Download - My TOWN Coalition - Community Survey Results
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Community Attitudes About
Youth Substance Use
My TOWN,
A Coalition Working to Prevent Youth Substance Use
Hoquiam, WA
Winter 2014
Report prepared by
Brianne Probasco,
Grays Harbor County Public Health and Social Services Department
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Introduction
In 2013, Grays Harbor County Public Health and Social Services Department received
multi-year funding from Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery to help the community of Hoquiam develop
a plan to reduce underage alcohol use and its resulting consequences.
The My TOWN Coalition was formed to guide the planning process. My TOWN
members include representatives from:
Hoquiam School District Hoquiam businesses YMCA of Grays Harbor Hoquiam Police Department Washington Traffic Safety National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Educational Service District (ESD) 113/True North members of the faith community Grays Harbor County Juvenile Department substance abuse treatment professionals parents and other interested citizens
In November 2013, the My TOWN Coalition asked community residents aged 18 or
older to complete a survey about youth substance use. The information collected by
the survey is summarized in this report and will be used by the My TOWN Coalition to
inform the priorities of their plan to reduce underage alcohol use and its resulting
consequences.
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Methods
Survey instrument
The original survey instrument was developed by Washington State Department ofSocial and Health Services Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. It consists of 24
questions related to demographics, opinions about youth substance use, knowledge
about marijuana, and parenting practices. The My TOWN coalition added two
additional questions regarding heroin and methamphetamine use among local youth. A
copy of the survey instrument is in Appendix A.
Survey distribution
Copies of the survey were made available in both English and Spanish at Hoquiam CityHall, all Hoquiam School District schools, and the Hometown Sanitation office.
An online version of the survey in both English and Spanish was also made available.
Local partners, including Grays Harbor Radio, The Daily World newspaper, City of
Hoquiam, and Grays Harbor County Public Health and Social Services Department,
posted a link to the survey on their websites.
Hometown Sanitation, Hoquiams waste management service provider,mailed
information about the survey, including the web address of the online version, to all of
its customers in their November bill. Students of Hoquiam High School also handed out
informational postcards during community canvasing for a local food drive.
Residents were able to complete the survey between November 1 November 30.
Data analysis
Data were stored and analyzed with SurveyMonkey software.
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Results
Demographics
City of residence67% of respondents lived in Hoquiam, 18% lived in Aberdeen, 6% lived in Montesano,
and 8% lived in various other parts of Grays Harbor County. 1% of respondents lived
outside of Grays Harbor County.
Age of respondent
4% of respondents were 18-24 years old, 29% were 25-44 years old, and 67% were 45+
years old.
Age of respondents children
40% of respondents had children 18 years old or younger. Of these, 56% had children
10 years old or younger, 36% had children 11-14 years old, and 45% had children 15-18
years old.
Gender
69% of respondents were female; 31% were male.
Race/ethnicity94% of respondents were white/Caucasian, 4% were Native American/Alaska Native, and
3% were Hispanic or Latino.
Education
43% of respondents had a college or graduate degree, 37% had completed some
college, 17% had completed high school, and 3% had not completed high school.
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Opinions about youth substance use
Seriousness of issues
Most respondents felt that youth substance use and youth mental health issues were a
moderate to serious problem in the community.
IssueRespondents indicating that the issue
is at least a moderate problem in the community.
Alcohol use 86%
Marijuana use 80%
Tobacco use 80%
Depression 79%
Meth 76%
Driving under the influence 73%
Prescription drug abuse 73%
Heroin 71%
Suicide 68%
Opinions about law enforcement
77% of respondents agreed that law enforcement personnel are effective in their
response to calls and requests about underage alcohol and drug use at parties or
gatherings.
Opinions about legal consequences for youth that use alcohol or marijuana
Most respondents thought that youth should receive legal consequences if they usealcohol or marijuana.
Respondents indicating that youth should receive the
consequence if caught using
Legal consequence alcohol. marijuana.
Parents/caregivers should be
notified.94% 90%
Youth should be required to
complete community service.77% 78%
The school should be notified
(student may have broken
athletic department policies).
65% 66%
Youths driver license should be
suspended.66% 61%
Youth should receive a fine. 47% 54%
Youth should receive a jail
sentence.20% 20%
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Opinions about legal consequences for adults that provide alcohol or marijuana to
underage youth
Most respondents thought that adults should receive legal consequences if they provide
alcohol or marijuana to underage youth.
Respondents indicating that adults should receive theconsequence if caught giving underage youth
Legal consequence alcohol. marijuana.
Adults should receive a fine. 84% 86%
Adults should be required to complete a
diversion program or community service.73% 75%
Adults should receive a jail sentence. 53% 53%
The parents/guardians of the youth caught
using alcohol or marijuana should receive a
fine.
35% 38%
Knowledge and opinions about marijuana
Respondents were asked to share their knowledge and opinions about a variety of
issues related to marijuana and the recent legislation making recreational use of
marijuana legal for adults 21+ years old in Washington state.
Respondents who believe the
statement is
Statement true. false. Correct
Answer
Now that marijuana is legal it is OK for youth to havesmall amounts.
2% 98% False
Marijuana paraphernalia is now legal and OK for youth
to have in school.1% 99% False
It is a felony to provide marijuana to a minor, even to
your own kids at home.76% 24% True
Since marijuana is now available in health care settings,
that means it is not harmful.7% 93% False
Eating food with marijuana in it is safer because you are
not taking in smoke.15% 85% False
1
Only people 21 and older can possess marijuana. 81% 20% True2
Small amounts of marijuana can be used in public. 22% 78% FalseNow that marijuana is legal, Washington State will no
longer have medical marijuana regulations.5% 95% False
1While smoking marijuana may promote damage to the lungs, the effects of marijuana on the brain are
the same regardless of whether it is smoked or eaten.2In reference to marijuana used for recreational purposes, not medical purposes.
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Respondents who
think it is NOT
okay for teenagers
to drink at parties,
95%
Respondents who
think it IS okay for
teenagers to drink
at parties, 5%
Prescription drugs
Respondents were asked about how they manage their familys prescription drugs. 55%
said that, at least sometimes, they have prescription drugs in their house that they no
longer need and 50% said they dont always know where they can get rid of prescription
drugs that they no longer need. 90% said that when their child has a prescription drug
they always monitor their childs use of the drug.
Parenting practices and opinions
Allowing youth to drink alcohol
Almost all respondents think it is NOT okay for teenagers to drink alcohol.
19% of respondents said they do not keep ANY alcohol in their home and another 77%
said they NEVER allow youth to drink alcohol in their home. 2% said they allow youth to
drink alcohol in their home on special occasions. Another 2% said they allow their own
children to drink alcohol in their home, but not their childrens friends. 1% said they
allow youth to drink alcohol in their home only under supervision. 0% said they allow
youth to drink alcohol in their home without any restrictions.
95% believe it is NEVER okay for teenagers to drink at parties.
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81% believe it is NEVER okay for parents to offer their teenaged children alcoholic drinks
in their home.
Although most respondents have a strict stance AGAINST underage drinking, they think
that other adults are more relaxed about allowing youth to drink alcohol. 51% thought
that most adults in the community feel it is okay for parents to offer their teenage
children alcoholic drinks in their own home at least on special occasions.
Talking to their children about alcohol and marijuana
Of respondents with children between the ages of 10-18, 95% have talked with their
children about alcohol use in the last three months and 90% have talked about
marijuana use in the last three months.
Almost all respondents (98%) told their children that they should not use alcohol or
marijuana.
Monitoring their children
Most respondents with children between the ages of 10-18 closely monitor their
children when they go out with friends in the evenings or on weekends. 89% always askwhom their children will be with and, at least most of the time, 94% check to see if there
will be adult supervision, 96% set a curfew, and 61% check their children for signs of
substance use when they get home.
Respondents
who think it is
NOT okay for
parents to offer
their teenage
children alcohol
81%
Respondents
who think it IS
okay for parents
to offer their
teenage
children alcohol
19%
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Next steps
The My TOWN Coalition will use the information from the community survey, along with
other Hoquiam-specific data, to guide a prioritization process. My TOWN will then take
their findings to the community at large to seek input on specific strategies to reduce
underage alcohol use and its resulting consequences.
For more information
If you would like to learn more about this report or the My TOWN Coalition, contact
Wilma Weber, Public Health Educatorat [email protected] or (360) 500-
4069.
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Appendix ASurvey instrument
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Appendix A contd
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Appendix A contd
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Appendix A contd