By By Lisa Tindell
The results may be “shocking” but statistics on tobacco, drug and alcohol use by school-aged children is something the public needs to know.
Donna Revel, At-Risk and community education coordinator for Escambia County Schools, said even though the numbers are still too high the percentages in all three categories have dropped in the school system.
In a PRIDE survey taken by 1,665 students in Escambia County’s schools, students admitted to using tobacco, alcohol and marijuana, however, the percentage of those admitting to the use has dropped from the 2008 survey.
Revel said the decrease in the percentages for each category could be a result of programs offered at county schools.
Revel said the survey is offered each spring and is voluntary and anonymous.
Revel said the current results are from the survey offered in April 2009.
Revel said some strides have been made in recent years to educate and make students aware of the dangers of making bad decisions.
Other results found through the survey show that the highest use of tobacco and alcohol begins at the tenth grade level. Students in the eleventh grade show a higher rate of marijuana use.
Other statistics shown in the survey results include:
Tobacco Use: 9.9 percent report using daily; 14.7 percent report weekly use; 18.3 percent report using annually.
Alcohol Use (to include beer, wine coolers and liquor):3.6 percent report using daily; 13.3 percent reported weekly use; 22.9 percent report monthly use; 44 percent report annual use.
Marijuana Use: 4.1 percent report using daily; 8 percent reported weekly use; 10.1 report using monthly; and 15 percent report annual use.