NCJ Number
221178
Date Published
2005
Length
134 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings from the 2005 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) of secondary school students on their behavior, attitudes, and knowledge concerning alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and violence.
Abstract
When compared to previous Pennsylvania Youth Surveys (PAYSs), younger students in the State, those in grades 6, 8, and 10, had some of the lowest substance abuse and risky behavior prevalence rates ever recorded in 2005. However, older students, those in grade 12, had some of the highest substance abuse and risky behavior rates ever recorded. This pattern of two different groups of young Pennsylvanians dominates the 2005 report. In 2005, past 30-day use of alcohol by 8th graders in Pennsylvania was 14.5 percent, nearly 3 percentage points lower than what was reported previously in a national study assessing substance abuse and risky behaviors. Also, in 2001, 32.1 percent of the 10th graders statewide reported that they were willing to use marijuana compared to 25.1 percent in 2005. However, two new concerns are emerging from the 2005 PAYS: the high numbers of young Pennsylvanians using prescription drugs for non-medical reasons and high numbers who are gambling for money on a regular basis. Statewide, about 1 in 6 (16.6 percent) of high school seniors reported the use of prescription narcotics at some time in their life, and 1 in 10 (11.6 percent) reported using in the prior 12 months. Statewide, about one in four students in grade 10 (24.5 percent) and grade 12 (25.4 percent) reported gambling for money in the last 30 days. In this 2005 PAYS, 92 (out of 232) schools yielded 14,926 surveys (a 40 percent response rate). The data gathered serves two primary needs. First, to provide an important benchmark for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use and delinquent behavior among young Pennsylvanians and help indicate whether prevention and treatment programs are achieving their intended results. Second, to assess risk factors that are related to these behaviors and the protective factors that guard against them. Graphs, tables, appendixes A-F and references