News and Events

Board of Education hears results of

 ADAMHS Youth Survey

Perrysburg Messenger Journal 8/3/16

By Deb Buker

Note: Perrysburg Schools has been using Great Lakes Biomedical for its random student drug program since its inception in 2009.

Superintendent Tom Hosler said that the drug testing program, as well as educational programs were a major part of the schools success.  It provides counter peer pressure for the kids to say no to drugs.

At a recent Perrysburg Board of Education meeting, Dr. Bill Ivoksa reviewed the 2016 Perrysburg ADAMHS (alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services) Youth Survey.

Dr. Ivoksa, a researcher/ consultant/evaluator for the Wood County ADAMHS board and Wood County Educational Services Center, told board members and administrators that the news is good–“there is a decline and decrease in use in Per­rysburg.”

He explained that in 2004, with funding from the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Ser­vices, (ODADAS), the Wood County Educational Service Center and the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board invited survey researchers the opportunity to gather data on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use from Wood County adoles­cents.

“In 2008, the Ohio Scales were added to assess the mental health of Wood County youth and to demon­strate the relationship between mental health and underage substance use,” he said. “In 2016 questions were added to assess the type and frequency of ado­lescent gambling activities, including a measure of disor­dered gambling.”

Survey results have been utilized for several purposes:

• The survey provides a consistent method to follow the trends in adolescent alco­hol, tobacco and other drug    use in Wood County.

• Wood County school officials have integrated results into the drug use pre­vention components of school curriculum.

• Wood County officials have used this data for pro­gram planning and other col­laborative community ven­tures designed to decrease drug and alcohol use.

• The results have been used in requesting federal and state grant money where demonstration of need is part of the requirements.

  The biennial survey is administered to all public school districts in Wood County, grades 5 through 12–Bowling Green, East­wood, Elmwood, Lake, North Baltimore, North­wood, Otsego, Penta Career Center, Perrysburg and Rossford.

  Perrysburg Executive Summary

• Nicotine–Perrysburg reported a 78 percent decrease in 30-day cigarette use among 12th graders since 2004.

  Similar decreases are reported at all grade levels. In 2016 only 6.4 percent of seniors reported use. The use of smokeless tobacco decreased to only 2.6 percent among 11th graders and 4.2 percent among 12th graders.

  Electronic cigarette use is emerging among Perrysburg youth with rates ranging from 3.7 percent among 9th graders to 13.2 percent among 12th graders. It appears that the use of elec­tronic cigarettes may be replacing cigarette use.

  The rate of nicotine use in Perrysburg is generally lower than the rate of nico­tine use in Wood County and in the nation.

• Alcohol–Perrysburg 12th graders report a 36.8 percent decline in annual alcohol use from 2004 until 2016, with the declines being consistent almost every year.

  All other grades report similar declines in annual alcohol use. Annual alcohol rates in Perrysburg are gen­erally lower than the Wood County aggregate and con­sistently lower than the national average.

  Thirty-day rates of binge drinking in Perrysburg declined 43 percent among 12th graders since 2004. However, binge drinking increased in 2016 over 2014 among 12th graders. Binge drinking among Perrysburg seniors has been similar to or higher than the Wood Coun­ty aggregate over the past 12 years, and has been consis­tently lower than national rates over the same period.

• Marijuana–Perrysburg 12th graders report a 52 per­cent decrease in annual mari­juana use between 2004 and 2016. Similar decrease in annual marijuana use was reported at all grade levels.

  Rates of annual marijua­na use in Perrysburg are lower than rates in the coun­ty and nation. Thirty-day or monthly marijuana use showed similar decreases. Perrysburg 12th graders report a 58 percent decrease in 30-day marijuana use between 2004 and 2016. Similar decreases in 30-day marijuana use were reported at all grade levels.

  Since 2010, rates of monthly marijuana use in Perrysburg are lower than rates in the county and nation.

  In the past 30 days among Perrysburg 12th graders, 7.1 percent reported using marijuana in an e-cig or vaping device, 10.4 per­cent reported using marijua­na as an edible, and 5.2 per­cent reported marijuana use in concentrated form. Males were nearly twice as likely to report these non-smoking types of marijuana use as were females.

• Inhalants–The rate of inhalant use in Perrysburg is generally lower than county and national rates, although exceptions can be found by grade and by survey year over the past decade.

• MDMA/Ecstasy–Rates of MDMA use in Perrysburg are at the lowest levels among all survey years. The rate of MDMA use in Per­rysburg is generally lower than county and national rates, although exceptions can be found by grade and by survey year over the past decade.

• Stimulants–Perrysburg youth report consistent decreases in all grades since 2012. While Perrysburg 8th graders generally report lower rates of stimulant mis­use than does Wood County and the nation, Perrysburg 10th and 12th graders gener­ally report higher levels, depending upon the year and the grade.

• LSD–Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) use in Perrysburg has generally declined since 2006. The 2016 Perrysburg rate of 1.4percent among 12th graders represents a 77 percent decline since 2006. National rates of LSD had been in decline since 1996 and in sharp decline since 2000, but increased slightly in 2015.

• Narcotic Painkillers– The use of narcotic painkillers in Perrysburg has declined 56 percent among 12th graders since 2004. Rates are at all-time lows in nearly all grade levels. Per­rysburg generally reports lower rates of painkiller mis­use when compared to the Wood County aggregate, with only 12th graders reporting slightly higher lev­els in 2016. However, simi­lar to the Wood County aggregate, the use of painkillers in Perrysburg is higher than the national average.

• Cocaine–Perrysburg reported its lowest rates of cocaine use since the survey’s inception in 2004 with a decline of 89 percent among 12th graders. Histori­cally, Perrysburg 12th graders have generally been higher than both Wood County and the nation, although they have reported lower rates since 2014.

• Cough Medicine–The use of cough medicine in Perrysburg has declined 39 percent among 12th graders since 2004/2006. Rates are at all-time lows in nearly all grade levels. Perrysburg gen­erally reports lower rates of cough medicine misuse when compared to the coun­ty aggregate. However, simi­lar to the county aggregate, the use of cough medicine in Perrysburg is higher than the national average.

• Sleep and Anxiety Medication–Compared to the Wood County aggregate, Perrysburg 8th and 12th graders report slightly higher use, while 10th graders report slightly lower use.

• Caffeinated Energy Drinks–Perrysburg 12th graders are drinking 60 per¬cent less caffeinated energy drinks in 2016 than they did in 2008. All other grades report similar declines. And youth in Perrysburg appear to consume less caffeinated energy drinks than youth in other county communities.

·           Heroin–Heroin rates in Perrysburg are at very low levels, with no grade exceed¬ing 1 percent in 2016. These low rates in 2016 are similar to national rates and lower than county rates.

·           Bullying–Verbal bully¬ing is the most prevalent form of bullying for Perrys¬burg youth where 33.6 percent of 8th graders report being victims fol¬lowed by indirect bullying that is experienced by 21.1 percent of 8th graders. Cyber and physical bullying are experienced by 15.8 and

13.2 percent of 8th graders. Perrysburg 7th and 8th graders generally report higher levels of bullying than their county counterparts, while 11 and 12th graders report lower levels.

-Victims of bullying are more likely to report substance use.

-The frequency of bullying seems to be related to substance use and to mental health problems, especially in junior high.

-Victims of bullying are more likely to report moderate, severe or intense mental health issues than non-victims.

-Victims of bullying are more likely to think about or attempt suicide.

Kyle Clark, Wood County Educational Service Center prevention education director, told the school district, “this is a very good report for you.”

“This is certainly a team approach,” he said. “You do have the community highly involved, the parents are highly involved. Attacking this from all positions and factions of your community have been highly effective, and I commend you for that.”

.