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  • MA:  Survey: 40% of South Hadley 12th graders drank alcohol in past month, marijuana use below 30%

MA:  Survey: 40% of South Hadley 12th graders drank alcohol in past month, marijuana use below 30%

MA:  Survey: 40% of South Hadley 12th graders drank alcohol in past month, marijuana use below 30%

MassLive

By Dennis Hohenberger

May 12, 2020

SOUTH HADLEY – A portrait of alcohol and drug use among town teenagers was painted in a newly released Hampshire County Prevention Needs Assessment Survey.

According to the South Hadley Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition, 327 town students took part in the survey. Overall, 2,958 students in the county participated in the assessment. The data goes back 10 years.

The Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth survey examines drug and alcohol use by preteens and teenagers.

Coalition members Susan Cook and Heather Warren presented the latest finding during at the May 4 School Committee meeting.

Acting Superintendent Diana Bonneville said the district conducts the survey every two years. Students take a 45-minute risk-assessment that identifies programming and students’ needs.

Cook said the survey uses “tricks” to ensure the results are valid, with an eye on exaggerations, fake drugs, inconsistent answers, an honesty question and consistency among schools. The survey examined alcohol, marijuana, opioid and cigarette use.

Alcohol and marijuana use in the past 30 days for eighth graders falls between 6 and 7%, while opioids and cigarettes are around 2% or less. Not enough data exists for vaping or e-Cigarettes, according to Warren.

For 10th grade, alcohol use dropped below 20% while the marijuana figures rose some since 2017, also around 20%. Again, cigarettes and opioids are barely negligible.

The survey showed a climb in alcohol use by grade 12.

Over 40% of 12th-grade respondents said they drank alcohol in the past 30 days. In 2009, the data showed that nearly 70% of 12th graders used alcohol. Marijuana usage is below 30%, a 1% percent drop since the last survey.

Cooks added that students at all grade levels don’t smoke or vape. She attributed the decline in vaping to Gov. Charlie Baker’s ban on flavored pods.

Cook was curious about the effect social distancing and stay-at-home orders would have on the 2021 assessment.

South Hadley students fared better compared to the overall e-cigarette rate in Hampshire County.

However, females nationwide are using e-cigarettes at a higher rate than males, according to Warren. “It’s a real turnaround from what we used to see,” she said.

Cook added that foreign vaping products falsely claim zero nicotine. When tested by U.S. labs, nicotine pops up in the results. “Kids are duped into thinking that it’s OK,” Cooks said.

The coalition formed to “collaboratively initiate, coordinate and sustain prevention and intervention efforts that reduce youth substance use and abuse” in South Hadley.

Cook said the organization promotes collaboration, collects and shares data, adheres to evidence-based prevention, and fosters a culture “where youth are supported to make healthy choices.”

She said a brain continues to develop until 25 years old and that substances can lower grade point averages, raise dropout, delinquency, and early pregnancy rates.

Youths 13 and under who drink alcohol are five times more likely to develop a dependency than those who held off until 21.

“Marijuana can be addictive, and it’s the number one reason youth seek substance abuse disorder treatment in Massachusetts,” she said. “Opioid drug misuse in young adults may have its roots in earlier substance use.”

Cook said risks to youths include easy access to alcohol, pro-use messaging and advertising, contact with adults who use drugs and alcohol, permissive parents, struggles in school, early drug and alcohol use, and a lax attitude.

She suggested parents define clear rules on drug and alcohol usage, build strong relationships, and set limits and expectations. Youths should also participate in positive school and community activities with like-minded peers.