PPAAUS 2009

Primary Prevention Awareness, Attitude, and Use Survey

Student Perspectives on the Use of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs, and Violence
Franklin County Ohio Schools

Table of Contents

Fact Sheet Questions and Answers

Who designed the survey?
John Swisher, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Revisions by: Diagnostics Plus, A Division of INtelliQ Research, Inc., State College, Pennsylvania and the Safe & Drug-Free Schools Consortium
 
Why was the survey administered?
The US Department of Education requires that program activities be based on an assessment of objective data regarding the incidence of violence and illegal drug use in schools. PPAAUS is a source for this information.

Who administered the survey?
School staff who were trained in administration procedures

When was the survey administered?
November 30 – December 16, 2009, primarily in classroom settings, during the school day

Who scored the survey?
Diagnostics Plus, A Division of INtelliQ Research, Inc., State College, Pennsylvania

Were all students surveyed?
The data is representative of only the students in class on the day of the survey.

Were all surveys included in the analysis?
No – 1,141 (3.5%) questionnaires were not included in the final data set. A Questionable-Response (QR) filter was used to identify students who may have been exaggerating or careless in their response patterns.

The QR eliminated students claiming to use a bogus substance, claiming to be in a grade not served by the school being surveyed; claiming age-of-first-use much higher than appropriate for the grade in school; claiming to be drunk much more than claiming to drink; claiming not to have used a substance on the age-of-first-use item while claiming regular use of that substance on another item; claiming to drive after drinking (or smoking marijuana) much more often than claiming to drink (or smoke).

QR points were awarded for these inconsistencies and two or more QR points eliminated a survey from analysis.
   
The report was based on how many usable surveys?

31,554 Total:
11,898 eighth graders    
10,687 tenth graders   
8,560 twelfth graders
409  students did not identify their grade level   

What was the percent of males and females completing the survey?
48.8% were male
48.9% were female
2.3% gave no answer

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Reports Graphs

Trends Graphs

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Reliability Scales

A scale (a group of similar questions) is said to be reliable when the results obtained from it are repeatable and consistent. One of the most commonly used reliability coefficients is Cronbach's Alpha. Alpha is a measure of the internal consistency of a scale and is based on the average correlation of items within the scale. Positive correlations between the items in a scale are expected because they all measure the same construct. Alpha levels range from -1.0 to +1.0; the closer to +1.0, the more reliable the scale. Scales with alphas above +0.7 are considered to be very reliable. Analyses of reliability were conducted on several scales within the Primary Prevention Awareness, Attitude, and Use Survey for the Franklin County Schools. Results of those analyses are shown below.

RELIABILITY COEFFICIENTS
Franklin County Safe and Drug-Free Schools Consortium

Scale #
of items		 PPAAUS
Item numbers		 Cronbach’s Alpha
Problem Behaviors 12 56, 90-100 .855
Well Being 4 146-149 .579
Willingness to Use 15 10-24 .886
ATOD Use 15 25-28, 30-40 .817
Perpetrators 3 68-70 .664
Victims 7 74-79, 101 .753
Perception of Peer Use 3 44-46 .818
Decision Making 3 7-9 .686
Message from Parents 3 128, 134, 140 .747
Message from Friends 3 129, 135, 141 .841
Message from Teachers 3 130, 136, 142 .865
Message from Coaches 3 131, 137, 143 .932
Message from Club Advisors 3 132, 138, 144 .947
Message from Media 3 133, 139, 145 .800
School Climate – Learning Environment 2 59, 67 .619
School Climate – Discipline 2 57, 66 .632
School Climate – Students & Staff 4 58, 60, 63, 64 .679
School Climate – Students & Other Students 2 61, 62 .815
Risks 8 102-109 .900

Franklin County Ohio Schools Report Text - Narrative of 2009 Data

Background

As part of its commitment to the youth of Franklin County, the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Consortium of the Educational Council sponsors a triennial needs assessment survey for students in sixth through twelfth grades throughout Franklin County.  In 2009, more than 32,000 Franklin County students in grades 8, 10, and 12 participated in the eighth Primary Prevention Awareness, Attitude and Use Survey.  
With the information from PPAAUS, county and district prevention personnel are able to make decisions that guide prevention and intervention programs, planning, and policy.  Many items and topics in PPAAUS have remained the same over the years to allow the Consortium to also track trends in behavior and attitudes.  This year, the Consortium is especially interested in correlations between targeted behaviors and substance use.  By finding these relationships, the Consortium will better be able to assist young people discover paths that will help them make healthy choices.  Funding assistance for the 2009 survey was provided by United Way of Central Ohio, Safe & Drug-Free Schools Consortium, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.
In November 2009 through January 2010, surveys were administered primarily in standard classroom settings, with students marking their responses directly on the questionnaires.  The Consortium provided coordination among all participating schools, training for survey administration, teacher scripts, written instructions, and envelopes for classroom collection.  Diagnostics Plus, a division of IntelliQ Research, an independent survey-research organization, provided project coordination, survey scanning, data management, data analyses, and comprehensive reports and graphics.

Participation

In the Franklin County Schools, 32,695 students in grades eight, ten and twelve completed questionnaires.  Participation by district is found in Table A of Section 9 of this report.  After using a Questionable-Response (QR) filter, 31,554 surveys were included for the analyses in this report.  The QR filter identifies students who may have been exaggerating or careless in their response patterns.  For example, the questionnaire of any student claiming to have used “proxypractin” (a bogus substance) within the past year was eliminated from analyses.  Also eliminated was the questionnaire of any student claiming to be in a grade not served by the school being surveyed (grade 12 in a middle-school, for instance).  A QR point was “awarded” for the following inconsistencies:  claiming an age-of-first-use much higher than appropriate for the grade in school, claiming to be drunk much more than claiming to drink; claiming not to have used a substance on the age-of-first-use item while claiming regular use of that substance on another item; claiming to drive after drinking (or smoking marijuana) much more often than claiming to drink (or smoke).  Two or more QR points based on these criteria were cause to eliminate a survey from analyses.  In the Franklin County Schools, 1,141 questionnaires (3.5 percent) were excluded from the final data set because of two or more QR points.
Tables and graphics included with this report show students’ response patterns to PPAAUS items.  For those interested in more in-depth information, Section 9 contains frequencies of response by grade and gender for every PPAAUS item.  A copy of PPAAUS is included with this report in Section 10.

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Reliability

An important condition for obtaining honest responses from students is making them confident that their responses will remain anonymous.  In the PPAAUS administration, students were given the option of not participating; students did not put their names or any identifying marks on their questionnaires; teachers remained at their desks; and surveys were collected by a student and/or placed into an envelope, and taken to a central collection area.  A survey item (#152) asked students if they were made to feel sure that their answers would not be seen by anyone at their school.  Eighty-six percent expressed confidence in their anonymity; only five percent of the students said no, and nine percent were not sure.
A scale (a group of similar questions) is said to be reliable when the results obtained from it are repeatable and consistent.  One of the most commonly used reliability coefficients is Cronbach's Alpha.  Alpha is a measure of the internal consistency of a scale and is based on the average correlation of items within the scale.  Positive correlations between the items in a scale are expected because they all measure the same construct.  Overall, reliability correlations of PPAAUS are very good; results of these analyses can be found in Section 6 of this report.

Demographics

(PPAAUS items 1, 2, 4-6)   The Franklin County Schools in the final report included 11,898 in the eighth grade, 10,687 in the tenth grade, 8,560 in the twelfth grade and 409 students did not provide their grade. Forty-nine percent were male and 49 percent female (two percent did not respond). Sixty-two percent indicated they were Caucasian, 24 percent African-American, five percent Asian, five percent Hispanic or Latino/a, three percent Native American or Alaskan Native, seven percent multi-racial and five percent “other” (one percent gave no response; students were allowed to give multiple responses). Ten percent indicated that English was a second language for them. Fifty-three percent of the Franklin County Schools students lived with two parents; six percent were in a joint-custody situation; 12 percent lived with a parent and a stepparent; 23 percent lived with a single parent; and three percent lived with other family. An average of four percent of all students surveyed either gave no response, a multiple response, or answered Other to the PPAAUS family item.

Grades

(PPAAUS item 3)   An average of 19 percent of the eighth graders, 15 percent of tenth graders and 19 percent of the twelfth graders described their grades as Excellent.  Thirty-two percent of eighth grade students, 29 percent of the tenth grade students and 31 percent of the twelfth grade students felt their grades were Very Good.  An average of 30 percent of all surveyed students in Franklin County Schools thought their grades were Good, 18 percent Average, and four percent Below Average or Poor. 

(PPAAUS items 150 &151)   Fifty percent of the students felt good about their schoolwork (Most of the Time).  An average of 40 percent worried about doing well in school (Most of the Time); 41 percent worried some of the time and 19 percent did not worry (Almost Never) about doing well in school.

(PPAAUS item 7)   Of the students surveyed, 80 percent felt that their parents showed interest (Often or Always) in their schoolwork; 20 percent felt that their parents did not show interest (Never or Sometimes).

(PPAAUS items 8 & 9)   An average of 67 percent of the Franklin County Schools students responded with Often or Always to this statement:  “When I do something, I think how my family would be hurt or angry if I were caught using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.”  Sixty-six percent of the students were Often or Always “influenced by strong family values against the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.” 

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School Programs

(PPAAUS items 110-112)   An average of 41 percent of the Franklin County Schools students had participated in performing arts programs (band, orchestra, choir, or theater) and 40 percent had participated in other activities (newspapers, yearbook, or clubs) within the past 12 months. 
Ten percent of the students had participated in Career Center or Vocation programs within the past year.

Athletics

(PPAAUS items 113)   An average of 68 percent of the students had participated in athletics on at least one level.   

School Prevention Programs

(PPAAUS items 115-120)   An average of 74 percent of all Franklin County Schools students had participated in Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) at least once in school.  Twenty-one percent of all students surveyed had been in Drug-Free clubs or activities such as Youth to Youth or Teen Institute.  Of all Franklin County Schools students surveyed, 16 percent had participated in Violence Prevention programs like Peer Mediation and Second Step.  Twenty-three percent of the Franklin County Schools students had participated in Drug-Free Leadership or Camps or Retreats (for example, Youth to Youth or Teen Institute).  An average of nine percent of the students had been to Winners’ Choice Camp in seventh grade.  Twenty-eight percent of the Franklin County Schools students had participated in After School programs such as mentoring or tutoring.

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Student Perceptions About School

Learning Environment (PPAAUS items 59, 67)   An average of 88 percent of the Franklin County Schools students agreed (Strongly Agree or Agree) that “teachers in this school have high expectations for their students.”  Eighty-one percent of the students thought that “the school is run in an orderly manner that helps learning to take place.”

Discipline (PPAAUS items 57, 66)   In the Franklin County Schools, 73 percent of the students believed that “teachers in this school enforce school rules fairly.”  An average of 80 percent agreed that “my school does a good job of assisting students who need help.”

Students and Staff (PPAAUS items 58, 60, 63, 64)   An average of 75 percent of the Franklin County Schools students thought that “teachers in this school treat students with respect.”  Fifty percent of the students agreed with the statement:  “I feel that I can talk to the teachers in this school about things that are bothering me.”  An average of 47 percent of the students thought that “students in this school treat teachers with respect.”  An average of 75 percent of the students felt that they had a “good relationship with an adult at this school.”

Students and Other Students(PPAAUS items 61 & 62)   Among Franklin County Schools students, 43 percent of the students agreed that “students in this school really care about each other.”  Thirty-nine percent agreed that “students in this school treat each other with respect.”

Staff, Students and Parents (PPAAUS item 65)   An average of 67 percent of the Franklin County Schools students surveyed felt that “staff, students, and parents work together to solve problems.” 

Well Being

(PPAAUS items 146-149)   An average of 71 percent of the Franklin County Schools students said they were happy Most of the Time; three percent were happy Almost Never.  Eleven percent of the students were depressed Most of the Time, and 47 percent Almost Never.  Eleven percent of the students said they were angry Most of the Time, and 27 percent said they were angry Almost Never.  An average of 11 percent were nervous Most of the Time, and 31 percent were Almost Never nervous.

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Out-of-School Activities

(PPAAUS items 80-88)   An average of 56 percent of the Franklin County Schools students did homework or other school projects daily.  Forty-three percent participated daily in physical activities and/or community sports:  jogging, swimming, baseball, soccer, dance classes, or exercise, for example.  An average of 29 percent of the students participated daily in family activities (movies, dinner, TV, games, or shopping).  Forty-two percent of the students played computer games daily.
An average of 57 percent of the Franklin County Schools students participated in social activities with friends at least once a week.  Thirty-seven percent of the students participated weekly or more often in religious activities (going to a place of worship, meetings, or services).  Nineteen percent of the students worked for pay at least once a week in out-of-home jobs.  An average of eight percent did volunteer or community service activities weekly or more often.  Twelve percent of the students were in community activities (scouts, camps, after-school programs, or community holiday celebrations) at least weekly.

Problem Behaviors

(PPAAUS Items 89-94)   An average of 34 percent of the Franklin County Schools students had skipped class at least once in the past year; five percent had skipped class more than ten times.  An average of 21 percent of the Franklin County Schools students had skipped school at least once in the past year; three percent of the students had been truant more than ten times.  Fifty percent of students had cheated on a class test at least once in the past year; five percent more than ten times.  An average of nine percent of the students reported that they had sold drugs in the past year; three percent said they had done so ten times or more.  An average of 19 percent of the students reported vandalizing property at least once in the past year; two percent more than ten times.    
An average of seventeen percent of the Franklin County Schools students said they had been suspended from school at least once within the past year; two percent of the students reported being suspended more than ten times.

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Victims, Perpetrators and Bystanders of Bullying Behaviors

Victims (PPAAUS items 74-79, 101)   An average of 29 percent of the Franklin County students reported that other students had spread lies or false rumors about them more than once within the past year.  Twenty percent of the students said they had been verbally attacked two times or more, and 13 percent felt they had been ostracized (left out of a group or activity to hurt you) more than once.  Two percent said that at least twice in the past year, someone had taken money or things directly from them using force, a weapon, or threats.  Five percent reported that they had been physically attacked at school at least twice, and six percent said they had feared for their physical safety at school two or more times within the past year. Fourteen percent of the students had been called names, disrespected, physically threatened, or made to feel afraid online (chat rooms, blogs, IM, Facebook, YouTube) at least twice.

Perpetrators (PPAAUS items 68-70)   An average of 20 percent of the Franklin County Schools students reported that they had told lies or spread false rumors about someone at least two times in the previous year.  Thirteen percent of the students had, on two or more occasions, left someone out of a group or activity to hurt that person.  At least two times in the past year, 11 percent of the Franklin County Schools students had bullied (“pushed others around”) to intimidate them (“make them afraid”).

Bystanders (PPAAUS items 71-73)   When hearing another student being called "mean or hurtful names," 45 percent of Franklin County Schools students asked the person to stop. Nine percent of the students reported it to an adult. Twenty-six percent were not sure what to do, while 45 percent of the students did nothing. An average of 20 percent of Franklin County Schools students laughed; five percent of students joined in.
When seeing another student being "physically bullied (hit, shoved around, etc)," 43 percent of Franklin County Schools students asked the person to stop. Twenty-eight percent of the students reported it to an adult. Twenty percent of students were not sure what to do, while 27 percent did nothing. An average of 23 percent of Franklin County Schools students watched; two percent of students joined in.
When "someone is spreading mean rumors or gossip," 31 percent of Franklin County Schools students asked the person to stop. Eight percent of the students reported it to an adult. Sixteen percent were not sure what to do, while 42 percent of the students did nothing. An average of 36 percent of Franklin County Schools students listened; six percent of students joined in.

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Perceived Peer Use of Alcohol, Marijuana and Tobacco

(PPAAUS items 44-46)   Fifty-eight percent of the students believed that at least half (50% or 75% or All) of their classmates drank alcohol at least once a month, and 13 percent felt that none of them did.  An average of forty-five percent of the students perceived that at least half of their classmates smoked marijuana at least once a month; 20 percent believed that none of their classmates smoked marijuana monthly or more often.  An average of 40 percent of the Franklin County Schools students perceived that at least half of the students at their school smoked cigarettes monthly or more often; 16 percent felt that none of their classmates smoked cigarettes with that frequency.

Perceived Risk of Alcohol, Marijuana and Tobacco

Alcohol (PPAAUS items 106-109)   An average of 31 percent of Franklin County Schools students perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people try one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, liquor). Thirty-nine percent perceived a slight risk, 16 percent of students believed that there is moderate risk, and 11 percent of students believed that there is great risk. Three percent of students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.
Ten percent of students perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people take one or two drinks nearly every day. Eighteen percent of students perceived a slight risk, 37 percent of believed that there is moderate risk, and 32 percent of students believed that there is great risk. Three percent of students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.
An average of eight percent of students perceived no risk if people take four or five drinks nearly every day. Five percent of students perceived a slight risk, 16 percent of students believed that there is moderate risk, and 67 percent of students believed that there is great risk. Four percent of students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.
Nine percent of students perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people have five or more drinks once or twice each weekend. Nine percent of students perceived a slight risk, 24 percent of students believed that there is moderate risk, and 53 percent of students believed that there is great risk. Five percent of students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

Marijuana (PPAAUS items 103-105)   Twenty-seven percent of Franklin County Schools students perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people try marijuana once or twice. Thirty-three percent of students perceived a slight risk, 20 percent of high-school students believed that there is moderate risk, and 16 percent of students believed that there is great risk. Four percent of students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.
An average of 16 percent of students perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people smoke marijuana occasionally. Twenty percent of students perceived a slight risk, 34 percent of students believed that there is moderate risk, and 26 percent of students believed that there is great risk. Four percent of students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.
Eleven percent of Franklin County Schools students perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people smoke marijuana regularly. Ten percent of students perceived a slight risk, 19 percent of students believed that there is moderate risk, and 55 percent of students believed that there is great risk. Five percent of students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

Cigarettes (PPAAUS item 102)   An average of eight percent of Franklin County Schools students perceived no risk of harm (physical or otherwise) if people smoke one or more packs of cigarettes per day. Seven percent students perceived a slight risk, 17 percent of students believed that there is moderate risk, and 64 percent of students believed that there is great risk. Four percent of students indicated that they couldn't say or were unfamiliar.

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Willingness to Use Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drugs

(PPAAUS items 10-24)   Thirty-six percent of the students were willing to drink alcohol, and 19 percent of the 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 11 percent of the Franklin County Schools students were willing to smoke cigarettes.  An average of four percent of the students were willing to use chewing tobacco.  Ten percent of the students were willing to use other tobacco products, cigar-like.
Four percent of the Franklin County Schools students indicated they would use someone else’s prescription drugs to get high.  Three percent would use over-the-counter medications to get high.  
Five percent of the students were willing to use hallucinogens, two percent inhalants, two percent speed (crystal meth or angel dust), one percent heroin, two percent were willing to use cocaine or crack.  Four percent of the Franklin County Schools students were willing to use designer or club drugs (ecstasy, XTC, Special K, GHB).  
Two percent of the students indicated interest in using steroids, and four percent indicated interest in other performance enhancers (ephedra, glutamine, creatine, non-medical).

Age of First Use of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Cigarettes

(PPAAUS items 41-43)   Of the students who reported drinking, 11 percent said they had their first drink of alcohol before the age of eleven, 66 percent between the ages of 11 and 15 and 23 percent said they started drinking when they were 16 or older.  The average age of first use of alcohol was 13.7.
Seven percent of the Franklin County Schools students who smoked marijuana indicated they had started smoking at age ten or younger, 68 percent started smoking between the ages of 11 and 15 and 26 percent started smoking marijuana when they were 16 or older.  The average age of first use of marijuana was 14.0.
Fourteen percent of the students who smoked reported that they had started smoking cigarettes when they were ten years old or younger, 64 percent when they were between 11 and 15 years old and 21 percent didn’t begin smoking cigarettes until they were 16 or older.  The average age of first use of cigarettes was 13.4.

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Self-Reported use of Alcohol

“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. 

(PPAAUS item 26)   Twenty percent of the students reported drinking alcohol at least once a month.  Seven percent of the students reported using alcohol once a week or more often.

Where Students Get Alcohol (PPAAUS item 47)   Nineteen percent of the students had obtained alcohol from family members; 28 percent from friends, and eight percent and nine percent had obtained alcohol at a store.

Where Students Use Alcohol (PPAAUS item 50)   One percent of the students used alcohol in school, 32 percent used it at parties, 21 percent used it at home, and one-half percent used it at work.

When Students Use Alcohol (PPAAUS item 53)   Six percent of the students used alcohol alone, one percent used alcohol before school, one percent used it during school, five percent used it after school, seven percent used it week nights, and 38 percent used it weekends.

Getting Drunk (PPAAUS item 95)   An average of 27 percent of the Franklin County Schools students reported getting drunk in the past year.  Ten percent of the students had been drunk once or twice, eight percent had been drunk three to ten times, and nine percent had been drunk more than ten times in the past year.    
Seventy-three percent of the students had not been drunk in the last year.

Binge Drinking (PPAAUS item 56)   During the 30 days prior to being surveyed, an average of six percent of the Franklin County Schools students reported having one day in which they had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row. Four percent reported two days, four percent three to five days, four percent six to nineteen days, and two percent 20 or more days. Eighty-one percent of the students had not consumed 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row during the past 30 days.

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Self-Reported Use of Marijuana

“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.

(PPAAUS item 27)   An average of thirteen percent of students surveyed reported regular use of marijuana; eight percent smoked at least once a week. 
Seventy-four percent of the students had never smoked marijuana.

Where Students Get Marijuana (PPAAUS item 49)   Twenty-three percent of the students cited friends as a source for marijuana.  An average of four percent of the students said they had obtained marijuana from family members.

Where Students Use Marijuana (PPAAUS item 52)   Two percent of the students reported smoking marijuana at school, 18  percent at parties, 12 percent at home, and one percent in a work situation.

When Students Use Marijuana (PPAAUS item 55)   Eight percent of the students used marijuana alone.  Four percent used marijuana before school, two percent used it during school, eight percent used it after school, eight percent used it week nights, and 20 percent used it weekends (students were allowed to pick multiple responses). 

Self-Reported Use of Tobacco

“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.

Cigarettes (PPAAUS item 25)   An average of 10 percent of students surveyed reported smoking cigarettes at least once a month; of those students, seven percent smoked at least once a week, with five percent of students smoking daily.
Seventy-six percent of the students had never smoked cigarettes.

Where Students Get Cigarettes (PPAAUS item 48)   Four percent of the students had obtained cigarettes from family, 13 percent from friends, and seven percent had purchased cigarettes from a store (students were allowed to pick multiple responses).

Where Students Use Cigarettes (PPAAUS item 51)  Two percent of the students used them in school, 11 percent used them at parties, 10 percent used them at home, and three percent used them at work (students were allowed to pick multiple responses).

When Students Use Cigarettes (PPAAUS item 54)    Ten percent of students used cigarettes when alone.  Five percent of students used cigarettes before school, two percent used them during school, eight percent used them after school, seven percent used them week nights, and 12 percent used them weekends (students were allowed to pick multiple responses).

Chewing Tobacco (PPAAUS item 34)    Three percent of the students reported regular use of chewing tobacco.  An average of 93 percent of the students had never used chewing tobacco.

Other Tobacco Products, Cigar-like (PPAAUS item 39)    Seven percent of the students reported regular use of other tobacco products. Daily use was one percent among students.  An average of 86 percent of the students had never used other tobacco products.

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Self-Reported Use of Designer Drugs, Cocaine, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Speed, and Heroin

“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.

(PPAAUS items 33, 35-38, 40)   One percent of the students reported regularly using designer drugs or club drugs (ecstasy, XTC, Special K, and GHB, for example).  Less than one percent of the Franklin County Schools students surveyed reported regular use of cocaine or crack.  One percent of the students reported regular use of hallucinogens.  Less than one percent reported using inhalants at least once a month.  Less than one percent of the students used speed monthly or more often. Less than one percent of the students reported using heroin at least once a month.
Ninety-seven percent of the Franklin County Schools students had never used designer or club drugs.  Ninety-eight percent of the students had never used cocaine or crack.  Ninety-six percent of the students had never used hallucinogens, and 97 percent respectively had never used inhalants.  Ninety-eight percent of the students had never used speed. Almost 100 percent of the students had never used heroin.

Self-Reported Abuse of Others’ Prescriptions and Over-the-Counter Medications

“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.

(PPAAUS items 31 & 32)   Two percent of the students reported regularly using others’ prescription drugs to get high.  One percent of the students reported that they used OTC medications to get high at least once a month.
An average of 94 percent of the students had never abused others’ prescription medications and 95 percent had never abused OTC medications.

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Self-Reported Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancers

“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.

(PPAAUS items 28 & 30)   Less than one-half percent of the Franklin County Schools students reported using steroids regularly.  Two percent of the students used performance enhancers (such as ephedra, glutamine, or creatine) at least once a month.
Ninety-nine percent students had never used steroids, and 96 percent had never used other performance enhancers.

Passenger and Driver Risks and Behaviors

Passenger Risks (PPAAUS items 96 & 97)   Twenty-six percent of the students, in the past year, had ridden in a car with a driver who had been drinking, and 24 percent had ridden with a driver smoking marijuana.  Fourteen percent had ridden with a drinking driver once or twice, seven percent three to ten times, and five percent more than ten times.  An average of 10 percent of the   students had ridden with a marijuana-impaired driver once or twice in the past year, seven percent three to ten times, and eight percent more than ten times. 
An average of 74 percent of the students had not - within the past year - been in a vehicle in which the driver had been drinking.  Seventy-six percent had not been in a vehicle with a marijuana-smoking driver.

Driver Risks (PPAAUS items 98 & 99)   Of students who drive, 11 percent of the Franklin County Schools tenth graders, and 23 percent of the seniors had driven after drinking at least once in the past year.  Two percent of the tenth graders and four percent of the seniors drove after drinking more than ten times in the past year.  Six percent of the tenth graders and 12 percent of the seniors drove after drinking once or twice; and three percent and seven percent respectively three to ten times.  
Fourteen percent of the tenth graders and 23 percent of seniors drove at least once in the previous year after smoking marijuana.  Six percent of the tenth graders and nine percent of the twelfth graders drove once or twice after smoking marijuana; and four percent of the tenth graders and six percent of the seniors drove three to ten times after smoking marijuana.  Four percent of the tenth graders and eight percent of the twelfth graders drove more than ten times in the past year after smoking marijuana. 
Within the previous year, 81 percent of the tenth and twelfth graders had not driven while or after drinking alcohol, and 80 percent had not driven after/while smoking marijuana.

Designated Drivers (PPAAUS item 100)   Of students who drive, 34 percent of the tenth graders and 48 percent of the twelfth graders reported having been a designated driver in the past year;  six percent and nine percent respectively were designated drivers ten times or more.

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Sources of Prevention Information and Skills  

Effects (PPAAUS item 121) An average of 69 percent of the Franklin County Schools students had learned about the effects of using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs from a D.A.R.E. officer.  Sixty-three percent had learned about the effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs from a health teacher; 12 percent from a guidance counselor.  Parents were a source of information about the effects of these substances for 61 percent of the students.  An average of 19 percent of all students indicated that they had learned about the effects of these substances from a source other than D.A.R.E., a health teacher, a guidance counselor, or a parent.

Decision Making (PPAAUS item 122)  An average of 31 percent of the students had been taught about how to make decisions by a D.A.R.E. officer, 35 percent by a health teacher, and 24 percent by a guidance counselor.  An average of 74 percent of the students had been taught about how to make decisions by their parents.  Twenty-one percent of all students said someone other than the four previously mentioned sources had taught them decision-making skills.

Assertiveness (PPAAUS item 123)  Twenty-one percent of the students had been taught by a D.A.R.E. officer how to stand up for what they believe.  Sixteen percent were taught assertiveness by a health teacher; 15 percent by a guidance counselor; and 78 percent by parents.  An average of 28 percent of all students learned assertiveness from a source other than a D.A.R.E. officer, a health teacher, a guidance counselor, or a parent.

Refusal Skills (PPAAUS item 124)  A D.A.R.E. officer was cited as a resource for information about how to refuse offers to use drugs by 62 percent of the students.  An average of 47 percent of the students had been taught refusal skills by a health teacher, 12 percent by a guidance counselor, and 59 percent by parents.  Nineteen percent of all Franklin County Schools students surveyed indicated that one of their sources for refusal-skill information was someone other than the four specifically mentioned sources.

Stress Management (PPAAUS item 125) Fifteen percent of the Franklin County Schools students named a D.A.R.E. officer as a source for information about how to deal with stress.  An average of 41 percent of the students had learned stress-management skills from a health teacher, and 23 percent from a guidance counselor.  Parents had taught an average of 57 percent of the students about how to deal with stress.  Twenty-nine percent of all Franklin County Schools students reported that they had learned about how to deal with stress from another source.

Getting Along With Others (PPAAUS item 126)  An average of 11 percent of the students had learned about making friends and getting along with people from a D.A.R.E. officer.  Fifteen percent of the students been taught about how to get along with others by a health teacher; and 18 percent had been taught about making friends by a guidance counselor.  Parents were named a source of information by 69 percent of the students.  An average of 36 percent of the students indicated that they had been taught about how to make friends and get along with people by some other resource.

Diversity (PPAAUS item 127)  A D.A.R.E. officer was cited by 12 percent of the students as someone who had taught them “how to appreciate people different from yourself.”  An average of 16 percent of the students had learned about diversity from a health teacher, and 18 percent from a guidance counselor.  Seventy-three percent of the students had been taught about diversity by parents.  An average of 35 percent of all Franklin County Schools students had learned diversity from a source other than a D.A.R.E. officer, a health teacher, a guidance counselor, or a parent.

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Perceived Messages about Use

(PPAAUS items 128-145)   Students perceive different messages from different sources about the acceptability of drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and smoking cigarettes.  In separate survey items, students were asked whether the message they received was "It's OK to use," or "It's not OK to use."  Other response options were that a "mixed message" or “no message” came from a particular information source.  The sources in the questionnaire are parents, friends, teachers, team coaches, club advisors, and the media (TV, radio, movies, magazines, music, or the Internet).  In discussing coaches and club advisors, only those students who indicated participation in sports or clubs are included.

Alcohol   Among Franklin County Schools students, 66 percent felt that the message they received from their parents about drinking alcohol was “It’s not OK.”  An average of 26 percent felt that they received an “It’s not OK” to drink alcohol message from their friends, 80 percent from their teachers, 85 percent from coaches, 78 percent from club advisors, and 17 percent from the media.  An average of six percent perceived an “It’s OK to use” message about alcohol from their parents, 29 percent from their friends, two percent from teachers, one percent from coaches, two percent from activity advisors, and 33 percent from the media.

Marijuana   Among Franklin County Schools students, 86 percent felt that the message they received from their parents about smoking marijuana was “It’s not OK to use.”  Forty-three percent perceived “It’s not OK to use” messages from their friends, 87 percent from their teachers, 89 percent from coaches, 82 percent from activity advisors, and 39 percent from the media.  An average of two percent of the students thought the message they got from parents was “It’s OK” to smoke marijuana.  Twenty-three percent perceived an approving message about marijuana from friends, one percent from teachers, one percent from coaches, two percent from club advisors, and 15 percent from the media.

Tobacco   An average of 84 percent of the Franklin County Schools students indicated that the message they got from their parents about using tobacco was “It’s not OK to use.”  Forty-five percent perceived messages of disapproval from their friends, 84 percent from their teachers, 87 percent from coaches, 81 percent from advisors, and 29 percent from the media.  Three percent felt that their parents’ message about tobacco use was “It’s OK to use.”  An average of 16 percent perceived an “It’s OK” message about tobacco use from their friends, one percent from their teachers, one percent from coaches, one percent from club advisors, and 22 percent from the media.

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