COUNTY YOUTHS HIGHER THAN STATE, NATION IN ALCOHOL
USE

Last Wednesday, The Community Partnership With Youth and Families
released recently collected poll data on youth and drugs in the
county. The presentation took place at Chisago Lakes town hall.
Surveyed were sixth, ninth, and 12th graders from the Rush City,
Chisago Lakes, and North Branch school districts, on the subjects of
tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and methamphetamine. Overall, 1,704
students were surveyed during the months of October and November of
last year.

By far the most commonly used substance by students is alcohol. Over
52 percent of 12th graders, according to the study, admit to using
alcohol in the last 30 days. Ninth graders also reported using
alcohol to the tune of 30 percent in the last month. Only six percent
of sixth graders reported using alcohol.

By contrast, only four percent of 12th graders and 2 percent of ninth
graders reported using meth. There were no reports of meth use in
sixth grade.

34 percent of 12th graders admit to tobacco use, but the numbers drop
sharply to 15 percent in ninth grade, and fall to almost zero in
sixth grade. Marijuana use is reported at 22 percent for 12th graders
and 12 percent for 9th graders. Again, it falls to almost nothing at
the sixth grade level.

One very interesting element of the survey was the perception of risk
ascribed to the substances in question.

For instance, while 96 percent of 12th graders see tobacco as a
moderate to great risk, the number drops to 35 percent for alcohol.
Even methamphetamine is considered less risky than tobacco, at 82
percent. Tom Koplitz, who presented the survey results, called those
numbers "very problematic."

On the positive side, Koplitz pointed out that, regardless of grade,
students believe their parents disapprove of all three substances
ranging from 88 percent (12 graders and alcohol) to the mid-to high
90 percent range for all other categories and substances.

Disapproval from peers, however, was discovered to be much lower than
that of parents. Furthermore, it tends to fall as students get older.
For instance, 94 percent of sixth graders believe their classmates
would disapprove of alcohol use, but that number drops to 50 percent
by 12th grade. The downward trend, though less severe, can also be
found in regards to tobacco. Meth is the exception to the rule, with
consistent peer disapproval numbers in the mid-90 range.

How do we compare?

Compared to state and national averages, substance abuse in Chisago
County is high. The 52 percent of 12th graders who reported using
alcohol is 4 percent higher than the state and 5 percent higher than
the nation.

The gap rises for tobacco. Chisago county students are 6 percent more
likely to smoke than the state at large and 11 percent more likely
than the rest of the country. Koplitz noted that young girls using
tobacco may account for the disparity, as that specific group has
been historically higher here.

The "use gap" shrinks for marijuana, with local usage only 3 percent
higher here than the rest of the state and 2 percent higher than the
nation.

If there is a surprising positive in the numbers it is in meth use,
which is lower here than the rest of the state by 1 percent. Koplitz
described that as remarkable given the county ranks near the top for
meth lab arrests in the state. Chisago County does remain 3 percent
higher, at 4 percent, than the national average.

Other good news was that sixth graders in Chisago County are three
times less likely to use tobacco than in the rest of the state.