Youth Risk Behavior Survey 06-07

In February 2007 the Dukes County Health Council Youth Task Force conducted a youth Risk Behavior Survey of middle school aged students (7th and 8^th grades) and high school aged students (9^th-12^th grades). The survey was different than those conducted in the past because, in addition to questions about the youths’ engagement in risky behaviors (i.e. substance use and associated risky behaviors) and mental health status, the survey asked questions about their perceptions (their perception of their peers’ engagement in risky behaviors behaviors, their perception of the risk and harm of engaging in these behaviors, their perception of their parents’ and neighbors’ attitudes toward these behaviors, and about whether they believed they would get caught if they engaged in these behaviors). There is new research (Social Norms) that shows the dramatic influence these perceptions have on youths’ engagement in risky behaviors even though these perceptions are often (usually) far from what their peers are actually doing. Social Norms is an evidence-based environmental strategy which research has shown reduces youth substance use and abuse by reporting positive results and correcting misperceptions.   The Social Norms Approach recognizes the powerful impact of peer influences in the lives of adolescents and young adults. One question that previous research has neglected, however, is whether these influences are driven by what peers actually do or think - i.e. reality – or by what adolescents and young adults believe to be the characteristics of their peers, i.e. their perception. The social norms model proposes that many of the young people’s problem behaviors may be due, in large part, to the desire – or social pressure – to conform to perceived peer norms. The strategy of the social norms approach is to gather credible data from the target population – in this case middle and high school age youth – and then consistently tell the truth about actual norms of health, protection, and the avoidance of risk behaviors. With repeated exposure to positive, data-based messages, the misperceptions that help to sustain the problem behavior are reduced, and a greater proportion of the population begin to act in accord with the more accurately perceived norms of health, protection and safety. Research has found that publicizing the risks practiced by the minority of youth can actually be harmful, possibly increasing risky behaviors amongst young people. 

Parents and teachers also overestimate youth substance abuse.   Research also shows that parents and teachers remain influential in the lives of adolescents and are, therefore, “carriers of the misperception”. Correcting the overestimations of use held by all three groups – students, parents, and teachers - can increase student nonuse. Social norms messages can be disseminated throughout the community through the media (newspapers, radio, television), posters, flyers, and direct mail letters and postcards.

It means taking the survey data and reporting actual norms and correcting misperceptions. It means emphasizing healthy behaviors and protective factors. It means reporting the majority of youth not engaging in problem behaviors rather than focusing on the minority who do. It doesn’t mean ignoring problems where they exist but putting the emphasis on correcting misperceptions recognizing them as a “hidden risk factor” as a youth may feel pressure to engage in risky behavior him or herself, believing more of his/her peers engage in the behavior than actually do. For example, though 55% of high school students have used alcohol in the past 30 days, both high school and middle school students misperceive the numbers of students who have used and the frequency of use:  

• Though 55% of high school students reported using alcohol in the past 30 days, middle school students believe 80% of MVRHS students have used and high school students believe 90% of the MVRHS students have used alcohol in the past 30 days. 
• Though the typical student used alcohol on 2 or fewer days, the students believe that the typical student used 6 or more days.  

Following are examples of the social norms approach to reporting the Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2006/2007 results (Note: 66% of high school students (a number of students were away on a field trip) and 100% of middle school students took the survey

Current use (30 days prior to survey date) for high school students:

• Although 55% of MVHS studentsreport using alcohol, not using alcohol is the norm for 9^th graders (64%).

• Not engaging in high risk drinking is the norm (61%) for high school students
• Not using marijuana is the norm among high school students with 70% reporting

                        non-use and not using is the norm for all grades

• The majority (87%) of high school students do not currently smoke cigarettes.
• The majority of high school students do not use hallucinogens (96%), inhalants (97%), cocaine (98%), ecstasy (98%), or misuse over the counter drugs ((95%), or prescription drugs (95%).
• 99% ofhigh school students do not use heroin.

All substance use (30 days prior to the survey and lifetime) for middle school students was very low:

• Not using alcohol is the norm among middle school with 89% reporting non-use in the last 30 days.
• 75% reported never having had a drink of alcohol.
• Not using marijuana is the norm among middle school with 94% reporting

• 92% have never tried marijuana.
• 97% of middle school students do not currently smoke cigarettes.
• The majority of middle school students do not use hallucinogens (99%), inhalants (97%), cocaine (99%), ecstasy (100%), or misuse over the counter drugs (97%), or prescription drugs (99%).
• 100% ofmiddle school students do not use heroin or ecstasy.

• Although 55% of high school students have used alcohol in the past 30 days, high school students believe that 90% of MVRHS students have used and middle school students believe 80% of MVRHS students have used alcohol in the past 30 days. 

• Though 94% of high school students correctly perceive that the typical student is an alcohol user (55%), they misperceive the frequency of use. The typical student used alcohol on 2 days or fewer. However, students perceived that the “typical student” used on 6 or more days.
• Although the majority of MVRHS students (70%) have not used marijuana, high school students believe that 89% of MVRHS students have used and middle school students believe that 67% of MVRHS students have used marijuana in the past 30 days. 

• 62% of high school students believe it is risky to drink 5+ drinks on one occasion and 73% believe it is harmful to take 1-2 drinks nearly every day.  
• 76% of middle school students believe it is risky to drink 5+ drinks on one occasion and taking 1-2 drinks of alcohol nearly every day.
• 66% of high school studentsbelieve it is harmful to smokemarijuana regularly 
• 75% of middle school studentsbelieve it is harmful to smoke marijuana occasionally and 89% if smoked regularly.
• 87% of high school students and 92% of middle school students believe cigarette smoking is harmful.

• 83% of high school students and 95% of middle school students believe their parents feel it would be wrong or very wrong for the student to regularly drink alcohol.
• 93% of high school students and 98% of middle school students believe their parents feel it would be wrong or very wrong for the student to smoke cigarettes
• 85% of high school students and 96% of middle school students believe their parents feel it would be wrong or very wrong for the student to smoke marijuana.
• 74% of high school students and 78% of middle school students say their family has clear rules bout alcohol and drug use.

• 59% of middle school students do not consider their life stressful
• 5.6% of middle school students take medication for depression
• 10% of middle school students attempted suicide in the past 12 months

• 54% of high school students consider their life stressful
• 9% of high school students take medication for depression
• 12% of high school students attempted suicide in the past 12 months (this is higher than MA (6%) and the United States (8%).