STUDENT SURVEY TRACKS USE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

High Schools Report Slight Increases

"Most students are not using and that is what we need to
remember."

- - Millie Sampson, coordinating teacher for physical education and
health

Survey results indicate drug use among Blue Valley students remains
down from previous years, although there were slight increases in the
use of certain drugs among high school students.

The overall numbers remain down from 1997 and 1998, which were peak
years of substance abuse for the district.

Millie Sampson, district coordinating teacher for physical education
and health, attributed the decline to strong curriculum and programs
encouraging parental involvement.

"There is still of course plenty of room for more because we would
like to bring those percentages down more," Sampson said.

Sampson presented the results of the survey to the school board
Monday. The survey was given to fifth-through 12th-grade students
last spring. Students received one of four versions of the survey
depending on their age.

The survey found slight reported declines in drug use among students
in grades 5 through 8 from 2003 to 2004.

High school increases

At the high-school level, however, there were slight reported
increases in some categories:

. Alcohol: Regular use among high school students increased from 14.8
percent to 16 percent. High school students who reported using any alcohol
within the last year declined from 50.8 percent to 49.6 percent."It is
certainly the drug of choice and I think we need to remain vigilant,"
Sampson said.

. Marijuana: High school students who reported using any marijuana within
the previous year increased from 21.8 percent to 22.5 percent. Regular use
increased from 6.7 percent to 7.4 percent.

. Cigarettes: Regular cigarette use among high school students declined from
10.8 percent to 10.3 percent. Students who reported the use of any
cigarettes within a year declined from 23.4 percent to 22.6 percent.

. Amphetamines: Regular use increased from 1.8 percent to 2 percent.
Students who reported any use increased from 4.3 percent to 4.7 percent.

. Cocaine: Regular use increased from 1.4 percent to 1.8 percent. Students
who reported any use increased from 3.3 percent to 3.7 percent.

. Inhalants: Regular use increased from 1.3 percent to 1.6 percent. Students
who reported any use increased from 3.3 percent to 4.9 percent. Middle
school students showed a higher percentage of inhalant use - 6 percent of
eighth-graders reported using an inhalant within the last year. Inhalants
are often everyday household items, Sampson said, which can be easily
accessible to younger children.

The statistics showed discrepancies between male and female drug and
alcohol use. For almost every category, males reported using more than
females. More females, however, reported using alcohol at some time
within the last year.

Suicide watch

Sampson said she is concerned about the results on suicide. This year,
37.5 percent of students reported they had seriously thought about
suicide some time during their life, and 16.5 percent reported they
had seriously considered it within the past year.

Sampson said she plans to work with high school counselors to make
sure they are aware of the statistics.

"I just want to kind of raise their level of concern a little bit, so
they don't put it on the back burner," she said.

Parent perceptions

Surveys were distributed randomly to parents, asking about parental
perceptions of student drug use.

"The parents of high school students very much over-estimated the use
of students," Sampson said.

Sampson said overall, she is very pleased with the results this
year.

"Most students are not using and that is what we need to remember,"
she said.

The Blue Valley school district offers drug and alcohol education at
all school levels, from fifth to 12th grade. Sampson said education is
often offered several years before students are at risk to use. In
early levels, the education centers around teaching students
assertiveness and good decision-making skills.

"I think it helps them develop certain attitudes about substance
abuse," she said.

To reach Jill Sederstrom, Blue Valley Education reporter, call (816)
234-7727 or e-mail bluevalleyschools@kcstar.com

Drug use: males vs. females Survey perceptions

Reported usage of various substances by Blue Valley students in a
spring survey.

Males Females Cigarettes Any use 22.6% 22.5% Regular use 10.4% 10.2%
Alcohol Any use 46.7% 52.4% Regular use 17.9% 14.0% Marijuana Any
use 24.4% 20.7% Regular use 9.5% 5.4% Cocaine Any use 4.5% 2.6%
Regular use 2.4% 1.0% Ecstasy Any use 5.2% 4.1% Regular use 1.9% 0.9%
Amphetamines Any use 4.7% 4.5% Regular use 2.4% 1.6% LSD Any use 4.5%
2.1% Regular use 2.0% 0.7% Inhalants Any use 4.9% 4.7% Regular use
2.0% 1.0%

Drug use: males vs. females Survey perceptions

Students and parents took a survey last spring about drug use among
Blue Valley students. The results produced some discrepancies:

. 69 percent of middle school parents said they have talked with their
children many times about drugs and alcohol. Only 23.6 percent of
middle school students said that was true.

. 85.5 percent of high school parents said they have talked with their
children many times about drugs and alcohol. Only 25.5 percent of high
school students said that was true.

Drug use: males vs. females Survey perceptions

A survey of Blue Valley students last spring found declines in the
number of

high school students who reported any use of alcohol and cigarettes.
The number of

high school students who reported marijuana use or regular alcohol use
increased.