Recent survey gauges student drug use
Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/63518/
sas. gov / dhs / dmhs / adap _ survey. htm, revealed that 68. 8 percent of 12 th-graders, compared to 15. 5 percent of sixth-graders, admitted to using alcohol at some point during their lifetime. Both percentages ranked within two points below the state average. Of those students, 3 percent of sixth-graders, compared to 39. 2 percent of 12 th-graders, admitted to consuming alcohol during the past 30 days, which is about equal to the state average. In addition, less than 5 percent of students in sixth through 12 th grades admitted to using methamphetamine during their lifetime or in the past 30 days. The survey further revealed cigarettes are the second most commonly used drug after alcohol for students in sixth through 12 th grades.
The Arkansas Office on
A new study may indicate the level of drug use among students in Washington County.
Project Right Choice committee members discussed the findings of the 2007 Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Student Survey during their monthly meeting Tuesday. Students at schools in Washington County participated in the survey.
“ They answered questions about drug use and availability, ” said Judy Cohea, fiscal officer for the Fayetteville Police Department. “ They also answered questions about the consequences of bad behavior and the awards of good behavior. ”
The survey results, which are available at www. arkan-Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention will host a presentation on the results at the Fayetteville High School Bates Annex beginning at 9: 30 a. m. April 14. The presentation will include an overview of the survey, focusing on how to read, interpret and use the data to help plan effective prevention efforts.
Also Tuesday, committee members discussed an upcoming town hall meeting in Lincoln to emphasize the effects of methamphetamine on families.
“ We’ll start planning it this month and finalize it during our April meeting, ” Cohea said. “ We are working on the keynote speaker and the panel to answer questions from the audience. ”
The date for the meeting has been set for May 6. The event will mark Project Right Choice’s fourth town hall meeting. Presentations aim at gaining community support and raising awareness about the dangers associated with meth abuse.
“ We’ll focus on both families and communities, ” Cohea said of the upcoming town hall event. “ Previously we focused on the effects of meth in the workplace. ”
Also during the meeting Tuesday, Project Right Choice members viewed a methamphetamine awareness presentation that they plan on presenting to civic groups at their request. To schedule a presentation, contact Cohea at 587-3581.
For additional information about methamphetamine awareness, visit www. projectrightchoice. com or contact the methamphetamine hotline at (888 ) 852-4908.