MEMORANDUM

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
BETTY COXE
CHARLIE CRISTDEPUTY COMMISSIONER
CommissionerEDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
1. _
  1. M E M O R A N D U M
SUBJECT:Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey 2001 State Report
1. Key Survey Results

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

CHARLIE CRIST

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

CONTACT PERSON

Penny.Detscher@fldoe.org

DPS: 03-023

M E M O R A N D U M

TO:

District School Superintendents

August 20, 2002

Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey 2001 State Report

The Florida Department of Education sincerely appreciates the levels of cooperation

and participation of Florida’s school districts in the 2001 Florida Youth Survey effort, a

collaborative initiative of the Florida Departments of Education, Health, Juvenile Justice,

and Children and Families, and the Governor’s Office of Drug Control. One of the

reports resulting from this survey effort is the

Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey

, first administered in 2000.

2001 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey State Report

is available online along

with the FYSAS state and county reports for 2000 at

http://www.state.fl.us/cf_web/

down to “Children and Families Information” and select “Substance Abuse and Mental

Health” and then look under “Reports and Publications.” A hard copy of the newest

state report is being sent to your district’s Safe and Drug-Free Schools Coordinator.

Additional copies may be downloaded from the website. The FYSAS 2001 was

administered in May of 2001 as part of the annual Florida Youth Survey effort. Results

from the 2002 survey effort, which captures county-level data, as well as state-level

data, will be available in the upcoming months.

PLAZA LEVEL – 08, THE CAPITOL – TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0400 – (850) 413-0555 – FAX (850) 488-2869

http:/www.firn.edu/doe

An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer

District School Superintendents

August 20, 2002

In the introductory letter to the

2001 FYSAS State Report

, Governor Jeb Bush states,

“Findings indicate a promising overall drop in use of the traditional hard

drugs such as heroin, cocaine and LSD. Additionally, tobacco use is

down across all grade levels. This shows that we are continuing to make

progress toward our goal of cutting substance abuse in half by 2005.”

For the first time, Club Drugs, such as ecstasy, ketamine and Rohypnol

, were included

in the 2001 survey. Although results showed that Florida’s student use of such drugs

generally follows national numbers, we must increase our efforts in combating this more

recent wave of drug use.

The FYSAS not only reports on the prevalence of drug use and violence in Florida

youth, but, just as importantly, it provides a measure of the risk and protective factors

that research has shown put young people at risk of problem behavior, or help protect

them from such behavior, in spite of the risk in their lives. This knowledge allows

schools and communities to plan programs that address the specific needs of their

youth and to track change.

Key results of the 2001 survey show:

Key Survey Results

Strengths to build on:

The club drugs GHB, ketamine and Rohypnol

showed very low levels of use by

surveyed Florida students in the

African American students reported the lowest lifetime and past-30-day rates of use

for alcohol, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, marijuana and inhalants, compared to

other ethnic groups.

In 2001, marijuana use prevalence rates dropped in the 11

compared to the 2000 findings.

Binge drinking rates (defined as the consumption of five or more drinks in a row in

the last two weeks) have remained stable since last year. The prevalence rate

among surveyed 10

graders in Florida is slightly lower than the national prevalence

rate as measured by the

Monitoring the Future

Opportunities for Improvement:

More than half of Florida’s surveyed youth reported having used alcohol in their

lifetimes again in 2001 (56.3% of surveyed youth reported lifetime use in 2001), up

from 52.6% in 2000).

PLAZA LEVEL – 08, THE CAPITOL – TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0400 – (850) 413-0555 – FAX (850) 488-2869

http:/www.firn.edu/doe

An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer

PLAZA LEVEL – 08, THE CAPITOL – TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0400 – (850) 413-0555 – FAX (850) 488-2869

http:/www.firn.edu/doe

An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer

District School Superintendents

August 20, 2002

As in 2000, the reported lifetime prevalence rate for alcohol use in 2001 was highest among

White, non-Hispanic youth (62.4% in 2001, up from 58.7% in 2000), and lowest among

African American youth (42.0% in 2001,up from 39.5% in 2000).

Of Florida’s surveyed youth in 2001, 15.3% reported having been

Suspended from School

13.0% reported being

Drunk or High at School

, and 13.0% having

Attacked Someone with

Intent to Harm

Compared to the findings on marijuana use from the 2000 survey, results of the 2001 survey

revealed that students in lower grades (6

) reported increased lifetime and past-

30-day prevalence rates of marijuana use.

Students were less concerned with the regular use of alcohol in 2001. Only 38.0% of the

surveyed students believed that regular use of alcohol would cause “great harm” or “harm.”

In 2001, students were even less concerned with trying marijuana once or twice—only

30.9% believed trying marijuana would cause “great harm” or “harm.”

At the state level, students reported a substantially lower score (38) on the

School Rewards

for Prosocial Involvement

protective factor scale compared to the national average of 50.

This means that in Florida, surveyed students don’t feel as appreciated or rewarded for their

involvement in school relative to students nationally.

In Florida, students reported a substantially higher score (64) on the

Personal Transitions

risk factor scale compared to the national average of 50. This means that in

Florida, surveyed students are at greater risk for involvement in drug and antisocial

behaviors due to a lack of long-term neighborhood connection.

The Governor closes his letter by saying that the Florida Youth Survey effort “will continue to

provide sound data on the success or failure of our substance abuse prevention efforts, thus

guiding our efforts and resources in the most efficient direction.”

Through his commitment and our continued participation in this survey process, we can help to

ensure that the children of Florida stay free from drugs and are able to realize their potential for

positive contributions to our state and to our nation.

If you have questions, please contact Hal Johnson at the Department of Children and Families’

Substance Abuse Program Office, 850-413-6768 or SunCom 293-6768 or contact the

Department of Education’s Safe Schools Office at 850-410-1667 or SunCom 210-1667.