The Student Survey
Information used to develop the Drug-Free Communities Grant application was gathered from a comprehensive survey conducted in 2004. The Alton Weed and Seed Strategy funded The Communities That Care assessment to define the risk- and protective-factors for our youth. The Communities That Care survey is a way for members of a community to work together to identify and prevent youth problem behaviors, including substance use, delinquency, teen pregnancy, dropping out of school and violence. This system was developed by Dr. David Hawkins and Dr. Richard Catalano. It is based on their research, which has identified risk factors that predict youth problem behaviors and protective factors that buffer children from risk and help them succeed in life.
A key goal of the Communities That Care effort is to identify which risk factors, protective factors and problem behaviors are prevalent in our community, and implement evidence-based programs that address our community’s unique profile. To that end, the Risk- and Protective-Factor Assessment work group collected and analyzed data on Alton, Illinois. Then, with input from the community, they identified priority risk factors to address, as well as community strengths on which to build.
The assessment was completed using the Communities That Care® Youth Survey and archival data. The Communities That Care® Youth Survey was administered to students in grades 6-12 in the schools in Alton and Godfrey, Illinois in the winter and spring of 2004. To get the most complete picture of our community, the Risk- and Protective-Factor Assessment work group also collected archival data from public records to measure risk factors and problem behaviors not covered by the survey.
Risk Factors measured by the youth survey included: low neighborhood attachment, community disorganization, personal transitions and mobility, laws and norms favorable to handgun and drug use, availability of drugs and handguns, poor family supervision, poor family discipline, attitudes toward ATOD (Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs), academic performance, lack of commitment to school, rebelliousness, friend’s delinquent behavior, friends’ use of drugs, early initiation of drug use, 30-day drug use, sensation seeking and peer rewards for antisocial behavior.
All of the above risk factors were measured and the survey results can be summarized into three distinct categories: 1) risk and protective factors that predict alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, delinquency, gang involvements and other adolescent problem behaviors 2) the prevalence and frequency of drug use and 3) the prevalence and frequency of antisocial behaviors.
The following provides a brief summary of survey outcomes in each of the three measured areas:
Risk and Protective Factors
Alton 6th through 12th grade youth identified several regional protective factors. Among the top, were religiosity, social skills, family rewards for pro-social involvement and belief in moral order. Areas of protective factors desired but not prevalent as reported by students included school rewards for pro-social involvement.
The risk factors identified by students included low neighborhood attachment, personal transitions and mobility, community disorganization and favorable attitudes toward alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. The favorable attitudes towards alcohol and tobacco in particular are exacerbated by parents’ acceptance of drinking and smoking as a “right of passage” for teenagers. According to a 2003, Illinois Youth Survey 46.7% of parents in Madison County feel that “occasional” consumption of alcohol and use of tobacco is by teens average and acceptable.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use:
In the Youth Survey, Alton School District students recorded the highest lifetime prevalence-of-use rates rate for alcohol (57.3), cigarettes (38.8%) and marijuana (28.2%). Other lifetime prevalence rates ranged from 0.6% for other club drugs to 11.4% for inhalants. In order to evaluate the severity of drug use behaviors, AYDSP members compared local data to National data using the “Monitoring the Future” survey (University of Michigan 2003). Compared to their national counterparts, Alton School District students reported a higher average level of lifetime alcohol use and higher average levels (past 30 day use) of marijuana and tobacco use (higher by 9% cumulative).
Anti-Social Behavior
The highest reported antisocial behavior on the survey was 20.1% of participating students “Attacking someone with the intent to harm.” The second highest reported antisocial behavior was17.7 of students reporting that “being drunk or high at school.”
The alcohol, tobacco and other drug use risk factors were selected as priority for prevention action primarily because data indicated that they are significantly elevated throughout Alton, Illinois. The data also revealed Alton’s strengths. For example, the Communities That Care® Youth Survey revealed that students throughout the city have high levels of religious connection and are less vulnerable to becoming involved in antisocial behaviors, because they have already adopted a social norm against those activities. They reported high levels of the protective factors “Religiosity” and “Social Skills”. These are important areas of strength on which to build to help protect our city’s youth from the risk of problem behaviors.
The entire survey results can be viewed at www.altonweedandseed.com
April 2007 Youth Survey Results:
Alton School District
Alton High School
Alton Middle School
