“We're pretty excited about the story the data seem to be telling us,” said Jori Frakie, coordinator of the Missoula Forum for Children and Youth. “We still have a uniquely bad problem with underage drinking, but we're creating an environment that's less tolerant of the problem. We've made a difference over the past 10 years.”
For proof, Frakie points to the latest “Measuring Up” report of substance abuse trends in Missoula and statewide. Due for general release later this month, the report shows movement away from dangerous behaviors and increased support for community efforts that promote healthy lifestyles.
In the 2006 survey, 58 percent of high school seniors reported drinking in the past 30 days, compared to 25 percent who said they used marijuana and just 0.5 percent who reported using methamphetamine.
For eighth-graders, one in four admitted to drinking in the past month, while 6 percent had used marijuana and 12 percent claimed to have used “any other illegal drug.”
“A lot of parents think underage drinking is just a rite of passage,” Frakie said. “But if a teen is drinking, he or she is probably binge-drinking (five or more drinks in a session). They're drinking to get drunk.”
That conclusion is reflected in medical statistics that show alcohol was a factor in 29 percent of injuries to teens ages 14-17 who were treated at St. Patrick Hospital in 2004. Alcohol was the root of
87 percent of referrals to the University of Montana's Curry Health Center “Self Over Substance” program in the 2005-06 school year, compared to 12 percent for marijuana and 1 percent for other substances.
And those rates are frustratingly higher than national norms, according to Steve Seninger, director of economic analysis at the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
“All our indicators are above national levels,” said Seninger, who helps prepare the statewide “Kids Count” report of youth education and health statistics. “A lot of it appears to stem from our lax enforcement of underage possession and acquisition of alcohol. Look at the attitudes we adults have toward drinking. We have 150,000 (Montana) adults a year who report regular binge drinking. You're talking about some serious numbers.”
On the encouraging side, there's been a big drop in the number of Missoula teens who report riding in a car with a drunken driver. In 2001, one in three city teens claimed that experience in the past month. In 2005, that was down to one in five.
Frakie was particularly pleased with the trend changes seen in local eighth-graders. Those are the students who've had the most exposure to current prevention campaigns, after-school activities and other efforts to curb substance abuse. It appears to pay off in a big drop in eighth-grade binge drinking.
In 2002, 19 percent of 14-year-olds reported binge-drinking in the past two weeks. In 2006, that count had dropped to 12 percent.
The number of eighth-graders who believe they would get caught by police if they drank in their neighborhood has grown from 16 percent in 2002 to 28 percent in 2006. And almost two-thirds of them believe their parents would catch them, compared to
50 percent four years ago.
Students were also more likely to notice adults who cared about their lives. Three-quarters said their teachers noticed when they were doing a good job, up from 63 percent in 2002. And 95 percent said they know at least one adult with whom they feel comfortable discussing problems.
While that may seem inconsequential, Frakie said adult involvement is one of the main strategies known to successfully reduce the rate of teen risk-taking.
“Parents remain the No. 1 influence on teens for decisions about alcohol and other drugs,” Frakie said. “They can't shy away from being the parent.”
Reporter Rob Chaney can be reached at 523-5382 or at rchaney@missoulian.com
On the Net
Copies of the 2007 “Measuring Up” report are available for downloading on the Internet at http://www.missoulaforum.org Forum staff can also e-mail copies on request by writing to jfrakie@co.missoula.mt.us.
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