Survey reveals drinking trends
SAD 1 youth binge less than peers, but staff remains alert
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA – A survey released this fall shows that many Maine parents of high school students appear to underestimate their teen’s use of alcohol, including the amount they drink.
The Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) and a concurrent parent phone survey show a large gap between what parents believe about their teen’s alcohol use and what teens report.
The Maine Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) is joining forces with local coalitions to raise parental awareness about the realities of underage drinking and to provide them with tips and tools to help keep their kids safe.
In the statewide phone survey of Maine parents, only 26 percent believed their high school age child had ever had more than a few sips of alcohol. Less than 2 percent believed their child had engaged in binge drinking, which is defined as having more than five drinks in a row.
According to the recently-released results, 65 percent of Maine high school teens said they have had at least one alcoholic drink and more than 20 percent say they have participated in binge drinking. OSA, an Office of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, aims to inform parents of the extent of teen alcohol use.
“With students back in school, it is a good time to remind parents that all Maine youth are at risk for underage alcohol use,” said Guy Cousins, director of Maine OSA.
Holly Johnson, SAD 1’s school health coordinator, said students in grades 5-12 completed the survey in 2009. The survey also includes such topics as tobacco and drug use, safety and violence, bullying and harassment, physical activity, nutrition, and sexual risk behaviors.
Looking at alcohol use, Johnson said when asked if students had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more of the past 30 days, the state response was 34.7 percent, while at Presque Isle High School the average was 28.9 percent.
The statewide average of students who have had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row on one or more of the past 30 days was 21.3 percent. Results at PIHS indicated that 16.4 percent had been binge drinking.
Of local seventh- and eighth-graders who were asked if they had at least one drink of alcohol in the past 30 days, 12.3 percent responded, “Yes.” The state average is 12.2 percent.
“We know we have some students who drink; our head isn’t in the sand,” said Johnson. “We have a lot of programs that are in place and do a lot in terms of drug and alcohol prevention curriculum, multi-media, parent presentations, printed materials, Student Council activities, Civil Rights activities and more to address these issues.
“While the data shows that our student alcohol use levels are below the state average, there is still much improvement that is needed,” she said. “We are striving to educate our students to the dangers of alcohol use.”
Johnson said, however, the survey results do include invaluable data.
“It’s great information because it helps us design programs, see where the need is, and target areas that we can address either with students or parents,” she said. “We try to offer opportunities for parents to be more aware of these issues whether it be Internet safety or drugs and alcohol; we’re always trying to offer updated information. We send flyers home on a variety of topics and try to get the word out about different health-related issues. Because the MIYHS is the only survey that gives us local data, it’s very important that we participate.”
SAD 1 students will take the survey again in February.
Research shows that parental monitoring is critical in preventing underage alcohol use.
For more tips and information about how to prevent underage drinking, visit www.mainparents.net or contact OSA toll free at 1-800-499-0027.
