© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 November 8, 2004 Youth at risk What they are doing What is happening to them Why ? What we can do about it Marvin Krank Director of PATH Research Group Okanagan University College

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Project on Adolescent Trajectories and Health (PATH) Goals Goals –Predict transitions to risky behaviours –Understand causes of these transitions –Describe the outcomes of risk taking in young people –Develop new and more effective prevention programs and policies

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Representative school sample A total of 794 students. A total of 794 students. Only 759 indicated which grade they were in. Only 759 indicated which grade they were in. 51% females and 49% males. 51% females and 49% males. Grade SevenNineEleven Male Female

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 What they are doing Grades 7-11 are a time of increasing drugs and alcohol use, sex and violence Grades 7-11 are a time of increasing drugs and alcohol use, sex and violence These risk activities are interdependent These risk activities are interdependent –Alcohol use predicts other drug use –Alcohol use is associated with sex and violence

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Grades 7-11 are a time of significant transitions in alcohol use

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Intoxication is a big part of adolescent alcohol use

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Girls are still trying tobacco more than boys

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Marijuana experimentation grows during these years. These data are consistent with national trends.

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Other Drugs Percent of Students Ever Used MaleFemale Stimulants Opiates Club Drugs Hallucinogens Inhalants

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Club Drugs Percent of Students Ever Used Male Female Club drugs Crystal Meth Ecstasy GHB

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 A significant percentage of these youth used drugs and alcohol in the past week Male Female Alcohol Drunk Cigarettes Marijuana

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Drug and alcohol use are highly correlated Drank Alcohol -.707(**).381(**).221(**).535(**).333(**) 2 Got Drunk -.472(**).308(**).678(**).449(**) 3 Smoked Cigarettes -.376(*).517(**).414(**) 4 Used Stimulants -.371(**).458(**) 5 Used Marijuana -.568(**) 6 Used Hallucinogens -

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 General Bullying - Past Year Percent of Students Involved MaleFemale Victim5756 Aggressor6041

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Past year as victim of bullying or violence MaleFemale Physically harmed4625 Threatened4932 Bullied by Internet2019 Witness8380

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Specific Bullying – Past Year Percent of Students Victimized MaleFemale Physical Verbal Threatened Excluded Internet

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Specific Bullying – Past Year Percent of Student Aggressors MaleFemale Physical Verbal Threatened Excluded Internet

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Aggressor violence is related to alcohol use Drank Alcohol Never/ Infrequent Fairly Frequent Very Frequent Bullied Physically Harmed Threatened Harm394965

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Victim violence is also somewhat related to alcohol use Drank Alcohol Never/ Infrequent Fairly Frequent Very Frequent Bullied Physically Harmed Threatened Harm394965

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Violence and bullying summary Bullying is quite extensive in grades 7-11 Bullying is quite extensive in grades 7-11 Bullying takes many forms from exclusion to physical attacks Bullying takes many forms from exclusion to physical attacks Boys are more physical in their aggression, but girls are as affected Boys are more physical in their aggression, but girls are as affected Bullying is not the activity of a few “bullies” Bullying is not the activity of a few “bullies” Alcohol use interacts with aggressive behaviour and victimization. Alcohol use interacts with aggressive behaviour and victimization.

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 What are the consequences of drug and alcohol use Greater number of health problems Greater number of health problems More problem behaviours More problem behaviours

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Health outcomes: Percentage of Symptoms Drank Alcohol Seldom/ Never About once a month About once a week 2 or more days a week Maladies Physician Difficulty Sleeping

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Alcohol and health outcomes: Percentage of symptoms Drank Alcohol Seldom/ Never About once a month About once a week 2 or more days a week Maladies Physician Difficulty Sleeping

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Why do our youth get into trouble: Alcohol and risky behaviors

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Percentage of Students Engaging in Problem Behaviours Gender MaleFemale Damaged property 2629 Carried a weapon in school 75 Carried a weapon out of school 1115 Stole at home 1517 Stole something outside of home 1816 Stayed out all night without parent permission 1922 Suspended in school 11 Suspended out of school 69 School detention 3230 Skipped school 2834 Ran away from home 79 Warned or detained by police 1112 In foster care 23

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 General problems and alcohol use Never More than a Year Ago In the Past Year In the Past Month In the Past Week Skipped school Stayed out all night without parent permission Damaged property Warned or detained by police School detention Stole something outside of home Stole at home

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Weapon carrying Drank alcohol Never More than a Year Ago In the Past Year In the Past Month In the Past Week In school2.5%10.3%9.4%5.4%8.1% Out of school9.2%12.8%16.5%12.8%18.0%

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Suspension and runaway Drank alcohol Never More than a Year Ago In the Past Year In the Past Month In the Past Week Suspended out of school75410 Suspended in school Ran away from home

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Summary Adolescence is time of significant transition to risk taking Adolescence is time of significant transition to risk taking Risks co-occur Risks co-occur Risk taking is associated with greater health involvement and problem behaviours Risk taking is associated with greater health involvement and problem behaviours

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Specific Recommendations 1. Develop early prevention programs targeting cognitive changes 2. Employ targeted prevention for specific problems 3. Employ intensive and targeted interventions for high-risk individuals Programs should be memorable and evidence- based Programs should be memorable and evidence- based Programs should be evaluated and redesigned based on experience. Programs should be evaluated and redesigned based on experience.

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 Our research suggests that prevention should Age and stage appropriate Age and stage appropriate –Speak to kids where they are –Tailor the message to the audience Provide positive information and alternatives Provide positive information and alternatives –Safe competing activities –Alternative coping behaviours Protect teens from misleading messages Protect teens from misleading messages –Inoculate –Challenge

November 8, 2004© Marvin Krank, Kelowna BC, 2004 How to talk to your kids Listening first Listening first Four principles Four principles –Be understanding and try to see things from their perspective “That must be difficult” –Present facts contrary to what they might be told “Did you know that marijuana interferes with males sex hormones” –Don’t confront or challenge work around the issue –Be supportive and positive about your child “You can do it” Be prepared and tell the truth – Be prepared and tell the truth –