In December of 2024, Four Rivers visited 3 of 4 school districts in Hamilton County. We administered the Bach-Harrison Prevention Needs Assessment Survey. The PNA survey collects risk and protective factor data that will identify community needs on a local level and then allow schools, school districts, counties, regions, and the state to target services to address those needs.
This data is showing Hamilton, Fulton and Montgomery County Past 30-day substance use for grades 8th, 10th & 12th.
For the Hamilton County Data 8th grade is showing no use of alcohol, nicotine and cannabis in the past 30 days. 10th grade is showing 14% for alcohol, 8% for nicotine and 0% for cannabis. 12th grade is showing 24% for alcohol, 18% for nicotine and 27% for cannabis.
This graph is showing past 30-day substance use in 2022 vs 2024 in 8th, 10th and 12th grade.
Alcohol use us is around the same, Nicotine has gone up and Cannabis in our 12th graders has significantly increased.
Where are youth getting their alcohol?
Here is some trend data from 2018, 2020 and 2024. Overall percentages are going down. Are the youth getting their alcohol elsewhere?
Where’s the party at?
Numbers have decreased slightly for consuming alcohol at home with parents’ permission, but this is still a major concern. 29% marked in 2024 they are consuming somewhere else with parent permission and 53% marked they are consuming in another place.
Is this data alarming to you? 60% of 10th grade parents favor substance use. 11th and 12th grade parents are not far behind.
Risk and Protective factors
The numbers look good but there is always room for improvement.
Risk factors - are characteristics of school, community, and family environments, and of students and their peer groups known to predict increased likelihood of drug use, delinquency, school drop out and violent behaviors among youth.
School - Low commitment to school - 75% (days missed, meaningful work)
Peer/Individual - Perceived risk of drug use - 68% (Youth who do not see substance use an issue)
Family - Parental attitudes favor drug use - 35%
School - Acedemic Failure - 43% (academic failure correlates with increased substance use.)
Let’s lower these risk factors!
Protective Factors - exert a positive influence and buffer against the negative influence of risk, thus reducing the likelihood that adolescents will engage in problem behaviors. The numbers look good but there is always room for improvement.
Family - opportunity for prosocial involvement - 71%(those who participate in family activities and responsibilities are less likely to participate in problem behaviors.)
School - rewards for prosocial involvement - 74% (when students are recognized and rewarded for their hard work, they are less likely to be involved with substance use and problem behaviors.)
Peer/individual prosocial involvement - 64% (Activities for the youth to stay involved with their peers)
