2006 Primary Prevention Awareness, Attitude, and Use Survey

Perceived Risk of Alcohol, Marijuana and Tobacco

Alcohol (PPAAUS items 106-109) An average of 25 percent of Franklin County Schools students in grades six through eight and 31 percent of students in grades nine through twelve perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people try one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, liquor). Thirty-seven percent of middle-school students and 39 percent of high-school students perceived a slight risk, 20 percent of middle-school students and 16 percent of high-school students believed that there is moderate risk, and 14 percent of students in grades six through eight and 11 percent of students in grades nine through twelve believed that there is great risk. Five percent of middle-school students and three percent of high-school students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

Seventeen percent of students in grades six through eight and nine percent of students in grades nine through twelve perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people take one or two drinks nearly every day. Fifteen percent of middle-school students and 16 percent of high-school students perceived a slight risk, 32 percent of middle-school students and 37 percent of high-school students believed that there is moderate risk, and 31 percent of students in grades six through eight and 34 percent of students in grades nine through twelve believed that there is great risk. Five percent of middle-school students and three percent of high-school students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

An average of fifteen percent of middle-school students and seven percent of high-school students perceived no risk if people take four or five drinks nearly every day. Five percent of middle-school students and five percent of high-school students perceived a slight risk, 14 percent of middle-school students and 15 percent of high-school students believed that there is moderate risk, and 60 percent of students in grades six through eight and 70 percent of students in grades nine through twelve believed that there is greatrisk. Seven percent of middle-school students and four percent of high-school students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

Sixteen percent of students in grades six through eight and eight percent of students in grades nine through twelve perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people have five or more drinks once or twice each weekend. Seven percent of middle-school students and 10 percent of high-school students perceived a slight risk, 18 percent of middle-school students and 24 percent of highschool students believed that there is moderate risk, and 52 percent of students in grades six through eight and 53 percent of students in grades nine through twelve believed that there is great risk. Eight percent of middle-school students and five percent of high-school students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

Marijuana (PPAAUS items 103-105) Seventeen percent of Franklin County Schools middle-school students and 25 percent of high-school students perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people try marijuana once or twice. Twenty-four percent of middle-school students and 35 percent of high-school students perceived a slight risk, 24 percent of middle-school students and 20 percent of high-school students believed that there is moderate risk, and 28 percent of students in grades six through eight and 16 percent of students in grades nine through twelve believed that there is great risk. Seven percent of middle-school students and four percent of high-school students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

An average of 16 percent of students in grades six through eight and 14 percent of students in grades nine through twelve perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people smoke marijuana occasionally. Ten percent of middle-school students and 21 percent of high-school students perceived a slight risk, 28 percent of middle-school students and 35 percent of high-school students believed that there is moderate risk, and 39 percent of students in grades six through eight and 26 percent of students in grades ninethrough twelve believed that there is great risk. Eight percent of middle-school students and four percent of high-school students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

Fifteen percent of Franklin County Schools middle-school students and nine percent of high-school students perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people smoke marijuana regularly. Five percent of middle-school students and nine percent of highschool students perceived a slight risk, 10 percent of middle-school students and 20 percent of high-school students believed that there is moderate risk, and 62 percent of students in grades six through eight and 58 percent of students in grades nine through twelve believed that there is great risk. Eight percent of middle-school students and five percent of high-school students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

Cigarettes (PPAAUS item 102) An average of 14 percent of Franklin County Schools students in grades six through eight and seven percent of students in grades nine through twelve perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people smoke one or more packs of cigarettes per day. Eight percent of middle-school students and six percent of high-school students perceived a slight risk, 18 percent of middle-school students and 17 percent of high-school students believed that there is moderate risk, and 55 percent of students in grades six through eight and 67 percent of students in grades nine through twelve believed that there is great risk. Five percent of middle-school students and three percent of high-school students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

Willingness to Use Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drugs (PPAAUS items 10-24) Eleven percent of the middle-school students and 40 percent of the high-school students were willing to drink alcohol, and four percent of the middle-school students and 19 percent of the high-school students expressed interest in smoking marijuana. (“Willing” reflects responses of Would Like to Try or Use It or Would Use It Any Chance.) An average of threepercent of the Franklin County Schools sixth through eighth graders and 13 percent of the ninth through twelfth graders were willing to smoke cigarettes. An average of one percent of the middle-school students and four percent of the high-school students were willing to use chewing tobacco. Three percent of the middle-school students and 12 percent of the high-school students were willing to use other tobacco products, cigar-like.

One percent of the Franklin County Schools students in middle-school and five percent in high-school indicated they would use someone else’s prescription drugs to get high. One percent and three percent respectively would use over-the-counter medications to get high.

Less than one percent of the middle-school students were willing to use hallucinogens, less than one percent inhalants, less than one percent speed (crystal meth or angel dust), one-half percent heroin, less than one percent were willing to use cocaine or crack.

Less than one percent of the Franklin County Schools students in grades six through eight were willing to use designer or club drugs (ecstasy, XTC, Special K, GHB). Among ninth through twelfth graders, six percent were willing to use hallucinogens, two percent inhalants, three percent speed, one percent heroin, three percent cocaine or crack and five percent would use club drugs.

One percent of the middle-school students and two percent of the high-school students indicated interest in using steroids, and one percent of the middle-school students and six percent of the high-school students indicated interest in other performance enhancers (ephedra, glutamine, creatine).

Age of First Use of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Cigarettes (PPAAUS items 41-43) Of the middle-school students who reported drinking, 35 percent said they had their first drink of alcohol before the age of eleven. Nine percent of the high-school students who drank reported that they started drinking at age ten oryounger, and 70 percent between the ages of 11 and 15. An average of 22 percent of the juniors and seniors who drank said they started drinking when they were 16 or older. The average age of first use of alcohol among sixth through eighth graders was 11.4; among high-school students, 13.9.

Nineteen percent of the Franklin County Schools students in grades six through eight who smoked marijuana indicated they had started smoking at age ten or younger. An average of six percent of the high-school students who smoked marijuana started smoking at age ten or younger, and 72 percent started smoking between the ages of 11 and 15. An average of 22 percent of the juniors and seniors started smoking marijuana when they were 16 or older. The average age of first use of marijuana among middleschool students was 12.1; for high-school students, the average age of first use was 14.0.

Thirty-nine percent of the middle-school students who smoked reported that they had started smoking cigarettes when they were ten years old or younger. An average of 14 percent of the high-school students who smoked cigarettes said they started smoking before they were ten years old, and 67 percent when they were between 11 and 15 years old. Nineteen percent of the juniors and seniors didn’t begin smoking cigarettes until they were 16 or older. The average age of first use of cigarettes for middle-school students was 11.2; for high-school students, it was 13.4.

Self-Reported use of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs “Regular use” in all report sections concerning self-reported use includes all students who checked Use About Every Day, Use About Once or Twice a Week, or Use About Once or Twice a Month – in other words, monthly or more often.

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