Schools

Portsmouth Youth Substance Abuse Report Paints Stark Picture of Problem

A public meeting, during which much of the report's findings will be discussed, is planned for June 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Portsmouth Town Hall, 2200 East Main Road.

A comprehensive study of drug and alcohol use among Portsmouth youth is complete and it paints a stark picture of the prevalence of underage drinking and drug use among teens.

A public meeting, during which much of the report's findings will be discussed, is planned for June 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Portsmouth Town Hall, 2200 East Main Road.

The report is based on responses to a survey by nearly 1,000 middle and high school students.

The students were promised to remain anonymous and encouraged to be as honest as possible in the survey.

Among the findings, several stand out:

  • Alcohol is the drug of choice, followed by marijuana.
  • Overall, the majority of students don't use substance abuse on a regular basis.
  • 64 percent of juniors and seniors report using some alcohol; 40 percent say they've smoked marijuana
  • Non-use rates are significantly lower for upper grades, mainly grades 10 and 11
  • The vast majority of students don't smoke cigarettes, but nearly 10 percent of girls in grade 11 report smoking in the last 30 days — much higher than males, who are at 6.5 percent.
  • By grade 11, more than half of both girls and boys say they've had alcohol in the past 30 days, with the numbers climbing to 60 percent by grade 12. 
  • 19 percent of 11th graders report having used prescription pills illegally in the last 30 days.
  • Including grades 7 to 12, 34.5 percent of students, on average, have had alcohol in the last 30 days, followed by 24 percent for marijuana.
When asked how they got drugs or alcohol, most said "from a friend," while others said they gave someone money to buy it from them or stole it from their parents.

Interestingly, students tend to think their peers drink and smoke much more than they really do. Consider that while marijuana has a 22 percent average use, students believe a whopping 85 percent of their peers smoke pot. The numbers are even higher for alcohol, but not by much. 41 percent of students report drinking, but they think 89 percent of their peers are doing it.

Please go through the report (attached to this article, click "download .PDF") to grab it and post your thoughts.



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