Running head: STUDENT HEALTH SURVEY: ANALYSIS AND ACTION

Student Health Survey: Analysis and Action

Jessica Traylor

Kiana Clayborn

Lamar County Public School System

August 15, 2009

Student Health 1

Student Health Survey: Analysis and Action

Lamar County students in the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades recently completed the Georgia

Student Health Survey (GSHS). This survey contains questions about health-related behaviors

such as eating a balanced diet, feeling safe in school and at home, considering harmful behavior,

instances of bullying, and using substances. The survey was completed as part of the Safe and

Drug Free Schools and Communities Program. This is a federally funded program that was

implemented to address drug prevention, violence prevention, and parental involvement and

foster a safe and drug free learning environment that supports student achievement.

The results of the GSHS revealed some positive trends in Lamar County students’

perceptions of their schools during the 2008-2009 school year (The Governor's Office of Student

Achievement 2009). Students in all four grades reported an increase in feeling safe at school.

Students in three of the four grades reported an increase in feeling that the school counselor

would be helpful. Students in three of the four grades reported an increase in having an adult

they can talk with at school. The current results indicate that Lamar County students are as

positive about their schools as the average GA student. In some areas a higher percentage of

Lamar County students reported positive perceptions of their schools. Research shows that

having positive relationships with adults is linked to decreased instances of risky behavior and

increased student achievement (Decker 2007, Riley 2009). These positive trends are a sign of a

school climate that is conducive to learning.

While students are feeling good about their schools, they also report some concerning

trends in the area of substance use. All grades reported an increase in the use of tobacco and

Student Health 2

alcohol when compared to the results from the 2007-2008 school year. In fact, students in 6th, 8th,

and 10th grades report tobacco and alcohol use at higher levels than the GA average. Twenty-five

percent of 8th grade students reported using alcohol in the past 30 days, compared to the GA

average of 13%. Thirty-one percent of 10th grade students reported using alcohol in the past 30

days, compared to the GA average of 18%. Most students reported that they first used these

substances between the ages of twelve and thirteen. According to King, Wagner, and Hedrick

(2001) “early initiation into alcohol use can lead to alcohol dependence and persistence into

adulthood. Approximately 40% of youth who begin drinking at age 14 or younger develop

alcohol dependence at some point in their lives. Comparatively, 10% of those who begin

drinking at age 21 or older develop alcohol dependence.” Lamar County youth are at significant

risk for alcohol dependence because of the early age of onset.

Compared to the GA average, three out of the four grades surveyed reported fewer

instances of being offered illegal drugs at school; however, they report easy access to tobacco,

alcohol, and illegal drugs. By 10th grade approximately 75% of students report that tobacco and

alcohol are easy to get. By 12th grade an astonishing 35% of students report that

methamphetamines are easy to get and 74% report that marijuana is easy to get. Students report

the highest substance use on weekends and weeknights. They report that they most frequently

use these substances at a friend’s house or at home. These facts highlight the importance of

parental involvement in the effort to decrease underage drinking and illegal substance use.

Several informational and planning meetings have been held in response to these survey

results. The meetings have consisted of individuals and agencies who provide services to the

youth in Lamar County. Participants at each meeting came to the conclusion that substance use

Student Health 3

among teenagers is a community problem that needs to be addressed. Several agencies are

involved in the search for solutions to this problem. Youth service providers in the community

came to the conclusion that youth have less accountability, more free time, and less parental

support. Another factor to consider is the low attendance of youth at after-school programs and

community activities. Youth service providers discussed possible reasons for low attendance by

youth. Some of their ideas included the following: adults do not understand youth culture,

marketing is not appealing to youth, frequent changes in programs and leadership, underlying

discrimination (race/age/income), and negative perception of income-based programs.

While it is easy to blame the youth and their families for these community problems, the

research indicates that environmental prevention strategies are most effective in reducing

alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use in youth (Fisher). In contrast to individual prevention

strategies which focus on changing the person, environmental strategies focus on changing

policies or procedures in the environment in such a way that youth are less likely to engage in

substance use and other risky behaviors. Based on all of these factors, the group decided that

after-school and community programs need to use updated marketing techniques that appeal to

youth, including technology such as “texting” and social networking tools. Additionally, Lamar

County needs an updated resource manual and a combined community event/activity calendar.

Both of these efforts would increase the availability and attractiveness of activities for youth.

The school system is also conducting an assessment of the current prevention and

intervention activities implemented during school hours. A part of this assessment includes focus

groups with youth to determine their biggest challenges and needs. These focus group sessions

have provided information regarding some reasons youth use substances as well as their insight

Student Health 4

into the solution. Some challenges mentioned by students include the following: nothing to do,

drugs and alcohol, isolation, teen pregnancy, racism, gangs, teacher attitudes, and not a lot of

variety in activities/restaurants/stores. Their suggested solutions to these challenges centered

around a “teen center.” The youth expressed that they would like a place of their own where they

could talk to their friends, use computers, get help with homework, buy snacks, and play games.

Several youth also expressed an interest starting a volunteer organization in order to help others.

These solutions are being explored, in addition to other short-term solutions.

Overall, youth and adults are aware of the current needs in the community. They

currently have different opinions of how to meet these needs. Youth service providers propose

that youth should attend the existing programs and activities, while youth are requesting a center

specifically for their use. As we work to solve these societal problems we will likely find the

answers somewhere between fitting youth into existing programs and building a new teen center.

The next step in this process will involve a joint meeting of youth and adults. A dialogue

between both groups will be facilitated in order to find common themes and develop an action

plan.

The next Student Health Survey will be conducted in October 2009. We do not expect

any drastic changes in the data based on our current programs; however, we will analyze and use

the data to reaffirm and narrow our focus.

Student Health 5

Reference

Decker, D., Dona, D., & Christenson, S. (2007, February 1). Behaviorally At-Risk African

American Students: The Importance of Student-Teacher Relationships for Student

Outcomes. Journal of School Psychology, 45(1), 83-109. (ERIC Document Reproduction

Service No. EJ748944) Retrieved August 1, 2009, from ERIC database.

Fisher, D. A. Environmental Prevention Strategies: An Introduction and Overview. Retrieved

from http://wch.uhs.wisc.edu/docs/SIG/fisher-EnvironmentalPreventionStrategies.pdf

Giesbrecht, N. (1998, May). Environmental strategies for substance abuse prevention: the

effectiveness of policies. Environmental strategies for substance abuse prevention: the

effectiveness of policies, Retrieved September 19, 2009, from SocINDEX with Full Text

database.

King, K., Wagner, D., & Hedrick, B. (2001, August). Safe and Drug-Free School Coordinators'

Perceived Needs to Improve Violence and Drug Prevention Programs. Journal of School

Health, 71(6), 236-241. Retrieved August 1, 2009, from Education Research Complete

database.

Riley, P. (2009, July 1). An Adult Attachment Perspective on the Student-Teacher Relationship

& Classroom Management Difficulties. Teaching and Teacher Education: An

International Journal of Research and Studies, 25(5), 626-635. (ERIC Document

Reproduction Service No. EJ840172) Retrieved August 15, 2009, from ERIC database.

The Governor's Office of Student Achievement. (2009). 2008 GSHS School Results: Lamar

County. Retrieved from http://www.gaosa.org

Student Health 6