Potential Future/Continued Efforts

1. Potential Future/Continued Efforts • Continue annual bullying and harassment intervention training with district staff • Develop and implement a bullying curriculum embedded in Freshman Health Class • SPEAK (Students Promoting Equality and Kindness) and Student Council Initiatives • Evidence-based training for all students to prevent bullying • Potential Senior Health Class that covers suicide and self-harming • Continue encouraging students to refer their friends when they are concerned about their safety • CONNECT Suicide Prevention Training from NAMI NH for school staff that did not receive it in 2010 or for other community members that work with youth • Life of an Athlete • Find more consistent funding for the staff that supports students on campus • More broad reaching smoking cessation • Continue Freshman Health Class education • Continue substance use counselling access • Indian River School Steering Committee to program for parents • A lot more evidence based substance use prevention is needed to support the intervention efforts

2. Bullying Past 12 months: Bullied on school property Past 12 months: Electronically bullied No data No data Both being a bully and being victimized by bullies have been increasingly recognized as health problems for children because of their association with a range of problems, including poor psychological adjustment, poor academic achievement, and violent behavior. (VT YRBS Data, 2013) 464

3. Suicide and Self-Harm Past 12 months: Seriously considered suicide Past 12 months: Attempted suicide Alcohol use is a major contributing factor in about half of all homicides and sexual assaults, and about one-third of all motor vehicle crash fatalities. Heavy drinking among youth has been linked to violence, academic and job problems, suicidal behavior, trouble with law enforcement authorities, risky sexual behavior, and use of cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, and other illegal drugs. Marijuana use is associated with smoking-related respiratory damage, temporary short-term memory loss, decreased motivation, and psychological dependence. Other reactions include feelings of distrust, anxiety, or depression. Other drug use is related to suicide, early unwanted pregnancy, school failure, delinquency, and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV infection. (VT YRBS Data, 2013) 464

4. Physical and Sexual Health Past 5 days out of 7: Physically active for 60+ min Past 12 months: Hurt by someone they dated No data Lifetime: Physically forced to have sex Regular physical activity builds and maintains healthy bones and muscles, controls weight, builds lean muscle, reduces fat, reduces feelings of depression and anxiety. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that young people ages 6–17 participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Abuse by an intimate partner and forced sex are associated with negative psychosocial outcomes, poor mental health outcomes, and other risk behaviors among both males and females. (VT YRBS Data, 2013) 464

5. Risk Factors Community Substance Availability Laws & norms favorable toward use School/Peer Friends who use Family Parental attitude & involvement in use Persistent antisocial behavior Transitions & mobility Family management problems Individual Academic failure beginning in elementary school Low neighborhood attachment Genetic Predispositions Alienation/Rebelliousness Child abuse & maltreatment Early initiation of use Favorable attitude toward use Friends with a favorable attitude toward use Inadequate supervision Prenatal Exposure Community disorganization Family conflict Family history Lack of commitment to school Lack of economic opportunity Poverty Violence Racism

6. Protective Factors Parents have clear standards for student behavior Students feel they matter to the community The people to whom youth are bonded need to have clear, positive standards for behavior. The content of these standards is what protects young people. When parents, teachers and communities set clear standards for children’s behavior, when they are widely and consistently supported, and when the consequences for not following the standards are consistent, young people are more likely to follow the standard.Higher rates of drug problems occur in communities or neighborhoods where people have little attachment to the community. Perhaps the most significant issue affecting community attachment is whether residents feel they can make a difference in their lives. Lower rates of voter participation and parental involvement in school also reflect attitude about community attachment. (Hogan, Gabrielsen, Luna, and Grothaus, 2003) 464

7. Alcohol Use Lifetime: 1+ drinks of alcohol Past 30 days: 1+ drinks of alcohol Before 13 years old: 1+ drinks of alcohol Past 30 days: 5+ drinks of alcohol in 2 hours 464

8. Marijuana and Other Drug Use Lifetime: Used marijuana 1+ times Past 30 days: Used marijuana 1+ times Lifetime: Used heroin Lifetime: Used inhalants (ex. glue, aerosol cans, …) 464

9. Prescription Drug and Cigarette Use Lifetime: Used prescription drugs 1+ times Past 30 days: Used prescription drugs 1+ times Past 30 days: Smoked cigarettes 1+ days Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States, contributing to more than one in five deaths. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory illness, stroke, and cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity, pharynx, pancreas, and cervix. (VT YRBS Data, 2013) 464

10. Student Perceptions of Access Students think it would be easy to get alcohol Students think it would be easy to get marijuana Parental attitudes and behavior toward drugs influence the attitudes and behavior of their children. Parental approval of young people’s moderate use, even under parental supervision, increases the risk of the young person using. Further in families where parents involve children in their own drug or alcohol behavior, (ex. Asking the child to light a cigarette or get a beer from the fridge) there is an increased likelihood that their children will become substance abusers. The more available drugs are in a community, the higher the risk that young people will abuse drugs in the community. Perceived availability of drugs is also associated with risk. This perceived availability, regardless of the fact that drugs are not that easily available, can become a risk factor because it supports a social norm that drugs are easy to get and okay to use. (Hogan, Gabrielsen, Luna, and Grothaus, 2003) 464

11. Student Perceptions of Parents Parents think it is wrong for them to use tobacco Parents think it is wrong for them to use alcohol Parents think it is wrong for them to use marijuana Past 12 months: Talked w/ parents about substance use 464

12. Driving and Alcohol Use Past 30 days: Drove a car after drinking alcohol Past 30 days: Rode in a car w/ a drinking driver In 2011, alcohol use was associated with nearly four in ten motor vehicle-related fatalities nationwide. Additionally, research examining drugs other than alcohol indicates that marijuana is the most prevalent drug detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims nationwide. (VT YRBS Data, 2013) In NH, if you are concerned your child under the age of 18 is making risky choices, you (as their guardian) can have their driver’s license revoked at your discretion. 464

13. Small Group Discussions • Small groups of 6-8 people with a SPEAK student representative • Handouts of the data graphs • The discussion questions • List of past and potential future efforts • Discuss the following 3 questions: • Do you feel the data represents your experience in the community? • What are some of the future efforts that you think should be invested in? • From the list of future efforts, what is one thing you can personally do now?