the success of the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey. The survey was administered from January through February 2002 in Arizona public and private schools. A random sample drawn from the 15 counties resulted in a total of 12,203 valid surveys from 59 individual schools. This report provides a statewide perspective, however, for the first time, participating schools and county officials will receive community specific data in the form of individual reports to assist in analysis and comparison, as well as for planning strategies and program development. Due to enhancements made in ACJC's methodology for the 2002 survey, we must caution against comparisons to past survey results, however, it is noteworthy that alcohol is still the most common substance used by Arizona students. In the past month, 46.4% of students have used alcohol, and 69.2% of students have used alcohol in their lifetime. Cigarette use traditionally the second most used substance for youth and adults is the third most used by Arizona youth. While regular (30-day) cigarette use is usually higher than marijuana use, results from the survey indicate that more Arizona youth have used marijuana in the past month than have used cigarettes (20.5% compared to 16.5%). Such a shift in past month use, may suggest future directions for Arizona prevention efforts. Other unexpected results are seen in comparing male and female use. While males have generally tended to have higher use rates of substances, the survey shows that Arizona females actually have higher use rates of alcohol (30-day and lifetime use), cigarettes (30-day and lifetime use), inhalants Arizona Youth Survey Report 6 (30-days), heroin (30-days), methamphetamines (lifetime) and ecstasy (lifetime). In the case of Arizona, we see that an increase in prevention efforts directed towards females could be beneficial. A comparison of the Arizona Youth Survey and the National Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey is a measure for assessing current substance abuse and risk behaviors of Arizona youth. While students in the national sample tended to experiment with drugs more, and generally had higher lifetime use of most drugs except smokeless tobacco and marijuana, Arizona youth generally had somewhat higher regular/past month use rates of nearly all substances alcohol, marijuana, inhalants, hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates and ecstasy. Complete results can be seen in the table below. Table 1 Arizona and National Lifetime Use 8th Grade Arizona National 50.5% 36.6% 11.7% 20.4% 17.1% 4.0% 4.3% 4.4% 2.8% 1.7% -5.2% 10th Grade Arizona 72.3% 49.8% 23.2% 41.6% 10.4% 8.3% 8.2% 6.8% 2.7% 3.2% 5.7% 8.2% National 70.1% 52.8% 19.5% 40.1% 15.2% 7.8% 5.7% 6.4% 3.5% 1.7% -8.0% 12th Grade Arizona 80.8% 61.1% 24.1% 50.8% 10.1% 12.6% 12.0% 8.6% 2.7% 3.8% 7.4% 12.0% National 79.7% 61.0% 19.7% 49.0% 13.0% 12.8% 8.2% 6.9% 3.7% 1.8% 8.7% 11.7% Alcohol Cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco Marijuana Inhalants Hallucinogens Cocaine Methamphetamines Steroids Heroin Sedatives Ecstasy 56.9% 39.6% 25.9% 26.6% 11.9% 2.4% 4.5% 2.9% 2.2% 1.9% 2.1% 5.5% Arizona and National 30-Day Use 8th Grade Arizona National 21.5% 12.2% 4.0% 9.2% 4.0% 1.2% 1.2% 1.3% 0.7% 0.6% -1.8% 10th Grade Arizona 47.9% 18.1% 4.7% 22.4% 3.4% 3.2% 3.5% 2.6% 1.5% 1.4% 2.6% 2.5% National 39.0% 21.3% 6.9% 19.8% 2.4% 2.1% 1.3% 1.5% 0.9% 0.3% -2.6% 12th Grade Arizona 58.9% 23.2% 5.9% 25.4% 2.0% 3.1% 4.0% 2.2% 0.9% 1.3% 3.4% 3.2% National 49.8% 29.5% 7.8% 22.4% 1.7% 3.2% 2.1% 1.5% 1.3% 0.4% 2.8% 2.8% Alcohol Cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco Marijuana Inhalants Hallucinogens Cocaine Methamphetamines Steroids Heroin Sedatives Ecstasy 34.4% 9.1% 4.0% 14.3% 6.5% 1.5% 2.6% 1.0% 1.2% 1.2% 1.0% 3.6% The greatest differences in 30-day use are seen when looking at the use of alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Past month use of alcohol is notably higher for Arizona youth than for youth nationwide. The Arizona Youth Survey results, when compared to the national MTF results, show that for all grades, more Arizona students have used alcohol in the past month than have students in the national sample. Past month use was 8.9% to 12.9% higher for youth in Arizona than for youth in the national sample. Arizona 8th grade students' 30-day alcohol use rate was 12.9% higher than the national sample (34.4% compared to 21.5%), Arizona 10th graders' use rate was 8.9% higher than the national sample (47.9% compared to 39.0%) and Arizona 12th graders' use rate was 9.1% higher than the national sample (58.9% compared to 49.8%). Arizona Youth Survey Report 7 More Arizona youth than national youth are using marijuana experimentally. Arizona 30-day and lifetime usage rates of marijuana are higher than national rates for 8th, 10 th and 12 th grades. Rates of 30-day usage are 2.6% (grade 10) to 5.1% (grade 8) higher for Arizona youth than for the national sample. For lifetime usage, Arizona rates were 1.5% (grade 10) to 6.2% (grade 8) higher than national students. As for cocaine use, while the use for Arizona youth and MTF youth is relatively low in comparison to other substances, it appears that Arizona youth are using cocaine more than students nationwide. In comparing Arizona results to MTF results, past month and lifetime use rates are higher for Arizona youth in all grades. Similarly, the lifetime use of Ecstasy is above the national average for all grades and more than double in the 30-day use of 8th grade students. An explanation for this difference in use could possibly be gathered by comparing Arizona and national rates of perceived harmfulness of substances. When students were asked how much of a risk (health and otherwise) there was in using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, students in Arizona generally believed that there is less risk in using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) than students nationwide. The greatest difference is seen in the perceived harm of smoking marijuana regularly. For all grades of the Arizona students surveyed, there was a perception that marijuana was less harmful than was the perception of their national counterparts. Such results could potentially explain the higher experimental and lifetime marijuana use rate for Arizona youth, since students who are not afraid of using substances, and who believe they will not be harmed by using substances, tend to use substances more than students who perceive harm in using a substance. It could be beneficial for prevention programs to increase the focus on the harmful effects of drugs. The analysis of the data obtained from the survey is quite extensive and therefore the results are not intended to be exhaustive. Rather, it is believed that the data and highlights contained within this report will provide insights for future decisions pertaining to the well being of Arizona youth. Specifically, the purpose of the Arizona Youth Survey is to provide policy and decision makers with better information to aid in the development of prevention and intervention strategies throughout the state. Arizona Youth Survey Report 8 Introduction This report describes the findings of a survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in the state of Arizona. The survey was sponsored by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. Arizona Revised Statute 41-2416 requires that the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) conduct a statewide survey to "measure both the attitudes and the actual prevalence and frequency of substance abuse by children and adults." This report has been created to fulfill this requirement. The Arizona Youth Survey was conducted by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission with technical assistance from the Southwest Center of Prevention at the University of Oklahoma. The Arizona Youth Survey is the result of a partnership between the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the Governor's Division of Drug Policy. This report describes the conduct and findings of the 2002 survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in Arizona. The survey data was collected January through February in Arizona public and private schools. Further, the development and coordination of the survey is a product of ongoing meetings by state agencies participating in the discussion and evaluation of current statewide surveys over the past two years. The successful implementation of the Arizona Youth Survey can also be attributed to collaborative efforts from the Arizona Prevention Resource Center and the Arizona Department of Education. Finally, the overwhelming cooperation of local school administrators directly contributed to the success of the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey. It is important to note that in Arizona, there is consensus on the need to provide both services and data in a collaborative manner. There is agreement by the Arizona Drug and Gang Council and Working Group (representing twelve state agencies) and the Arizona Juvenile Justice Commission that the Arizona Youth Survey, the Social Indicators and the Program Inventory should be instruments adopted by the state for the future collection of data on youth, families, communities, and programs. The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission made a decision to change the substance abuse survey instrument to a stronger model that would also benefit multiple agencies in the state. The Arizona Youth Survey, based upon the Communities that Care model, is supported by numerous state agencies and has national recognition. The Communities that Care (CTC) model is based upon a comprehensive prevention model developed by J. David Hawkins, Ph.D. and Richard F. Catalano, Ph.D. at the University of Washington. The CTC model identifies "the factors that in- Arizona Youth Survey Report 9 crease and mitigate the likelihood of delinquent involvement and other dysfunctional behaviors. The model emphasizes the need for community-wide efforts to ameliorate those risk factors." (OJJDP, 1995). Risk and protective focused prevention is based on a simple premise: to prevent a problem from happening, we need to identify the factors that increase the risk of that problem developing and then find ways to reduce the risks. The substance abuse prevention field has been evolving over time, often through induction based upon applied empirical research. The science-based theories and theoretical frameworks in substance abuse prevention and programming in recent years are among the most important developments. The focus has been on risk and protective factors as a unifying descriptive and predictive framework for development and evaluation of prevention programs. Substance abuse prevention programs aim to deter the onset of risky activities, such as alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, by changing the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of people. To have an impact, a person's environment needs to be affected. The environmental areas consist of four domains most commonly referred to as the individual and/or peer group, the family, the community, and school. Within each domain are key characteristics that can serve to suppress risk and/or augment protection. These characteristics are referred to as risk and protective factors. Knowing the prevalence of risk and protective factors helps implement programs that have objectives, strategies and funding geared to meeting individual, family, school and community needs (Arizona Drug and Gang Prevention Resource Center, 1999). The ACJC has had a long history of state substance abuse evaluations. In previous years, to collect substance use information throughout Arizona, the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission's Statistical Analysis Center conducted two separate evaluations. First, a survey was administered in a statewide sample of public schools. Teachers working in the selected schools administered the survey to students in grades three through twelve. The Commission conducted that survey for twelve years on a biennial basis. Second, Commission staff talked with adult probation officers about adult probationer drug use by conducting three group interviews across the state. Although quality information has been gathered in previous surveys, any comparison of survey data with previous studies is problematic due to the limitations of the sampling and weighting methods used in prior years as well as the difference in the model Arizona Youth Survey Report 10 used. For this reason, no formal analysis was conducted between previous evaluations and this study. The Arizona Youth Survey was administered in January and February of 2002. School principals and teachers were provided detailed instructions for administering the survey. Students' anonymity was emphasized and facilitated through the provision of blank cover sheets to conceal answers while completing the survey. Upon completion, all surveys were returned and electronically scanned by an outside vendor, the Southwest Prevention Center at the University of Oklahoma. This report is organized into five sections: 1. Survey Methods, which describes how the survey was conducted, who participated, and procedures that were used to ensure that valid information was collected. 2. Risk and Protective Factors for Substance Abuse and Other Youth Problems, which provides a description of the risk and protective factor model of substance abuse prevention, including the four domains of risk and protection (community, family, school, and peer/individual). 3. Survey Results, which has two sub-sections. The first presents drug, anti-social and school safety results data on recent and lifetime use of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) among Arizona's youth. The second presents risk factor scores and protective factor scores. These results are often compared to the results of a national survey, Monitoring the Future. 4. 2002 Adult Substance Abuse survey, which provides summary information from Probation Departments throughout the state, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and from the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) project. 5. Survey Findings, which fully summarize the results and conclusions of the report. Arizona Youth Survey Report 11 Survey Methods Information was gathered using the Arizona Youth Survey (Appendix A). The goal of the survey was to develop a tool which provided scientifically sound information about the levels of risk and protection in a community. The information gathered on youth drug use and delinquency is essential in supporting prevention planning, intervention planning, and needs assessment at the local and state levels. Risk factors are those conditions or situations that increase the likelihood that a child will develop one or more health and/or behavior problems in adolescence. Protective factors are the conditions or situations which decrease the likelihood of future behavior problems. Risk and protective factors are found in four domains -- community, school, family, and the peer/individual. There are 18 risk factors and 10 protective factors measured through the Arizona survey, and the survey uses 24 risk factor scales and 9 protective factor scales to measure them. The remainder of this section will discuss the survey questionnaire, how it was administered, the demographics of participants, completion rates, and the ability to generalize the results to other populations. Risk Factors increase the likelihood that a child will develop one or more health and/or behavior problems. Protective Factors are conditions or situations which decrease the likelihood of future behavior problems. Survey Questionnaire The survey questionnaire was developed through the combined efforts of six states and the Social Development Research Group at the University of Washington. The collaborative survey development process was a Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) project called the Six-State Consortium. The goal of the Consortium was to develop a survey that provided scientifically sound information about the levels of risk and protection in a community. The survey has been further refined through the Diffusion Consortium Project that involves seven states and is funded by four federal agencies: the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and CSAP. Risk and protective factors are characteristics of a community that are reported by the youth who complete the survey. Besides measuring risk and protective factors, the survey also assesses the current prevalence of ATOD use. The substances that are measured by the survey include: 1) alcohol; 2) cigarettes; 3) smokeless tobacco; 4) marijuana ; 5) hallucinogens; 6) cocaine; Arizona Youth Survey Report 12 7) inhalants; 8) methamphetamines; 9) barbiturates; 10) heroin; 11) ecstasy; and 12) steroids. The questions that ask about substance use are similar to those used in the national survey, Monitoring the Future (MTF), so comparisons between the two surveys can easily be made. There are a total of 18 risk factors and 10 protective factors that are measured by the survey. However, some of the risk factors are broad enough to require more than one scale for adequate measurement. As a result, there are 24 separate risk factor scales and 9 protective factor scales. There are approximately four survey items that measure each risk factor. Reliability for the constructs is good (the average value for Cronback's was alpha = .79). The questionnaire has 124 questions, however, many of the questions have multiple components so students actually responded to a total of 198 items. The questions were printed in a test booklet that was machine scoreable. See Appendix A for a copy of the questionnaire. Students from all grades could easily complete the questionnaire in one class period. A complete item dictionary that lists the risk and protective factor scales and the items they contain as well as the outcome variables can be seen in Appendix B. Completion Rate and Ability to Generalize the Results Not all Arizona students participated in the survey. Some students individually chose not to participate, some students' parents refused to give consent for them to participate, and some students were absent on the day the survey was administered. A weighted sample of 12,909 surveys was selected from the total survey pool (see Selection of Statewide Survey Sample section on page 14 for information on sampling and weighting procedures). This is a very high completion rate for a school survey and resulted in an adequate number of students for analysis. It should be noted that not all of the surveys that were completed contained valid information. Some (706) were eliminated because students were deemed not truthful in their responses, or did not complete some of the questions (see Validity of the Data section on page 16 for the validity criteria). Arizona Youth Survey Report 13 Selection of Statewide Survey Sample The purpose of the survey was to gather information that could be used by participating schools, the counties, and the state. In order to have a sample of students that was representative of all of the students in Arizona, careful attention was paid to sample selection. First, the schools in Arizona were divided into three groups according to size: small, medium and large. Then, a random sample from each group was chosen to assure representation of students in the small rural schools, middle sized schools, and large metropolitan schools. Because this procedure resulted in over-sampling some areas of the state, a weighting procedure was used to weight the results to more accurately represent the student composition in the three grades: eight, ten and twelve; and the 15 counties. Thus, careful selection of the schools that were sampled and uniform administration of the survey resulted in survey data that are valid and representative of the students in grades 8, 10, and 12 in Arizona's 15 counties. In general, the statewide sample was chosen so that those conducting the survey were 95% confident that the margin of error was less than 1.5% for each grade. For the counties, the overall sample of students was chosen to produce a margin of error of less than 5% at the 95% confidence level. In addition to the statewide sample discussed above, all of the schools in Arizona were given the opportunity to participate in the survey. Schools that chose to participate were provided reports in which their data were compared to that of the overall statewide sample. However, none of the data from the volunteer schools were used in the statewide analysis. Survey plans called for participation of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade Arizona students. Fortythree Arizona school districts participated in the survey, which is a very high rate of participation for a voluntary school survey. A total sample of 12,909 surveys were sampled from the surveys returned to SWCAPT for scoring and analysis. A total of 12,203 students turned in valid surveys. Survey Participants The goal was to sample students in grades 8, 10, and 12 in the state of Arizona. The randomly selected sample, and weighted results ensure that the survey results reported here are a good estimate of the rates of ATOD use and levels of risk and protective factors of youth in the state of Arizona. At the school level, the results provide specific information about the problems faced by youth, and about areas of risk and protection for the school. The survey results are an excellent tool for community and school prevention planning. Arizona Youth Survey Report 14 Of 2002 survey participants, 50.7% were female and 49.3% were male; 51.8% were Caucasian and 30.3% were Hispanic. The characteristics of the youth who took the survey are presented in Table 2 below. In comparing the sample characteristics to Arizona student enrollment data gathered from the Arizona Department of Education website, some similarities between the sample and Arizona student enrollment figures can be seen. Such similarities provide more assurance that the data gathered through the Arizona Youth Survey is representative of the state as a whole. For example, in the 2002 survey, there were nearly an equal number of males and females who took the survey in all grades (female = 50.7% and males = 49.3%), while the Department of Education website found similar percentages for Arizona (female = 48.8% and males = 51.2%). Of the respondents, 51.8% were White and 30.3% were Hispanic (similar to the Department of Education website findings -- 56.8% white and 29.7% Hispanic). The other ethnic groups accounted for 17.9% of the respondents. Table 2 also shows that English is the primary language spoken in 82.1% of homes. (Arizona student enrollment data gathered from the Arizona Department of Education website--http://www.ade.state.az.us). Table 2 Arizona Youth Survey: 2002 Participation and Demographics Grade 8 Gender Male Female Ethnicity White African-American Hispanic Asian/Pac. Islander Native American Other Language Spoken at Home English Spanish Other Home Structure Both Parents Step-family Mother Only Father Only Other 49.1% 50.9% 40.9% 3.8% 35.8% 1.5% 15.2% 2.8% 79.6% 17.8% 2.6% 55.8% 0.3% 31.9% 6.0% 6.1% Grade 10 49.0% 51.0% 55.1% 1.9% 30.1% 2.0% 8.0% 2.9% 81.5% 15.6% 2.8% 57.0% 0.1% 30.9% 6.5% 5.4% Grade 12 50.0% 50.0% 57.2% 1.9% 25.7% 2.9% 9.1% 3.3% 85.0% 11.8% 3.2% 57.4% 0.2% 28.7% 6.7% 7.0% Total 49.3% 50.7% 51.8% 2.4% 30.3% 2.2% 10.3% 3.0% 82.1% 15.0% 2.9% 56.8% 0.2% 30.5% 6.4% 6.1% Arizona Youth Survey Report 15 Survey questions, measurements, and protocol for the Arizona Youth Survey and the MTF surveys are similar, making comparisons possible. Survey Norms and Comparative Data It is important to know how results from Arizona students are compared to other national comparison data. The 2002 Arizona Youth Survey data are compared throughout this report to the national Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey data from 2001. State results from the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades are compared to national results from the same grades. The survey is conducted annually through the University of Michigan, and is designed to provide ATOD use information on a sample of students representative of the United States as a whole. The survey questions, measurements, and protocol for both the Arizona Youth Survey and the MTF surveys are similar, making the comparisons valid. More information on the Monitoring the Future survey and survey results can be found at http://www.monitoringthefuture.org. Validity of the Data The information presented in this report is based entirely on the truthfulness, recall, and comprehension of the youth who participated in the survey. Many studies have shown that most adolescents are truthful in their responses to the questions on similar surveys. For example, ATOD trends for repeated national and state surveys are very similar. Also, the changes reported by youth parallel the changes during the same period in adolescent admissions to treatment for substance abuse. Finally, the relationships between different kinds of behaviors and the problems adolescents report is very consistent over a wide range of studies. This study was carefully designed to ensure honest responses from participants. The confidentiality of the survey was stressed through the instructions and administration procedures. Participants were assured that the survey was voluntary, anonymous, and confidential. They were told that no one would see their answers and that there was no way that a survey could be traced back to an individual student. Because the survey was anonymous, most of the reasons to exaggerate or deny behaviors were eliminated. However, several checks were built into the analysis to minimize Arizona Youth Survey Report 16 the impact of students who were not truthful in their responses. Students whose surveys were deemed not truthful were eliminated. There were a total of 12,909 survey questionnaires in the sample. However, not all of the sampled questionnaires contained valid information. Seven hundred (700 or 5.42%) of the surveys were eliminated from the final analyses because they reported an impossibly high level of substance use, claimed to use a nonexistent drug, or reported that they were, "Not honest at all" in completing the survey. After these invalid surveys were taken out of the sample, there were 6 (.049%) surveys that were blank or that students did not answer enough of the validity questions to determine whether or not they were honest in their responses. These surveys were not included in the final analyses. This resulted in a total of 706 (5.47%) questionnaires that were eliminated from most analyses. A total of 12,203 valid surveys are included in the final analyses reported here. Other measures to reduce response bias included carefully pretesting the questionnaire to ensure that students understood the meaning of each question, using a well developed and tested administration protocol, and reading the same instructions to all students who participated in the survey. Arizona Youth Survey Report 17 Risk and Protective Factor Descriptions In the past century, doctors have discovered factors that put people at risk for things such as heart disease and diabetes, and factors that prevent them from such conditions. The Risk and Protective Factor model discussed here, follows the same model for prevention for our communities' children. Risk-focused prevention is based on a simple premise: to prevent a problem from happening, we need to identify the factors that increase the risk of that problem developing and then find ways to reduce the risks. Risk focused prevention is based on the work of J. David Hawkins, Ph.D.; Richard F. Catalano, Ph.D.; and a team of researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle. In the early 1980's, they conducted a review of thirty years of youth substance abuse and delinquency research and identified risk factors for adolescent drug abuse and delinquency. They have continually updated this review. Other researchers, including Joy Dryfoos, Robert Slavin, and Richard Jessor, have reviewed the literature on behavior problems, such as school dropout and teen pregnancy, and identified risk factors of these problems. Not surprisingly, there is an interrelationship between adolescent drug abuse, delinquency, school dropout, teen pregnancy, and violence and identified risk factors for these problems. Young people who are seriously involved in either juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, school dropout, teenage pregnancy, or violence are more likely to engage in one or more of the other problem behaviors. Furthermore, all of these teen problems share many common risk factors. The risk and protective factors have been organized into the four important areas of a young person's life: 1) the community; 2) the family; 3) the school; and 4) within individuals themselves and their peer interactions. Each are summarized below. (Note: Below each risk factor, and placed in parentheses, are the problem behaviors that are linked to that factor. When applicable, risk and protective factor scales are listed above risk and protective factor summaries.) Community Risk Factors Availability of Drugs and Firearms (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and Violence) The more available drugs are in a community, the higher the risk that young people will abuse drugs in that community. Perceived availability of drugs is also associated with risk. For example, in schools where students just think drugs are more available, a higher rate of drug use occurs. Firearm availability and firearm homicide have increased together since the late 1950s. If a gun is present in the home, it is much more likely to be used against a relative or friend than an intruder or stranger. Also, when a firearm is used in a crime or assault instead of another weapon or no weapon, the outcome is much more likely to be fatal. While a few studies report no association between firearm availability and violence, more studies show a positive relationship. Given the lethality of firearms, the increase in the studies show a conflict escalating into homicide when guns are present, and the strong association between availability of guns and homicide rates, firearm availability is included as a risk factor. Arizona Youth Survey Report 18 Community Laws and Norms Favorable Towards Drug Use, Firearms, and Crime (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and Violence) Community norms, the attitudes and policies a community holds about drug use and crime, are communicated in a variety of ways: through laws and written policies, through informal social practices, and through the expectations parents and other community members have of young people. When laws and community standards are favorable toward drug use or crime, or even if they are just unclear, youth are at higher risk. Transitions and Mobility (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and School Dropout) Even normal school transitions predict increases in problem behaviors. When children move from elementary school to middle school or from middle school to high school, significant increases in the rates of drug use, school misbehavior, and delinquency result. Communities with high rates of mobility appear to be linked to an increased risk of drug use and crime problems. The more often people in a community move, the greater the risk of both criminal behavior and drug-related problems in families. While some people find buffers against the negative effects of mobility by making connections in new communities, others are less likely to have the resources to deal with the effects of frequent moves, and are more likely to have problems. Low Neighborhood Attachment and Community Disorganization (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and Violence) Scales: Low Neighborhood Attachment, Community Disorganization Higher rates of drug problems, juvenile delinquency and violence occurs in communities or neighborhoods where people have little attachment to the community, where the rates of vandalism are high, and where there is low surveillance of public places. These conditions are not limited to low-income neighborhoods, they can also be found in wealthier neighborhoods. The less homogeneous a community (in terms of race, class, religion, and even the mix of industrial to residential neighborhoods) the less connected its resident may feel to the overall community, and the more difficult it is to establish clear community goals and identity. The challenge of creating neighborhood attachment and organization is greater in these neighborhoods. Perhaps the most significant issue affecting community attachment is whether residents feel they can make a difference in their own lives. If the key players in the neighborhood, such as merchants, teachers, police and human services personnel, live outside the neighborhood, residents' sense of commitment will be less. Lower rates of voter participation and parental involvement in schools also indicate lower attachment to the community. Arizona Youth Survey Report 19 Family Risk Factors Family History of the Problem Behavior (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) If children are raised in a family with a history of addiction to alcohol or other drugs, the risk of their children having alcohol and other drug problems themselves increases. If children are born or raised in a family with a history of criminal activity, their risk of juvenile delinquency increases. Similarly, children who are raised by a teenage mother are more likely to become teen parents, and children of dropouts are more likely to dropout of school themselves. Family Management Problems (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) Scales: Family Management, Family Discipline Poor family management practices include lack of clear expectations for behavior, failure of parents to monitor their children (knowing where they are and who they are with), and excessively severe or inconsistent punishment. Family Conflict (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) Persistent, serious conflict between primary care givers or between caregivers and children appears to enhance risk for children raised in these families. Conflict between family members appears to be more important than family structure. Whether the family is headed by two biological parents, a single parent, or some other primary care giver, children raised in families high in conflict appear to be at risk for all of the problem behaviors. Favorable Parental Attitudes and Involvement in Drug Use, Crime, and Violence (Substance Abuse, Delinquency and Violence)` Scales: Favorable Parental Attitudes Toward Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use, Favorable Parental Attitudes Toward Antisocial Behavior Parental attitudes and behavior toward drugs, crime, and violence influence the attitudes and behavior of these children. Parental approval of young people's moderate drinking, even under parental supervision, increases the risk of the young person using marijuana. Similarly, children of parents who excuse their children for breaking the law are more likely to develop problems with juvenile delinquency. In families where parents display violent behavior toward those outside or inside the family, there is an increase in the risk that a child will become violent. Further, in families where parents involve children in their own drug or alcohol behavior, for example, asking the child to light the parent's cigarette or to get the parent a beer, there is an increased likelihood that their children will become drug abusers in adolescence. Arizona Youth Survey Report 20 School Risk Factors Academic Failure (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) Beginning in the late elementary grades, academic failure increases the risk of drug abuse, delinquency, violence, teen pregnancy, and school dropout. Students fail for many reasons. It appears that the experience of failure, not necessarily the student's ability, increases the risk of problem behaviors. Lack of Commitment to School (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) Lack of commitment to school means the young person has ceased to see the role of student as a viable one. Young people who have lost this commitment to school are at higher risk for all five problem behaviors. Individual and Peer Risk Factors Alienation and Rebelliousness, (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, and School Dropout) Young people who feel they are not part of society, are not bound by rules, don't believe in trying to be successful or responsible, or who take an active rebellious stance toward society are at higher risk of drug abuse, delinquency, and school dropout. Friends Who Engage in the Problem Behavior (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) Scales: Friends Who Engage in ATOD Use, Interactions with Antisocial Peers Youth who associate with peers who engage in problem behaviors are much more likely to engage in the same problem behaviors. This is one of the most consistent predictors the research has identified. Even when young people come from well-managed families and do not experience other risk factors, just hanging out with those who engage in problem behaviors greatly increases their risks. However, young people who experience a low number of risk factors are less likely to associate with those who are involved in problem behaviors. Favorable Attitudes Toward the Problem Behavior (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, and School Dropout) Scales: Attitudes Favorable Toward ATOD Use, Rewards for Antisocial Behavior, Attitudes Favorable Toward Antisocial Behavior During the elementary school years, children usually express anti-drug and pro-social attitudes. They have difficulty imagining why people use drugs, commit crimes, and drop out of school. In middle school, as others they know participate in such activities, their attitudes often shift toward greater acceptance of these behaviors. This places them at higher risk. Arizona Youth Survey Report 21 Early Initiation of the Problem Behavior (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) The earlier young people begin using drugs, committing crimes, engaging in violent activity, becoming sexually active, and dropping out of school, the greater the likelihood that they will have problems with these behaviors later on. For example, research shows that young people who initiate drug use before age fifteen are at twice the risk of having drug problems as those who wait until after age nineteen. Antisocial Behavior (Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School Dropout, and Violence) This risk factor also includes persistent antisocial behavior in early adolescence, like misbehaving in school, skipping school, and getting into fights with other children. Young people, both girls and boys, who engage in these behaviors during early adolescence, are at increased risk for drug abuse, delinquency, teen pregnancy, school dropout, and violence. Generalizations About Risks Risks Exist in Multiple Domains Risk factors exist in all areas of life. If a single risk factor is addressed in a single area, problem behaviors may not be significantly reduced. Communities should focus on reducing risks across several areas. The More Risk Factors Present, the Greater the Risk While exposure to one risk factor does not condemn a child to problems later in life, exposure to a greater number of risk factors increases a young person's risk exponentially. Even if a community cannot eliminate all the risk factors that are present, reducing or eliminating even a few risk factors may significantly decrease risk for young people in that community. Risk Factors Show Much Consistency in Effects Across Different Races, Cultures, and Classes While levels of risk may vary in different racial, cultural or socioeconomic groups, the way in which these risk factors work does not appear to vary. One implication for community prevention is to prioritize prevention efforts for groups with higher levels of risk exposure. Protective Factors May Buffer Exposure to Risk Knowledge of risk factors can help communities know what to focus on to reduce health and behavior problems. Communities must know how to reduce risk. Protective factors are conditions that buffer young people from the negative consequences of exposure to risks by either reducing the impact of the risk or changing the way a person responds to the risk. Arizona Youth Survey Report 22 Protective Factors Some young people who are exposed to multiple risk factors do not become substance abusers, juvenile delinquents, teen parents, or school dropouts. Balancing the risk factors are protective factors, those aspects of people's lives that counter risk factors or provide buffers against them. They protect by either reducing the impact of these risks or by changing the way a person responds to the risks. A key strategy to counter risk factors is to enhance protective factors that promote positive behavior, health, well-being, and personal success. Research indicates that protective factors fall into three basic categories: individual characteristics, bonding, and health beliefs and clear standards. Community Bonding Scales: Opportunity for Positive Involvement, Rewards for Conventional Involvement (Recognition) Family Bonding Scales: Opportunity for Positive Involvement, Rewards for Conventional Involvement (Recognition), Family Attachment (Influences Bonding) School Bonding Scales: Opportunity for Positive Involvement, Rewards for Conventional Involvement (Recognition) Positive bonding makes up for many other disadvantages caused by other risk factors or environmental characteristics. Children who are attached to positive families, friends, schools, and communities and who are committed to achieving the goals valued by these groups are less likely to develop problems in adolescence. Studies of successful children who live in high-risk neighborhoods or situations indicate that strong bonds with a caregiver can keep children from getting into trouble. To build bonding, three conditions are necessary: opportunities, skills and recognition. Children must be provided with opportunities to contribute to their community, family, peers, and school. The challenge is to provide children with meaningful, challenging opportunities that help them feel responsible and significant. Children must be taught the skills necessary to effectively take advantage of the opportunities they are provided. If they do not have the necessary skills to be successful, they experience frustration and/or failure. Children must also be recognized and acknowledged for their efforts. This gives them the incentive to contribute, and reinforces their skillful performance. Individual characteristics Scales: Impulsiveness, Pro-Social Orientation, Resiliency, Social Skills Research has identified four individual characteristics as protective factors. These attributes are considered to be inherent in the youngster and are difficult to change. They consist of gender; a resilient temperament; a positive social orientation; and intelligence, however, intelligence does not protect against substance abuse. Arizona Youth Survey Report 23 Healthy Beliefs and Clear Standards (Belief in the Moral Order) Youth need to be bonded to people who have clear, positive standards for behavior. The content of these standards is what protects young people. When parents, teachers and communities set clear standards for children's behavior, when they are widely and consistently supported, and when the consequences for not following the standards are consistent, young people are more likely to follow the standards. Arizona Youth Survey Report 24 Survey Results: Drug, Antisocial Behavior, and School Safety Total Student Use of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATODs) The survey gathers data on current (30-day) and lifetime use. Overall, Arizona student use of ATODs is at levels that are similar to current national trends. The results for all substances are presented for two prevalence periods: lifetime (whether the students have ever used the substance), and past 30 days (whether the student has used the substance in the last month). The lifetime prevalence period is the best measure of experimentation occurring among students. The 30-day prevalence period is considered the best measure for current use. This report focuses largely on the 30-day use (current use). Lifetime and 30-Day Use As can be seen in Table 3 and in Figures 1 and 2 on the next two pages, Arizona students used alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes more than other substances in 2002. A majority of students (69.2% in 2002) have used alcohol in their lifetime, 49.3% of students have used cigarettes in their lifetime, and 38.8% have used marijuana. As for past month use, nearly half (46.4%) of students have used alcohol in the past month. More Arizona students have used marijuana in the past month than have used cigarettes-- 20.5% have used marijuana compared to the 16.5% who have used cigarettes. Of the sampled Arizona youth, 4.8% have used smokeless tobacco in the past month and 24.4% have used smokeless tobacco in their lifetime. Use rates of other drugs--inhalants, hallucinogens, cocaine, methamphetamines, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy-- ranged from 1.2% (steroids) to 4.1% (inhalants) for past month use and 2.5% (steroids) to 10.9% (inhalants) for lifetime use. Individual substance use by grade and gender will be discussed further throughout the report. Table 3 and Figures 1 and 2 are located on the following pages. Survey participants in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades indicated highest past-month and lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco products, and marijuana. More Arizona students have used marijuana in the past month than have used cigarettes. Results from the Arizona Youth Survey show that 20.5% of students have used marijuana in the past month, compared to 16.5% of students who have used cigarettes. Arizona Youth Survey Report 25 Table 3 Total Arizona ATOD Use 30-Day and Lifetime 30-Day Usage Alcohol Smokeless Tobacco Cigarettes Marijuana Inhalants Hallucinogens Cocaine Methamphetamines Steroids Heroin Sedatives/Barbituates Ecstasy Lifetime Usage Alcohol Smokeless Tobacco Cigarettes Marijuana Inhalants Hallucinogens Cocaine Methamphetamines Steroids Heroin Sedatives/Barbituates Ecstasy 69.2% 24.4% 49.3% 38.8% 10.9% 7.4% 8.0% 5.9% 2.5% 2.9% 4.9% 8.3% 46.4% 4.8% 16.5% 20.5% 4.1% 2.6% 3.3% 2.0% 1.2% 1.3% 2.3% 3.1% Figure 1 Total Arizona 30-Day ATOD Use 100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% He Se roi da n tive s/B arb itu ate s Inh ala nts Alc oh Sm ol ok ele ss To ba cc o Co ca ine Me tha mp het am ine s Cig are tte s Ma riju an a Ha l uc ino ge ns Ste roi ds Ec sta sy Percent of sample that have used in the past 30 days Arizona Youth Survey Report 26 Figure 2 Percent of sample that have used at least once in their lifetime 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 0.0% Sm oke les s To bac co Cig are ttes Ma riju an a Inh ala nts Ha l uc ino ge ns Co cai ne Me tha mp he tam ine s Ste roid s He Se roi da n tive s/B arb itu ate s Alc oh ol Total Arizona Lifetime ATOD Use Arizona Youth Survey Report 27 Ec sta sy Age of Initiation of ATOD Use Age of Initiation is the average age of the first use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The earlier young people begin using drugs, committing crimes, engaging in violent activity, and becoming involved in other behaviors, the greater the likelihood that they will have problems with these behaviors later on. The Arizona Student Survey asks students to report how old they were when, if ever, they first used ATODs. Asking students to report their age of first substance use allows us to determine the average age when students generally begin using a substance. This not only gives prevention planners an age group in which to target interventions, but also gives the State of Arizona a better idea of the seriousness of the problem--the younger the age of initiation, the more serious the problem is. Through future surveys, age of initiation can be tracked, and if prevention programs are successful, the age of initiation will increase over time. In Table 4 and Figure 3 on the following page, the average age of first use, or age of initiation, is reported. Cigarette Use Students begin using cigarettes at a younger age than other drugs. The average age of first use of cigarettes in 2002 was 12.38 years. Alcohol Use In alcohol use, a distinction can be made between the first experimental use of alcohol (having more than a or two sip of alcohol) and the first regular use of alcohol (drinking alcoholic beverages regularly, or at least once or twice a month). Arizona students, on average, reported having their first drink of alcohol (having more than a sip or two of alcohol) at age 13.05 years, while the average age of first regular use of alcohol (drinking alcoholic beverages regularly, or at least once or twice a month) was over a year later at age 14.41 years. Marijuana Use The survey results also show that those students who have used marijuana, on average, try marijuana at a younger age than students who began regularly using alcohol. In 2002, the average age of initiation for marijuana use was 13.52 years, while students began regularly using alcohol at 14.41 years. Table 4 and Figure 3 are located on the following page. Students use cigarettes at a younger age (12.38 years) than they use alcohol or marijuana. Arizona students reported having their first drink of alcohol more than a year before they began drinking alcoholic beverages regularly. Age of first drink was 13.05 years, and age of first regular drink was 14.41 years. The survey results show that of students using marijuana and students regularly using alcohol, students begin using marijuana at a younger age than alcohol. Arizona Youth Survey Report 28 Table 4 Age of Initiation Substance Use First Drink (More Than a Sip or Two) of Alcohol First Regular Alcohol Consumption First Cigarette Use First Marijuana Use 2002 13.05 14.41 12.38 13.52 Figure 3 2002 Arizona Substance Use Age of Initiation Marijuana 13.52 Cigarettes 12.38 Alcohol Beverage 14.41 Sip of Alcohol 13.05 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 Average age of first use Arizona Youth Survey Report 29 ATOD Use by Gender Typically, males tend to use ATOD substances more than females. That trend is also somewhat evident when looking at Arizona student results by gender in Table 5 and Figure 4 on the following page. In the 2002 survey, for most ATODs, more males than females had used. However, differences in use were often very similar, and females had higher use rates in several drug categories. Differences in Male and Female ATOD Use For most substances, the difference in male use and female use was small. For example, in 2002, 44.5% of males used alcohol in the past 30-days compared to 48.4% of females. The greatest difference in usage can be seen in lifetime smokeless tobacco and cigarette use rates. In the 2002 survey, for lifetime use, 13.9% of males indicated they had used smokeless tobacco, while 4.7% of females indicated they had used. For lifetime cigarette use, females use at a higher rate (49.7% for females compared to 41.8% of males). Also, males use marijuana more than females, both in 30-day and lifetime use. Past month marijuana use for males is 22.2%, while it is 19.1% for females. Of males, 40.1% have used marijuana at least once in their lifetime, while 36.5% of females have used marijuana. As indicated before, females have slightly higher use rates than males in several ATOD categories. For past month use, more females than males used alcohol (48.4% for females compared to 44.5% for males), cigarettes (17.4% compared to 15.7%), inhalants (4.4% compared to 3.7%), and heroin (1.5% compared to 1.2%). For lifetime use, females had higher use rates of alcohol (69.2% for females compared to 66.5% for males), cigarettes (49.7% compared to 41.8%), methamphetamines (5.4% compared to 5.2%), and ecstasy (8.1% compared to 7.9%). Table 5 and Figure 4 are located on the following page. In general, more Arizona males use ATOD substances than females. However, for most substances, the differences in use were small. The greatest differences between male and female use are in lifetime smokeless tobacco use (males used more than females) and cigarette use (females used more than males). Arizona Youth Survey Report 30 Table 5 Usage of ATODs by Gender Arizona 2002 Males 30-Day Usage Alcohol (30-Day) Binge Drinking (Past 2 weeks) Cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco Marijuana Inhalants Methamphetamines Cocaine Hallucinogens Steroids Heroin Barbituates/Sedatives Ecstacy Lifetime Usage Alcohol Cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco Marijuana Inhalants Methamphetamines Cocaine Hallucinogens Steroids Heroin Barbituates/Sedatives Ecstacy 44.5% 25.3% 15.7% 6.5% 22.2% 3.7% 2.0% 3.6% 3.2% 1.5% 1.2% 2.3% 3.5% 66.5% 41.8% 13.9% 40.1% 10.4% 5.2% 7.6% 7.5% 2.6% 2.6% 4.6% 7.9% Females 48.4% 22.4% 17.4% 3.1% 19.1% 4.4% 1.8% 3.1% 2.1% 0.9% 1.5% 2.3% 2.7% 69.2% 49.7% 4.7% 36.5% 10.0% 5.4% 7.4% 6.2% 1.3% 2.3% 4.4% 8.1% Figure 4 Arizona 30-Day and Lifetime ATOD Usage by Gender Males 80.0% Females 70.0% Percent of sample that have used ATODs 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 30-Day Alcohol Use 30-Day Cigarette Use 30-Day Marijuana Use 30-Day Inhalant Lifetime Alcohol Lifetime Use Use Cigarette Use Lifetime Marijuana Use Lifetime Inhalant Use Arizona Youth Survey Report 31 Alcohol and Binge Drinking Tables 6 and 7, and Figures 5 and 6 on the next two pages show that usage of alcohol increases with increased grade level. While 58.9% of 12th graders indicated 30-day alcohol use in 2002, only 34.4% of 8th graders indicated use. 30-Day Alcohol Use According to the 2002 survey, 34.4% of 8th graders, 47.9% of 10th graders, and 58.9% of 12th graders had used alcohol in the past 30 days. Overall, 46.4% of Arizona students have used alcohol at least once in the past month. Lifetime Alcohol Use A greater percentage of students reported having used alcohol at least once in their lifetime. The survey reports that 56.9% of 8th graders, 72.3% of 10th graders, and 80.8% of 12th graders have tried alcohol in their lifetime. A total of 69.2% of Arizona students have used alcohol in their lifetime. Binge Drinking Use Rates of student binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks in a row at least once in the past two weeks) also increases with increased grade level. The survey results show that 14.1% of 8th graders, 26.0% of 10th graders, and 32.2% of 12th graders have consumed more than five drinks in a row in the past two weeks. State and National Comparisons The Arizona Youth Survey results, when compared to the national MTF results, show that more Arizona students have used alcohol than have students in the national sample. Arizona 8th grade students' 30-day alcohol use rate was 12.9% (34.4% compared to 21.5%) higher than the national sample, Arizona 10th graders' use rate was 8.9% (47.9% compared to 39.0%) higher than the national sample, and Arizona 12th graders' use rate was 9.1% (58.9% compared to 49.8%) higher than the national sample. However, in looking at the lifetime results, Arizona rates and national rates are more comparable. While more Arizona 8th graders have used alcohol in their lifetime than national 8th graders (56.9% compared to 50.5%), lifetime use rates for the 10th and 12th grades are similar for Arizona and national youth. Alcohol differed only by 2.2% for 10th graders, and 1.1% for 12th graders. Tables 6 and 7, and Figures 5 and 6 are located on the following pages. Alcohol is the most commonly used substance by Arizona students. In the past 30 days 46.4% of students have used alcohol, and 69.2% of students have used alcohol in their lifetime. Of the students included in the Arizona Youth Survey sample, 23.7% indicated they had consumed more than five alcoholic beverages in a row at least once in the past two weeks. Arizona Youth Survey Report 32 Table 6 Alcohol Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 34.4% 47.9% 58.9% 46.4% 56.9% 72.3% 80.8% 69.2% 21.5% 39.0% 49.8% --50.5% 70.1% 79.7% --- Figure 5 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Alcohol Arizona 2002 100.0% 90.0% Percent of sample that used alcohol in the past 30-days 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 8 t h Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 33 Table 7 Binge Drinking in the Last Two Weeks Arizona 2002 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 14.1% 26.0% 32.2% 23.7% Figure 6 Arizona Rates of Student Binge Drinking (Consuming 5 or More Alcoholic Drinks in a Row) Arizona 100.0% 90.0% Percent of sample that binge drank in the past 2 weeks 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Arizona Youth Survey Report 34 Smokeless Tobacco Compared to cigarette use, there was relatively low use of smokeless tobacco in Arizona. This is almost always true of school age populations. In the past month, 4.8% of Arizona students have used smokeless tobacco, and 24.4% students have used smokeless tobacco in their lifetime. 30-Day Smokeless Tobacco Use In alcohol use results, there were differences in the use of younger students and older students. However, for smokeless tobacco, the differences are small. The 2002 data in Table 8 and Figure 7 on the following page shows that 4.0% of 8th graders had used, 4.7% of 10th graders had used, and 5.9% of 12th graders had used. Lifetime Smokeless Tobacco Use For lifetime use, 25.9% of 8th graders, 23.2% of 10th graders, and 24.1% of 12th graders have tried smokeless tobacco before. State and National Comparisons Comparisons between the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey and the 2001 national MTF survey show differences in use, with students in the national sample using smokeless tobacco at higher rates of 30-day use, and lower rates of lifetime use, than students in the Arizona sample. For 30-day use, the 8th grade use rate of smokeless tobacco was the same (4.0%). For the 10th grade, the national rate was higher (6.9% national compared to 4.7% for Arizona), and the national rate for 12th graders was also higher (7.8% compared to 5.9%). Arizona lifetime use rates were 14.2% higher for 8th graders (25.9% compared to 11.7%), 3.7% higher for 10th graders (23.2% compared to 19.5%), and 4.4% higher for 12th graders (24.1% compared to 19.7%). The difference in national and Arizona rates described above indicates that substantially more Arizona students experiment with smokeless tobacco, but more national students use smokeless tobacco on a regular basis. Table 8 and Figure 7 are located on the following page. Substantially more Arizona students experiment with smokeless tobacco, but more national students use smokeless tobacco on a regular basis. Arizona Youth Survey Report 35 Table 8 Smokeless Tobacco Usage 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total National 2001 4.0% 6.9% 7.8% --11.7% 19.5% 19.7% --- 2002 4.0% 4.7% 5.9% 4.8% 25.9% 23.2% 24.1% 24.4% Figure 7 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Smokeless Tobacco Arizona 2002 100.0% Percent of sample that used smokeless tobacco in the past 30-days 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 36 Cigarettes Cigarette use increases with increased grade level. In the past month, 16.5% of Arizona students have used cigarettes, and 49.3% have used cigarettes at least once in their lifetime. In the past month, 16.5% of Arizona students have used cigarettes, and 49.3% have used cigarettes at least once in their lifetime. 30-Day Cigarette Use In 2002, 9.1% of 8th graders, 18.1% of 10th graders, and 23.2% of 12th graders smoked in the past month. Table 9 and Figure 8 on the following page clearly show that the greatest increase in cigarette use occurs after the 8th grade--use nearly doubled. This finding indicates that prevention efforts should be focused on middle school youth as this is the time when many students encounter pressure to use tobacco for the first time. Lifetime Cigarette Use By the time Arizona students graduate from high school, a majority of them have tried cigarettes at least once in their lifetime. In the 2002 survey 39.6% of 8th graders, 49.8% of 10th graders, and 61.1% of 12th graders reported having used cigarettes at least once. State and National Comparisons Arizona 30-day use is lower than in the national survey. National 30-day smoking rates are 3.1% higher for the 8th grade (12.2% compared to 9.1%)) and 6.3% higher for the 12 grade (29.5% compared to 23.2%) higher than Arizona use rates. More Arizona 8th graders than national 8th graders have used cigarettes at least once in their lifetime (39.6% for Arizona compared to 36.6% for the national sample). However, for the 10th grade, the national sample had a higher lifetime use rate (52.8% compared to 49.8%); and for the 12th grade, the Arizona rate was 0.1% higher than the national rate. Table 9 and Figure 8 are located on the following page. Arizona youth indicated lower use rates of cigarettes than youth in the national MTF survey. Table 9 shows that the greatest increase in 30-day use occurs after the 8th grade. These findings suggest that prevention efforts need to be focused on the younger student population. Arizona Youth Survey Report 37 Table 9 Cigarettes Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 2002 9.1% 18.1% 23.2% 16.5% 39.6% 49.8% 61.1% 49.3% 2001 12.2% 21.3% 29.5% --36.6% 52.8% 61.0% --- Figure 8 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Cigarettes Arizona 2002 100.0% 90.0% Percent of sample that used cigarettes in the past 30-days 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 38 Marijuana In the past 30 days, 20.5% of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders have used marijuana at least one time. While cigarette use is usually higher than marijuana use, results from the survey indicate that more Arizona youth have used marijuana in the past month than have used cigarettes (20.5% compared to 16.5% nationally). 30-Day Marijuana Use Marijuana use increases with increased grade level, with 14.3% of 8th graders using in the past 30 days, 22.4% of 10th graders using, and 25.4% of 12th graders using. These results can be seen in Table 10 and Figure 9 on the following page. As with cigarette use, the biggest increase in usage comes during middle school when students transition from the 8th to the 10th grades. Lifetime Marijuana Use According to the 2002 survey, 26.6% of 8th graders, 41.6% of 10th graders, and 50.8% of 12th graders have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime. State and National Comparisons Arizona 30-day and lifetime usage rates of marijuana are higher than national rates for all grades. Rates of 30-day usage are 2.6% (grade 10) to 5.1% (grade 8) higher for Arizona youth than for the national sample. For lifetime usage, Arizona rates were 1.5% (grade 10) to 6.2% (grade 8) higher than national students. Table 10 and Figure 9 are located on the following page. As with cigarette use, the 2002 survey shows that the greatest increase in marijuana use occurs in middle school. In each grade, Arizona 30-day and lifetime use rates of marijuana were higher than national MTF use rates. Arizona Youth Survey Report 39 Table 10 Marijuana Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 14.3% 22.4% 25.4% 20.5% 26.6% 41.6% 50.8% 38.8% 9.2% 19.8% 22.4% --20.4% 40.1% 49.0% --- Figure 9 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Marijuana Arizona 2002 100.0% 90.0% Percent of sample that used marijuana in the past 30-days 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 40 Inhalants While use of other drugs tends to increase with increased grade level, a common pattern for inhalant use is to peak in middle school and decline significantly after the 8th grade. This trend can be seen in the Arizona results as well. The difference in inhalant use trends may be related to the fact that younger students have more access to inhalants than they do other drugs. 30-Day Inhalant Use As Table 11 and Figure 10 show, 2002 30-day inhalant use peaks in the 8th grade (6.5%), and then decreases. Twelfth grade 30-day inhalant usage is lower at 2.0%. State and National Comparisons While 30-day inhalant use in Arizona is higher than national levels, Arizona lifetime use is lower than national levels. This indicates a higher rate of inhalant experimentation on the national level. For 30-day use, Arizona rates were 0.3% (grade 12) to 2.5% (grade 8) higher than in the national sample. Greater differences are seen in the lifetime use results. National inhalant use rates were 2.9% (grade 12) to 5.2% (grade 8) higher than Arizona rates. Table 11 and Figure 10 are located on the following page. Use of most ATODs increases with increased grade level, but use of inhalants is highest in the 8th grade. In 2002, while 2.0% of 12th graders used inhalants in the past month, 6.5% of 8th graders used. Past month inhalant use in Arizona is higher than national levels, while Arizona lifetime use is lower than national levels. Arizona Youth Survey Report 41 Table 11 Inhalants Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 6.5% 3.4% 2.0% 4.1% 11.9% 10.4% 10.1% 10.9% 4.0% 2.4% 1.7% --17.1% 15.2% 13.0% --- Figure 10 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Inhalants Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used inhalant in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 42 Other Illicit Drugs: Hallucinogens, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Steroids, Heroin, Barbiturates, and Ecstasy An overwhelming majority of students never try illicit drugs such as hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy. An overwhelming majority of students never try illicit drugs such as hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy. Whereas no more than 12.6% of Arizona students have used these drugs in their lifetime, an even lower percentage of students regularly use these illicit drugs. This section will report the Arizona rates of the previously mentioned illicit drugs. Total past month use was 2.6% for hallucinogens, 3.3% for cocaine, 2.0% for methamphetamines, 1.2% for steroids, 1.3% for heroin, 2.3% for barbiturates, and 3.1% for ecstasy. Complete results can be seen in Tables 1 and 12-18, and Figures 11-17. 30-Day Illicit Drug Use Use of these illicit drugs increases slightly with increased grade level. Past month use of hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy, are similar when looked at by grade. Of eighth graders in the 2002 survey, 1.5% had used hallucinogens, 1.0% had used methamphetamines, 2.6% had used cocaine, 1.2% had used steroids, 1.2% had used heroin, 1.0% had used barbiturates, and 3.6% had used ecstasy. Of tenth graders, 3.2% had used hallucinogens, 2.6% had used methamphetamines, 3.5% had used cocaine, 1.5% had used steroids, 1.4% had used heroin, 2.6% had used barbiturates, and 2.5% had used ecstasy. Of twelfth graders, 3.1% had used hallucinogens, 2.2% had used methamphetamines, 4.0% had used cocaine, 0.9% had used steroids, 1.3% had used heroin, 3.4% had used barbiturates, and 3.2% had used ecstasy. Of the seven illicit drugs discussed in this section, Arizona 8th graders have experimented with ecstasy more that the other six drugs. Lifetime Illicit Drug Use Lifetime use of each illicit drug was less similar when looked at by grade. Of the seven illicit drugs discussed in this section, Arizona 8th graders have experimented with ecstasy more than the other seven drugs--5.5% of 8th graders have tried ecstasy at least once. For 10th graders, the drug most experimented with was also ecstasy--8.2% of 10th graders have tried ecstasy at least once in their lifetime. Hallucinogens were the drug most often experimented with by 12th graders--12.6% have tried hallucinogens at least once in their lifetime. Arizona Youth Survey Report 43 While all use rates of illicit substances are very low for Arizona and national students, past 30-day rates for hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy tended to be slightly higher for Arizona youth. State and National Illicit Drug Use Comparisons In comparison to national MTF survey results, the Arizona Youth Survey indicates that 30-day and lifetime use rates of hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy are similar and comparable. Differences in use were small. While all use rates of illicit substances are very low for Arizona and national students, past month rates for hallucinogens, methamphetamines, cocaine, steroids, heroin, barbiturates, and ecstasy tended to be slightly higher for Arizona youth. Past month use rates of the seven substances for Arizona 8th, 10th, and 12th graders are anywhere from 0.1% to 2.2% higher than the national sample. For a majority of the substances and grades, Arizona past month use rates are less than one percent more than national rates. Rates that were less than one percent higher than national rates were: Arizona 8th grade use of hallucinogens, 12th grade use of methamphetamines, 8th grade use of steroids, 10th grade use of steroids, 8th grade use of heroin, 10th grade use of heroin, 12th grade use of heroin, 12th grade use of sedatives, and 12th grade use of ecstasy. Rates that were more than one percent higher than national rates were: Arizona 10th grade use of hallucinogens and methamphetamines (1.1% higher), 8th grade use of ecstasy (1.8% higher). All of these rates indicate a slightly higher regular use rate of illicit drugs. While the rates are only slightly higher, the consistently higher rates are disturbing. Perhaps a notable difference in use is found when looking at past month use rates of cocaine, where use is higher for Arizona students in the 8th grade (1.4% higher), 10th grade (2.2% higher), and 12th grade (1.9% higher). For lifetime use of the seven substances, national rates tended to be more similar to rates for Arizona youth. National lifetime use rates were higher for hallucinogens (grades 8 and 12), methamphetamines (grade 8), steroids (grades 8, 10, and 12), and barbiturates (grade 12). The instances where Arizona had higher lifetime use rates in all grades were for heroin (Arizona's rates were 0.2% to 2.0% higher), cocaine (Arizona's rates were 0.2% to 3.8% higher), and ecstasy (Arizona's rates were 0.2% to 0.3% higher). Tables 12-18 and Figures 11-17 are located on the following pages. For a majority of the substances and grades, Arizona past month use rates are less than one percent more than national rates. While these rates are only slightly higher, the consistently higher rates are cause for concern. Arizona Youth Survey Report 44 Table 12 LSD/Hallucinogens Usage 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona 2002 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 1.5% 3.2% 3.1% 2.6% 2.4% 8.3% 12.6% 7.4% National 2001 1.2% 2.1% 3.2% --4.0% 7.8% 12.8% --- Figure 11 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Hallucinogens Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Percent of sample that used hallucinogens in the past 30-days Arizona Youth Survey Report 45 Table 13 Methamphetamines Usage 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona 2002 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 1.0% 2.6% 2.2% 2.0% 2.9% 6.8% 8.6% 5.9% National 2001 1.3% 1.5% 1.5% --4.4% 6.4% 6.9% --- Figure 12 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Methamphetamines Arizona 2002 50.0% Percent of sample that used methamphetamines in the past 30-days 45.0% 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 46 Table 14 Cocaine Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 2.6% 3.5% 4.0% 3.3% 4.5% 8.2% 12.0% 8.0% 1.2% 1.3% 2.1% --4.3% 5.7% 8.2% --- Figure 13 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Cocaine Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used cocaine in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 47 Table 15 Steroids Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 1.2% 1.5% 0.9% 1.2% 2.2% 2.7% 2.7% 2.5% 0.7% 0.9% 1.3% --2.8% 3.5% 3.7% --- Figure 14 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Steroids Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used steroids in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 1 0 t h Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 48 Table 16 Heroin Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 1.2% 1.4% 1.3% 1.3% 1.9% 3.2% 3.8% 2.9% 0.6% 0.3% 0.4% --1.7% 1.7% 1.8% --- Figure 15 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Heroin Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used heroin in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 49 Table 17 Barbituates/Sedatives Usage 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona 2002 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 1.0% 2.6% 3.4% 2.3% 2.1% 5.7% 7.4% 4.9% National 2001 ----2.8% ------8.7% --- Figure 16 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Barbituates/Sedatives Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used barbituates in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 50 Table 18 Ecstasy Usage - 30-Day and Lifetime Arizona National 2002 2001 30-Day Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total Lifetime Usage 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade Total 3.6% 2.5% 3.2% 3.1% 5.5% 8.2% 12.0% 8.3% 1.8% 2.6% 2.8% --5.2% 8.0% 11.7% --- Figure 17 Arizona and National 30-Day Use of Ecstasy Arizona 2002 50.0% 45.0% Percent of sample that used ecstasy in the past 30-days 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 51 Substance Use by Academic Grades Table 19 and Figure 18 show a clear relationship between substance use and academic grades. Of the students who report getting better grades, fewer have tried ATODs and fewer are currently using ATODs than those who report poorer grades. `D' students are approximately 15 times more likely to have indicated use of alcohol in the past 30 days than `A' students. `D' students are also six times more likely to use marijuana, seven times more likely to use cigarettes, and six times more likely to use inhalants in the past 30 days than `A' students. Similar and more dramatic differences can be seen for individual drugs. See Table 19, and Figure 18 for complete results. The students getting A's are more invested in the education process and more bonded to school. It is unclear why `D' students indicated a higher use rate than `F' students. It is interesting to note that the first large increase in use occurs in `C' students; Figure 18 shows that while `A' and `B' students have similar use rates, the difference between `B' and `C' students is much larger. In fact, `C' and `D' student have similar rates of marijuana and inhalant use, and `C' students actually indicated a higher use rate for cigarettes than `D' students. Finally, it is important to note that students who reported not using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs in the past 30-days performed significantly better in school than those students who did report ADOT use during the same time frame. See Table 19 on the following page to review the correlation between drug usage and lower grade performance. Of the students who report getting better grades, fewer have tried ATODs and fewer are currently using ATODs than those who report poorer grades. `D' students are approximately 15 times more likely to have indicated use of alcohol in the past 30 days than `A' students. Arizona Youth Survey Report 52 Table 19 Percentage Using ATODs by Academic Grades Drugs Used Alcohol Lifetime Alcohol 30 Days Marijuana Lifetime Marijuana 30 Days Cigarettes Lifetime Cigarettes 30 Days Inhalants Lifetime Inhalants 30-Day Hallucinogens Lifetime Hallucinogens 30-Day Cocaine Lifetime Cocaine 30-Day Stimulants Lifetime Stimulants 30-Day Sedatives Lifetime Sedatives 30-Day Steroids Lifetime Steroids 30-Day Heroin Lifetime Heroin 30-Day Ecstasy Lifetime Ecstasy 30-Day Mostly A's 2.3% 2.5% 3.5% 4.1% 2.9% 4.8% 3.9% 5.3% 4.4% 5.9% 4.7% 5.2% 5.9% 6.7% 4.0% 3.8% 4.9% 6.4% 6.0% 5.6% 4.1% 4.5% Mostly B's 6.3% 6.8% 8.7% 10.4% 7.4% 9.0% 9.6% 10.4% 9.9% 10.9% 10.4% 12.3% 13.4% 14.6% 8.0% 6.8% 13.4% 13.5% 11.7% 12.3% 11.2% 14.9% Academic Grades Mostly C's Mostly D's 28.8% 29.7% 33.3% 34.6% 32.0% 36.5% 32.3% 31.2% 35.2% 36.8% 38.7% 37.7% 37.2% 36.3% 31.4% 29.7% 29.6% 25.5% 41.9% 42.0% 36.7% 36.5% 38.2% 37.9% 37.3% 35.7% 38.4% 35.5% 35.6% 32.8% 33.3% 31.9% 31.9% 32.2% 30.6% 29.2% 36.2% 38.6% 33.1% 34.0% 29.9% 31.5% 32.7% 32.0% Mostly F's 24.3% 23.0% 17.3% 15.2% 19.2% 14.1% 18.6% 20.3% 17.2% 14.5% 14.3% 12.6% 13.0% 13.1% 20.5% 21.2% 19.0% 20.6% 10.5% 8.6% 15.3% 12.1% Figure 18 ATOD Use by Academic Grade Mostly A's 40.0% Mostly B's Mostly C's Mostly D's Mostly F's 35.0% Percentage of sample that used in the past 30 days 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Alcohol 30 Days Marijuana 30 Days Cigarettes 30 Days Inhalants 30 Days Arizona Youth Survey Report 53 Perceived Availability of ATODs and Handguns Prevention researchers have identified that there is a higher risk that youth will abuse drugs when there are more drugs available in a community. In addition to the actual availability of drugs, perceived availability is also associated with risk. For example, in schools and communities where students just think drugs are more available, a higher rate of drug use occurs. The Arizona Youth Survey measures perceived availability of ATODs by asking students how easy they think it would be to get ATODs and handguns. This section focuses on the percentage of students who reported that they believed it was "Sort of easy" or "Very easy" to get alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine or other drugs, marijuana, or a handgun. Perceived availability data can also be found on the following page in Table 20 and Figure 19. 2002 Perceived Availability According to survey participants, cigarettes are perceived to be the easiest substance to get--65.4% of students indicated that it was "Sort of easy" or "Very easy" to get cigarettes. The survey also found that 64.1% of students indicated that alcohol (beer, wine, or hard liquor) was easy to get, and 64.0% indicated that marijuana was easy to get. The substance perceived as being least available was cocaine and other drugs--only 32.8% of students perceived these drugs to be "Sort of easy" or "Very easy" to get. Also, 25.8% indicated that handguns were easy to get. State and National Perceived Availability Comparisons A comparison of the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey results to the national MTF survey results shows that students in Arizona believe that alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are more difficult to get than students nationwide. The greatest differences are found in perceived availability of alcohol and perceived availability of cigarettes. For perceived availability of alcohol, 27.0% more 8th graders nationwide than Arizona 8th graders perceive alcohol as being easy to get; while 19.5% more 10th graders and 11.8% more 12th graders in the national sample perceive the substance as easily available. For perceived availability of cigarettes, national rates are 25.6% higher for 8th graders than Arizona 8th graders and 18.3% higher for national 10th graders than Arizona 10th graders. The differences in perceived availability of marijuana are smaller, with rates being only 3.8% to 8.7% higher for national students than for Arizona students. Table 20 and Figure 19 are located on the following page. Arizona Youth Survey Report 54 Perceived availability is a measurement of how easy students believe it is to get ATODs and handguns. The substance perceived to be the easiest to get was cigarettes. Survey respondents indicated that the substances perceived to be the most difficult to get were cocaine and other drugs. A comparison of national MTF and Arizona survey results shows that students in Arizona believe that alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are more difficult to get than students nationwide. Table 20 Perceived Availability of ATODs and Guns: Percent of students that believed it would be "Sort of easy" or "Very easy" to get one of the following: Grade 8 Arizona 2002 National 2001 70.6% 67.7% --48.1% --- Grade 10 Arizona 2002 68.2% 68.0% 33.0% 68.7% 24.8% National 2001 87.7% 86.3% --77.4% --- Grade 12 Arizona 2002 82.5% 89.4% 44.6% 80.3% 32.6% National 2001 94.3% ----88.5% --- Total Arizona 2002 64.1% 65.4% 32.8% 64.0% 25.8% Beer, wine, or hard liquor Cigarettes Cocaine or other drugs Marijuana Handgun 43.6% 42.1% 22.1% 44.3% 21.0% Figure 19 Arizona and National Perceived Availability of ATODs Arizona 2002 100.0% 90.0% Percent of sample that believed it would be "Sort of easy" or "Very easy" to access ATODs 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Grade 8 Grade 10 Grade 12 Grade 8 Grade 10 Cigarettes Grade 12 Grade 8 Grade 10 Marijuana Grade 12 Beer, wine, or hard liquor National 2001 Arizona Youth Survey Report 55 Perceived Harmfulness Prevention research also indicates that students are at a greater risk for substance abuse when they perceive little or no risk in using ATODs. When students believe that using alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana occasionally or often will not harm them, they are more likely to use them. This section reports the percentage of students who believed that there was "Great risk" in smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day; trying marijuana once, twice, or regularly; or taking one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage nearly every day. Perceived harmfulness data can also be found on the following page in Table 21 and Figure 20. 2002 Perceived Harmfulness The 2002 survey results show that students perceive experimental marijuana use to be the least harmful of ATOD substances--only 21.1% of students believed that there was great risk in trying marijuana once or twice. However, students indicated that they believed using marijuana more regularly was more harmful-- 48.9% believed that there was "Great risk" in smoking marijuana regularly. Students perceived the greatest risk in smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day. A majority of students (62.8%) believed that there was great risk in this use of cigarettes. State and National Perceived Harmfulness Comparisons A comparison of the 2002 Arizona Youth Survey results to the National MTF survey results shows that students in Arizona believe that there is less risk in using ATODs than students nationwide. Arizona 8th graders perceived greater risk in smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day and trying marijuana once or twice. National 10th and 12th grade rates were higher for all substance categories. The greatest difference is seen in the perceived harm of smoking marijuana regularly, with 13.7% more national 8th graders perceiving great risk (72.2% compared to 58.5%), 17.6% more 10th graders perceiving risk (62.8% compared to 45.2%), and 5.4% of 12th graders perceiving risk (57.4% compared to 52.0%). Rates of perceived risk of trying marijuana once or twice were comparable for the Arizona Youth Survey sample and the national MTF sample. Table 21 and Figure 20 are located on the following page. Perceived Harmfulness measures the percentage of students that believed there was "Great risk" in using ATOD substances occasionally or often. The form of substance use which was perceived as being the least harmful was experimental marijuana use (used only once or twice). The form of substance use which was perceived as being the most harmful was heavy smoking (smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day). Arizona Youth Survey Report 56 Table 21 Perceived Harmfulness of ATODs: Percent of students that believed there was "Great risk" in the following: Grade 8 Arizona 2002 National 2001 57.1% 27.7% 72.2% Grade 10 Arizona 2002 64.6% 17.8% 45.2% National 2001 64.7% 17.9% 62.8% Grade 12 Arizona 2002 64.1% 15.0% 52.0% National 2001 73.3% 15.3% 57.4% Total Arizona 2002 62.8% 21.1% 48.9% Smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day Trying marijuana once or twice Smoking marijuana regularly 59.8% 29.7% 58.5% Figure 20 Arizona and National Perceived Harmfulness of ATODs Arizona 2002 Percent of sample that believed there was "Great risk" in using ATODs 80.0% National 2001 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Grade 8 Grade 10 Grade 12 Grade 8 Grade 10 Grade 12 Grade 8 G r a d e 10 Grade 12 Smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day Trying marijuana once or twice Smoking marijuana regularly Arizona Youth Survey Report 57 Antisocial behavior The Arizona Youth Survey also asks students how often they participated in delinquent behavior in the past year. The results of these questions are summarized below. Antisocial behaviors most often participated in by students were being suspended from school and being drunk or high at school. Antisocial behavior rates peaked in the 8th grade for five out of the eight behaviors. More detailed information can be seen in Table 22 and Figure 21. For the 8th grade, the greatest antisocial behavior participated in was being suspended from school. The antisocial behavior participated in by the most 10th and 12th graders was being drunk or high at school. Arrested Of all students surveyed, 8.5% (1,000) indicated that they had been arrested at least once in the past year. Rates peaked in the 8th grade at 9.1% . Attacked Someone with the Intention of Seriously Hurting Them When students were asked this question, 10.6% (1,245) indicated that they had attacked someone with the intention of seriously hurting them at least once in the past year. Rates of student attack peaked in the 8th grade at 11.6% . Carried a Handgun in Neighborhood Of all students surveyed, 5.6% (663) indicated that had carried a handgun in their neighborhood in the past year. Rates of carrying a handgun peaked in the 8th grade at 6.7%. Went to School While Drunk or High Of all students surveyed, 19.6% (2,318) indicated that they had gone to school while drunk or high at least once in the past year. Rates of being drunk or high at school peaked in the 12th grade at 23.8%. Had Taken a Handgun to School When students were asked this question, 1.2% (147) indicated that they had taken a handgun to school at least once in the past year. Rates of taking a handgun to school peaked in the 8th grade at 1.4% . Students were asked a series of questions on how often they participated in antisocial behaviors. The antisocial behavior with the highest rate of participation was being drunk or high at school (19.6%). Rates of taking a handgun to school were the lowest (1.2% ) of all student antisocial behaviors. Arizona Youth Survey Report 58 Sold Illegal Drugs Of all students surveyed, 8.4% (998) indicated that they had sold illegal drugs in the past year. Rates of selling illegal drugs peaked in the 12th grade at 10.0%. Suspended from School Of all students surveyed, 12.9% (1,536) indicated that they had been suspended from school at least once in the past year. Rates peaked in the 8th grade at 18.1%. It should be noted that it is difficult to interpret school suspension rates, because school suspension rates vary substantially from district to district depending on district policies and practices. Stole a Vehicle When students were asked this question, 3.0% (360) indicated that they had stolen a vehicle at least once in the past year. Rates of vehicle theft peaked in the 10th grade at 3.6%. Arizona Youth Survey Report 59 Table 22 The Prevalence of Delinquent Behavior, By Grade 8th # % Suspended from School Drunk or High At School Sold Illegal Drugs Vehicle Theft Arrested Attacked Someone with Intention of Hurting Carried a Handgun in Neighborhood Has Taken a Gun to School 765 646 239 137 382 483 283 59 18.1% 15.4% 5.7% 3.3% 9.1% 11.6% 6.7% 1.4% 10th # 495 871 423 153 341 457 214 57 12th % # 276 801 336 70 277 305 166 31 Total % # 1536 2318 998 360 1000 1245 663 147 % 12.9% 19.6% 8.4% 3.0% 8.5% 10.6% 5.6% 1.2% 11.6% 20.5% 9.9% 3.6% 8.0% 10.8% 5.0% 1.3% 8.1% 23.8% 10.0% 2.1% 8.2% 9.1% 4.9% 1.0% Figure 21 Prevalence of Delinquent Behavior for Arizona Youth, By Grade Percent of sample that participated in the behavior in the past 12 months 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Arrested Attacked Someone with Intention of Hurting Carried a Handgun in Neighborhood Drunk or High A t School Has Taken a Gun to School Sold Illegal Drugs Suspended from School Vehicle Theft Arizona Youth Survey Report 60 Antisocial Behavior by Gender Just as males typically use ATODs at higher rates than females, so do males participate in antisocial behaviors more than females. The difference in male and female antisocial behavior use is much larger than the difference in male and female ATOD use. The differences are shown in Table 23 and Figure 22 on the following page. Differences in Male and Female Rates of Antisocial Behavior Great differences can be seen in all categories of antisocial behavior. For example, in the 2002 survey, 11.4% of males indicated that they had been arrested at least once in the past year, compared to 5.5% of females (less than one-half the male arrest rate). While 9.1% of males indicated that they had carried a handgun in their neighborhood, only 2.1% of females indicated that they had done the same. While these rates are relatively low for both genders, it is important to note that males participate in this behavior over 4 times more than females. Male rates of antisocial behavior were 1.8% to 7.0% higher than female rates in all categories. The results of the 2002 survey show that the behaviors that males most often participated in were being drunk or high at school (21.6%), being suspended from school (16.3%), and attacking someone with the intention of hurting them (13.9%). The behaviors that females most often participated in were also being drunk or high at school (17.9%), being suspended from school (9.3% ), and attacking someone (7.3% ). Table 23 and Figure 22 are located on the following page. More Arizona males participate in all antisocial behaviors than females. Male and female antisocial behavior rates in 2002 differ by as little as 1.8% and as much as 7.0% . The antisocial behaviors most often participated in by males and females are being drunk or high at school, being suspended from school, and attacking someone. Arizona Youth Survey Report 61 Table 23 Percentage of Male and Female Students who Have Participated in Antisocial Behavior at Least Once in the Past Year Males Females 2002 Arrested Attacked Someone with Intention of Hurting Carried a Handgun in Neighborhood Drunk or High At School Has Taken a Gun to School Sold Illegal Drugs Suspended from School Vehicle Theft 11.4% 13.9% 9.1% 21.6% 2.1% 12.0% 16.3% 4.1% 2002 5.5% 7.3% 2.1% 17.9% 0.3% 5.1% 9.3% 1.9% Figure 22 Arizona 30-Day Antisocial Behavior by Gender Males 2002 100.0% 90.0% P e r c e n t of sample participating in behavior at least once in the past year 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Arrested Attacked Someone D r u n k or High At Has Taken a Gun to Sold Illegal Drugs School School Suspended from School Vehicle Theft Females 2002 Arizona Youth Survey Report 62 Safety and School Issues Overall, a large majority of students feel safe at school, have never been in a fight at school, have never been injured or threatened at school, and have never taken a weapon to school. The Arizona Youth Survey also asked students questions regarding their safety on school property. Students were asked to indicate the number of days in the past month that they carried a weapon to school and the number of days that they didn't go to school because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to school. Additionally, students were asked how many times in the past year they were threatened by someone or injured with a weapon on school property and how many times they had a physical fight at school. Results for these questions are found on the following page in Table 24 and Figure 23. Overall, a large majority of students feel safe at school, have never been in a fight at school, have never been injured or threatened at school, and have never taken a weapon to school. However, just as with illicit drug use, even small percentages for these safety issues can be serious. For example, of the 8th graders sampled, 5.37% have taken a weapon to school at least once in the past month. Of the 10th grade sample, 5.8% of students have taken a weapon to school, and of the 12th grade sample, 6.76% of students have taken a weapon to school. While the other safety issues show a decrease with increased grade level, the rate of taking a weapon to school increases with increased grade level. According to survey results, 5.34% of 8th graders, 2.29% of 10th graders, and 2.58% of 12th graders indicated they had skipped school because they felt unsafe. More Arizona youth indicated that they had been threatened or injured by someone at school. One out of ten 8th graders indicated that they had been threatened by someone or injured with a weapon at school. This percentage decreases with increased grade level, with 9.0% of 10th graders and 5.58% of 12th graders reporting that it had happened to them. Finally, the safety issue with the highest rating is fighting on school property. Students in the 8th grade are the most likely to be in a physical fight at school, with 21.48% indicating they had been in a fight at least once in the last year. This rate decreases with increased grade level, with 12.37% of 10th graders and 6.46% of 12th graders indicating they had fought at school. The least serious issue seems to be with students not going to school because they feel unsafe. One out of 10 8th graders indicated that they had been threatened by someone or injured with a weapon at school. The safety issue with the highest rate is fighting on school property. Students in the 8th grade are most likely to be in a physical fight at school, with 21.48% indicating they had been in a fight at least once in the last year. Arizona Youth Survey Report 63 Table 24 Safety and School Issues Grade 8 At least one 0 Days day Grade 10 At least one 0 Days day Grade 12 At least one 0 Days day During the past 30 days, on how many days did you carry a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club on school property 94.63% 5.37% 94.20% 5.80% 93.24% 6.76% During the past 30 days, on how many days sdid you not go to school because you felt you would be unsafe at school or on your way to or from school During the past 12 months, how many times has someone threatened or injured you with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club on school property During the past 12 months, how many times were you in a physical fight on school property 94.66% 5.34% 97.71% 2.29% 97.42% 2.58% 89.96% 10.04% 91.00% 9.00% 94.42% 5.58% 78.52% 21.48% 87.63% 12.37% 93.54% 6.46% Figure 23 Student Safety and School Issues Grade 8 Percent of sample that experienced the situation at least once in a given period 50.00% 45.00% 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% Carried a weapon on school property (past month) Didn't go to school because felt unsafe at school or on way to school (past month) Has been threatened or injued with a weapon on school property (past year) Has been in a physical fight on school property (last year) Grade 10 Grade 12 Arizona Youth Survey Report 64 Survey Results: Risk and Protective Factor Results About Risk and Protective Factors Research during the past 30 years supports the view that alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use; delinquency; school achievement; and other important outcomes in adolescence are associated with specific characteristics in the student's community, school, family environments, and individual characteristics. These characteristics are called risk or protective factors. Risk factors are characteristics that are known to increase the likelihood that a student will engage in one or more problem behaviors. For example, one risk factor in the community environment is the existence of laws and norms favorable to drug use. In those communities where there is acceptance or tolerance of drug use, students are more likely to engage in ATOD use. Protective factors are characteristics in the student's community, school, family, and individual environments that are known to decrease the likelihood that a student will engage in problem behaviors. For example, strong positive attachment or bonding to parents reduces the risk of an adolescent engaging in problem behaviors. The analysis of risk and protective factors is the most powerful paradigm available for understanding the genesis of both positive and negative adolescent behavioral outcomes and how the most successful adolescent prevention programs can be designed. (The risk and protective factors are described fully at the beginning of this report.) There is a substantial amount of research showing that exposure of adolescents to a greater number of risk factors, irrespective of what the specific risk factors are, is associated with more substance use and delinquency. There is also evidence that exposure to a number of protective factors is associated with lower prevalence of these problem behaviors (Bry, McKeon, & Pandina, 1982; Newcomb, Maddahian, & Skager, 1987; Newcomb & Felix-Ortiz, 1992; Newcomb, 1995; Pallard, et. al, 1999; Pollard & Lofquist, 1999; Pollard, Hawkins & Arthur, 1999). Many of the questions on the survey have been combined into risk and protective factor scales. This allows items that gather similar information to be summarized as a scale score. All of the scales were scored so that the higher the score the greater the risk for risk factors, and the greater the protection for protective factors. A student's risk or protective factor scale score is expressed as an average scale score. Because risk is associated with negative behavArizona Youth Survey Report 65 Risk factors increase the likelihood that a student will engage in one or more problem behaviors. Protective factors decrease the likelihood that a student will engage in problem behaviors. Research indicates that students exposure to risk factors often leads to more substance use and delinquency. The risk and protective factor method of prevention allows communities to measure levels of risk and protection among their youth, and then target prevention efforts to the specific needs of the community. ioral outcomes, it is better to have lower scores, not higher. Conversely, because protective factors are associated with better student outcomes, it is better to have protective factor scores with high values. A benefit of using the risk and protective factor model in dealing with adolescent social problems is that it provides a method of measuring levels of risk and protection. Once the areas of highest risk and the areas of lowest protection are identified, they can be addressed by programs designed to reduce levels of risk and increase levels of protection. The decreases in risk and increases in protection will ultimately result in a reduction of the rate of youth problem behaviors. After the prevention programs have been implemented, the risk and protective factor levels can again be measured to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. There are 18 risk factors and 10 protective factors measured through the Arizona survey, and the survey uses 24 risk factor scales and 9 protective factor scales to measure them. The questions on the survey are used to measure the 24 risk factor scales and nine protective factor scales. An item dictionary that lists the risk and protective factor scales and the questions they contain has been prepared and included in Appendix B for reference. In order to make the results of the 2002 Survey more usable, risk and protective profiles have been developed that show the percentage of youth at each participating Arizona school district who are at risk and the percentage of youth with protection on each scale. The profiles that were sent to individual schools in March 2002 allow a comparison with the percentage of youth at risk for the entire state. An advantage of having the data available from the risk and protective factor questions is that the ATOD use, antisocial behavior, and the percentage of youth at risk and with protection provide a baseline that can be used to compare the results from future surveys. A community can determine whether it is becoming more or less at risk in an area by comparing the survey results from one survey administration to the next. Through future student survey administrations; the state, schools, and communities that deliver prevention services can effectively evaluate their prevention efforts and determine if those efforts are having the desired effect of reducing risk and increasing protection in youth. These changes in risk and protection will, hopefully, result in the reduction of the level of youth problem behaviors in the community. Arizona Youth Survey Report 66 There are 18 risk factors and 10 protective factors measured through the Arizona survey, and the survey uses 24 risk factor scales and 9 protective factor scales to measure them. Risk and Protective profiles have been sent to individual Arizona districts and schools to give communities a better idea of how to target prevention to their youth. How to Read the Risk and Protective Factor Charts In order to read the Risk and Protective Factor Charts (Figures 21-26), there are two features to keep in mind while scanning the chart: 1) cut-points help with distinguishing between students atrisk and those not-at-risk and 2) dashed lines showing comparisons to other state levels. Cut-Points Before the percentage of youth at risk on a given scale could be calculated, a scale value or cut-point needed to be determined that would separate the at-risk group from the not-at-risk group. The Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA) survey was designed to assess adolescent substance use, anti-social behavior and the risk and protective factors that predict these adolescent problem behaviors. The Arizona Youth Survey, and other surveys designed for other states and areas, follow the PNA format and have the same goal of gathering information on the prevention needs of students, schools, communities, and states. Since PNA surveys have been given to over 200,000 youth nationwide, it was possible to select two groups of youth, one that was more at risk for problem behaviors and another group that was less at-risk. A cut-point score was then determined for each risk and protective factor scale that best divided the youth from the two groups into their appropriate group, more at-risk or less at-risk. The criteria for selecting the more at-risk and the less at-risk groups included academic grades (the more at-risk group received "D" and "F" grades, the less at-risk group received "A" and "B" grades), ATOD use (the more at-risk group had more regular use, the less at-risk group had no drug use and use of alcohol or tobacco on only a few occasions), and antisocial behavior (the more at-risk group had two or more serious delinquent acts in the past year, the less at-risk group had no serious delinquent acts). The cut-points that were determined by analyzing the results of the more at-risk and less at-risk groups will remain constant and will be used to produce the profiles for future surveys. Since the cut-points for each scale will remain fixed, the percentage of youth above the cut-point on a scale (at-risk) will provide a method for evaluating the progress of prevention programs over time. For example, if the percentage of youth at risk for family conflict in a community prior to implementing a community-wide family/parenting program was 60% and then decreased to 40% one year after the program was implemented, the program would be viewed as helping to reduce family conflict. Arizona Youth Survey Report 67 Seven-State Norm Line Levels of risk and protection in the state are also compared to a more national sample. The dashed line on each risk and protective factor chart represents the percentage of youth at risk or with protection for the seven-state sample upon which the cut-points were developed. The seven states included in the norm group were Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. All the states have a mix of urban and rural students. For more information about risk and protective factors, please refer to the resources listed on the last page of this report under Contacts for Prevention. Arizona Youth Survey Report 68 Risk Factor Scores: Arizona 2002 For a majority of the risk scales, Arizona youth had scores that were equal to or higher than the seven-state norm. This indicates that Arizona youth are at the same risk, or are at higher risk, than national youth. Again, risk factors are factors that have been shown to put students at risk for substance abuse and antisocial behaviors. Areas of high risk are more negative |
