YOUTH SURVEY FINDS THAT ILLICIT DRUG USE SURPASSES TOBACCO

Illicit drugs may be more prevalent among Mitchell youth than tobacco,
according to a recent survey of 750 students.

"This information is something to be aware of and to build from," said
Tonya Derdall, who administers the Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth
program at the Community Alcohol and Drug Center in Mitchell.

"Instead of getting scared and saying, 'Oh, my God!' We need to look at
what we can do," she said.

In March, The Search Institute Survey: "Profiles of Student Life - Attitude
and Behaviors," sampled 373 male and 377 female Mitchell students in sixth,
seventh, ninth and 10th grades.

Of that sample, 17 percent of the children said they've used illicit drugs,
which would include marijuana, cocaine, PCP, angel dust, heroine and
amphetamines, within the last year, while 15 percent of those surveyed said
they use tobacco products frequently.

One school faculty member who has campaigned against tobacco use at the
school level did not find that surprising.

"(Children) have a different perspective than adults. It's all illegal to
them. They don't see the difference in the intensity of the substance,"
said Linda Bannwarth, a school nurse at Mitchell Middle School.

The survey is done as part of the Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth
program, which is in its second year in Mitchell.

It's conducted so community officials can get a measure of the positive
assets and values that children possess, and to see how many students are
involved in "high-risk" activities, such as smoking or drinking.

There are 40 positive assets listed in the survey. Different asset
categories include support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations,
constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social
competencies and positive identity.

"I think this is so important. If we catch them at this age, we don't have
to worry about putting them through treatment," Derdall said. "We can
instill in them values, and assets at an early age. ... It's a very
proactive approach."

Studies have shown that the more positive assets possessed by a child, the
less likely it is that they will partake in high-risk behaviors.

One asset for children is the usage of time.

Offering extracurricular activities at the school level is one of the best
deterrents to drug use, according to District Superintendent Joe Graves.

"If a student has 31 or more of those assets, the chances (of drug use)
drops to 1 percent," Graves said.

Three of the most positive findings of the survey, according to Derdall,
were that 58 percent said they had good conversations with their parents,
68 percent said they do not give up when things are difficult, and 56
percent help other people one hour or more per week.

However, 31 percent said they had positive family communication, only 22
percent felt that they were valued by adults in the community, and 19
percent said they spend three hours or more practicing music, theater or
other arts.

The survey also showed that drugs may be getting worse for 10th-graders.
Thirty-four percent of 10th-graders said they have used illicit drugs three
or more times in the last year, while the figure was 26 percent for
sophomores in last year's survey.

However, it seems ground is being gained with tobacco and alcohol users at
the freshman level. Tobacco use dropped from 21 percent to 19 percent for
ninth-graders since the first survey, while the number of freshmen that had
used alcohol three or more times in the last 30 days decreased from 53
percent to 42 percent.

Bannwarth said that national and local efforts have focused on the tobacco
industry, but added that it will take the entire community to reduce drug
and alcohol use among teens.

"I think we're off to a good start and we need the whole community to help
us. It takes a community to raise a child," she said.

Prevention programs

Bannwarth is a member of one of the Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth
education team.

The team was formed just recently and hasn't had the chance to develop, but
Derdall said that several teams will be created to help youth build the
positive assets listed in the survey.

She said that she would like to see faith-based teams, a business team, a
neighborhood asset team, service clubs and the city parks and the city
recreation department work to develop a strategy to develop positive assets
in Mitchell youth.

"I would like to see neighborhood block parties," Derdall said.

She also said asset fairs and family night could be held at schools to
share ideas about how to build assets in children.

"Once these teams are started, what we could do within the community would
be limitless," she said.