CPASA studies survey results
Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series.
With the start of the school year, the Community Partners Against Substance Abuse Coalition (CPASA) is continuing its work to reduce substance abuse among youth in Bureau and Putnam counties.
CPASA Chairman Dawn Conerton said the coalition recently reviewed the results of the Illinois Youth Surveys (IYS) taken voluntarily by students at several area junior high and high schools. Participating schools handed out surveys in paper form last year, or students could take the surveys online. Surveys were taken from Feb. 1 to April 30 in order for comparisons to be made with statewide figures, Conerton said.
The number of local participating schools is increasing, Conerton said. In 2008, seven Bureau County schools participated in the survey. In 2010, that number increased to 11 schools. For 2012, CPASA hopes to see even more Bureau County schools participating, Conerton said. In Putnam County, both the junior high and high school participate.
“In order for us to get a clear picture of youth drug and alcohol use in our target area of Bureau and Putnam counties, we need to have as many schools as possible take the Illinois Youth Surveys,” Conerton said. “The more you understand the issues facing our youth, the better able we’ll be to address them.”
The IYS targets sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades. As a Drug-Free Communities federal grant recipient, CPASA is required to track four core measures: Past 30 day use, perceived risk of harm, perceived parental disapproval, and average age of onset for alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use.
The IYS serves as a wonderful tool to help CPASA do this tracking, Conerton said. The survey also helps CPASA measure key risk factors, such as access to drugs, peer drug attitudes and family rules, she said.
CPASA will also use survey results to help the group in prevention planning. Some local schools have chosen to sign release forms, so CPASA can receive their individual school report and results.
“These results are never made public but used only for internal purposes as we collaborate with the school to address specific problems,” Conerton said. “For example, if a school report shows a high level of inhalant use at a certain grade level, we may work with the school to bring a special speaker to address that issue.” The IYS is available to schools every two years, so changes over time can be monitored and prevention efforts can be adjusted to be most effective, Conerton said. The next survey will be given in 2012. The survey can be administered in 45 minutes or less, and there is no charge to schools.
CPASA started in 2007 and has grown tremendously during the last three years, Conerton said. The coalition currently has 43 members and is always open to new members.
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