BUFFALO, NY – Ninth graders in Erie County schools are using tobacco, alcohol and drugs at lower rates in 2004-05 than they were in 2000-01, according to results of surveys conducted by Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). The most substantial decrease was reported for tobacco use.

“Progress has been made since the first Roswell Park survey in 1992, but more should be done to prevent the disastrous long-term health damage when young people use tobacco, alcohol and drug products,” said Andrew Hyland, PhD, Department of Health Behavior, RPCI. “There are no simple solutions to the drug use problem, but this report should encourage wider discussion among students, parents, schools, local businesses and community government agencies to identify more effective ways to help our youth grow up drug free.”

Between October 2004 and June 2005, 7,089 ninth grade students from 67 percent of public and 86 percent of parochial schools in Erie County were surveyed. More than 90 percent of the students were 14 or 15 years of age and 80 percent were white, 10 percent African-American and 10 percent other races. Survey results were compared to results of similar surveys conducted by RPCI in 1992, 1996 and 2000-01.

 Highlights from the survey are:

• Overall tobacco use decreased from 18 percent in 2000-01 to 12 percent in 2004-05
• Alcohol remained the most commonly used drug with 32 percent reporting drinking an alcoholic beverage in the past 30 days, compared to 41 percent in 2000-02; and 21 percent reported being drunk within the past 30 days, compared to 29 percent in 2000-01.
• Current use of marijuana decreased from 14 percent in 2000-01 to 10 percent in 2004-05

Other findings include:

• Frequent smokers were more likely to have misperceptions about the health risks from smoking (49 percent) compared to occasional smokers (41 percent) and non-smokers (15 percent).
• Those who report ever having smoked a cigarette decreased from 44 percent in 2000-01 to 29 percent in 2004-05.
• Newport was the cigarette brand most often purchased in 2004-05, whereas in previous years it was Marlboro. Of current smokers, 85percent smoke the three most heavily advertised cigarette brands – Marlboro, Newport and Camel.
• Consistent with previous surveys, smoking was correlated with other drug use behaviors. Frequent smokers were five times more likely to have been drunk in the past 30 days, 13 times more likely to be current marijuana users, and 28 times more likely to be current illegal drug users than non-smokers.
• Those who reported frequent smoking (67 percent) and those who smoke occasionally (90 percent) relied primarily on non-commercial sources such as friends and family members to get cigarettes.

“Recent efforts by local and New York State authorities to clamp down on illegal tobacco sales to minors and the prohibition of self-service tobacco displays are possible reasons for this shift in the reported usual source of cigarettes among current smokers,” noted Dr. Hyland. “However, despite efforts to enforce the law prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors, the vast majority of ninth graders report that it is easy for them to get cigarettes from retail outlets and vending machines.”

“Young people actively advocating against tobacco marketing and manipulation have played a significant part in this trend,” noted Ken Dahlgren, Chautauqua County Reality Check coordinator and a member of the Erie/Niagara Tobacco Free Coalition. “Erie County youth will serve as a model to young people around the world as they reject tobacco industry attempts to addict them.”

Funding for this research was supported in part by a grant from the Erie/Niagara Tobacco Free Coalition.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, or call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

Editor’s Note:  The complete 2004-05 ninth grade survey can be accessed on the web at www.roswellpark.org.

 

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