ALCOHOL: ABUSE AMONG YOUTH ISSUE The effects of alcohol use include: (1-3) Becoming addicted which seriously interferes with everyday living (alcohol dependent). Alcohol poisoning. Injury including traffic accidents, falls and drowning which may result in death. Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex, which can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.
FINDINGS Alcohol use increases substantially between middle school and the end of high school. Thurston County youth have similar rates of alcohol use when compared to Washington State youth.
In 2010 an estimated: (4) − 3 in 20 (15%) of Thurston County 8th graders currently use alcohol. − 1 in 4 (28%) of Thurston County 10th graders currently use alcohol. − 2 in 5 (38%) of Thurston County 12th graders currently use alcohol.
Percent of Youth Currently Using Alcohol by Grade in School, Thurston County and Washington State 2010 (4) 50% 40%
38%
40% 28%
30% 20%
28%
15%
14%
10%
4%
3% 0% Thurston 6th graders
WA State
8th graders
10th graders
12th graders
THURSTON | Community Health Assessment Data Series 2012 Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department
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DETAILED DATA
During the past decade alcohol use declined somewhat among Thurston County youth.
Percent of Youth Currently Using Alcohol by Grade in School, Thurston County 2002-2010 (4) 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
8th graders
19%
20%
16%
16%
15%
10th graders
34%
33%
29%
31%
28%
12th graders
42%
45%
39%
40%
38%
Alcohol use is higher in rural Thurston County school districts.
Percent of Youth Currently Using Alcohol by Rural or Urban School District Enrollment, Thurston County 2006-2010 Combined (4) 50% 43% 40%
38%
35% 27%
30% 20%
19% 15%
10% 0% Rural
Urban
8th graders
10th graders
12th graders
THURSTON | Community Health Assessment Data Series 2012 Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department
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Alcohol use among Thurston County 10th graders varies somewhat by race and ethnicity.
Percent of Youth Currently Using Alcohol by Race or Ethnicity, Thurston County 10th Graders 2006-2010 Combined (4) 19%
Asian
29%
White
32%
NH/OPI
Hispanic
34%
Black
34% 36%
AIAN
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
NH/OPI = Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander AIAN = American Indian and Alaska Native
Thurston County youth use alcohol at higher rates than marijuana or cigarettes.
Current Alcohol, Marijuana and Cigarette Use by Grade in School, Thurston County 2010 40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
6th graders
8th graders
10th graders
12th graders
Alcohol
3%
15%
28%
38%
Marijuana
1%
9%
21%
29%
Cigarettes
1%
7%
14%
19%
THURSTON | Community Health Assessment Data Series 2012 Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department
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CITATIONS (1) Alcohol Use and Health. 2012. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm (2) Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions. 2012. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm (3) Underage Drinking. 2012. National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/special-populations-co-occurringdisorders/underage-drinking (4) Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) Data. 2002-2010. Washington State Department of Health. Prepared by Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department.
NOTES −
− − − −
Current alcohol use = any use in the past 30 days. Healthy Youth Survey question “During the past 30 days, on how many days did you: Drink a glass, can or bottle of alcohol (beer, wine, wine coolers, hard liquor)?” Current marijuana use = any use in the past 30 days. Healthy Youth Survey question “During the past 30 days, on how many days did you: Use marijuana or hashish (grass, hash, pot)?” Current cigarette use = any use in the past 30 days. Health Youth Survey question “During the past 30 days, on how many days did you: Smoke cigarettes?” 6th graders are usually age 11-12, 8th graders age 13-14, 10th graders age 15-16 and 12th graders age 17-18. Rural school district = Griffin, Rainier, Rochester, Tenino and Yelm. Urban school district = North Thurston, Olympia and Tumwater.
MORE INFORMATION
Mary Ann O’Garro, Epidemiologist, 360-867-2525,
[email protected], www.co.thurston.wa.us/health
THURSTON | Community Health Assessment Data Series 2012 Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department
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