1. Presented to: The Cambridge Prevention Coalition Presented by: Social Science Research and Evaluation, Inc. 21-C Cambridge Street Burlington, MA 01803 781-270-6613 Selected Data From the 2005 Cambridge Middle Grades Health Survey

2. METHODS WHO CONDUCTED THE SURVEY? The Cambridge Public Schools, The Cambridge Public Health Department and the Cambridge Prevention Coalition. HOW AND WHEN WAS THE SURVEY CONDUCTED? The survey was administered as a questionnaire in March of 2005 to all Cambridge public school students in grades 6 through 8. The survey was administered in four languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole. WHO RESPONDED? The total number of respondents was 1,180. The number of respondents in each grade is as follows: 6 th = 380, 7 th = 387, 8 th = 406, unknown = 7. WHAT DID THE SURVEY ASK ABOUT? Background characteristics such as gender, age, and grade level. Student use of and perceptions about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Other related health issues such as mental health, violence and safety, sexual issues, dietary behavior, and physical activity.

3. CAVEATS VALIDITY Research indicates that student responses to such surveys are reasonably accurate provided that the survey is voluntary and confidential. The Cambridge survey met these conditions. Completed questionnaires were reviewed to identify frivolous responses; such cases were removed. Many of the items are based on standard and reliable items from surveys such as the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Monitoring the Future, Profiles of Student Life – Attitudes and Behaviors, and Survey of Student Resources and Assets. NON-RESPONDENTS Results can be generalized only to students who were present when the survey was administered and may not reflect responses from youth who are truant, chronically absent, or out of school. TRENDS This is the 5th administration of the Cambridge Middle Grades Health Survey. COMPARATIVE DATA Comparative statewide data are not available for middle school students. Selected comparative data for 8 th graders are available from Monitoring the Future. WHO HAS THE PROBLEM? Although the survey was administered to students in school, the behaviors addressed are not confined solely to youth. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? These are community issues that require the attention of all community members and organizations, not merely the schools.

4. Substance Use

5. Current* Substance Use for Cambridge Middle Grades Students (2005) *Current use is any use in the 30 days prior to the survey. **Binge alcohol use is defined in the survey as having “five or more drinks of alcohol in a row.” ***Respondents were asked “How many times in the last 30 days, if any, did you use Oxycontin (Oxy or OC) without a doctor’s prescription?” ****Other Drugs includes such substances as cocaine, crack, LSD, speed, heroin, and downers.”

6. Current* Substance Use for Cambridge Middle Grades Students, by Gender (2005) *Current use is any use in the 30 days prior to the survey. **Binge alcohol use is defined in the survey as having “five or more drinks of alcohol in a row.” ***Respondents were asked “How many times in the last 30 days, if any, did you use Oxycontin (Oxy or OC) without a doctor’s prescription?” ****Other Drugs includes such substances as cocaine, crack, LSD, speed, heroin, and downers.”

7. Current* Substance Use for Cambridge Middle Grades Students, by Grade (2005) *Current use is any use in the 30 days prior to the survey. **Binge alcohol use is defined in the survey as having “five or more drinks of alcohol in a row.” ***Respondents were asked “How many times in the last 30 days, if any, did you use Oxycontin (Oxy or OC) without a doctor’s prescription?” ****Other Drugs includes such substances as cocaine, crack, LSD, speed, heroin, and downers.”

8. Current* Substance Use for National 8 th Grade Students (2004)** and Cambridge 8 th Grade Students (2005) *Current use is any use in the 30 days prior to the survey. **National 8 th grade data from the 2004 Monitoring the Future Survey, National Institute of Drug Abuse.

9. Trends in Current* Substance Use for Cambridge Middle Grades Students (’97, ’99, ’01, ’03, ’05) *Current use is any use in the 30 days prior to the survey. **Binge alcohol use is defined in the survey as having “five or more drinks of alcohol in a row.” ***Respondents were asked “How many times in the last 30 days, if any, did you use Oxycontin (Oxy or OC) without a doctor’s prescription?” ****Other Drugs includes such substances as cocaine, crack, LSD, speed, heroin, and downers.”

10. Trends in Current Substance Use for National 8 th Grade Students (1991 - 2004)

11. Trends in Perception of Harm of Substance Use Cambridge Middle Grades Students (’97, ’99, ’01, ’03, ’05) Marijuana Cigarettes Alcohol

12. Trends in Perception of Parental Disapproval of Substance Use Cambridge Middle Grades Students (’97, ’99, ’01, ’03, ’05) Marijuana Cigarettes Alcohol

13. Percent of Cambridge Middle Grades Students Who Talked with their Parents About AOD Use In the Past 12 Months, Total and by Grade (2005) TREND 1997 – 53% 1999 – 58% 2001 – 57% 2003 – 51%

14. Relationship Between Academics and School Problem Behaviors and Cambridge Middle Grades Student Substance Use (2005) Had One or More Failing Grades (past 12 months) Students who reported that they had one or more failing grades in the 12 months prior to the survey (n=277) were more likely than those who did not have a failing grade to report: Current Alcohol Use (27% vs. 16%). Current Cigarette Use (8% vs. 2%). Current Marijuana Use (14% vs. 4%). Skipped or Cut School (past 12 months) Students who reported that they had skipped or cut school in the 12 months prior to the survey (n=92) were more likely than those who did not skip/cut school to report: Current Alcohol Use (48% vs. 16%). Current Cigarette Use (16% vs. 3%). Current Marijuana Use (17% vs. 6%). Suspended From School (past 12 months) Students who reported that they had been suspended from school in the 12 months prior to the survey (n=141) were more likely than those who were not suspended to report: Current Alcohol Use (30% vs. 17%). Current Cigarette Use (12% vs. 3%). Current Marijuana Use (21% vs. 5%).

15. Violence and Safety

16. Violence-Related Experiences in the Past 12 Months Among Cambridge Middle Grades Students (’97, ’99, ’01, ’03, ‘05)

17. Mental Health

18. Depression in the Past 30 Days Among Cambridge Middle Grades Students (2005) *Items asks “During the past 30 days, did you feel sad or hopeless, most of every day for two or more weeks in a row?” **Item asks “If you felt sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row, did it stop you from doing any of your usual activities at home, in school, or elsewhere?”

19. Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation/Behavior in the Past 12 Months Among Cambridge Middle Grades Students (’97, ’99, ’01, ’03, ’05) *Item asks “During the past 12 months, did you hurt yourself physically on purpose?”

20. Sexual Behavior

21. Percent of Cambridge Middle Grades Students Who Have Ever Had Sexual Intercourse, Total and by Grade (2005) TREND 1997 – 10% 1999 – 9% 2001 – 7% 2003 – 11%

22. Resiliency

23. Percent of Cambridge Middle Grades Students Reporting Potential Protective Factors (2003, 2005)

24. The End