Drinking Rates Higher in Westchester High Schools

More students than ever in Westchester are drinking, but many are starting at a later age, states a report released this month on youth drug and alcohol consumption.

The findings are based on the responses of almost 10,000 students in the county across 12 school districts. Students from Sleepy Hollow High School participated in the survey, which was conducted during the 2008-2009 school year.

"We're not oblivious to the problem," Union Free School District of the Tarrytown's Superintendent, Howard Smith, said. "We know it goes on and kids know that if we detect the use of alcohol we respond very strongly and get parents involved."

The survey was partially conducted by the Tarrytown-based Student Assistance Services Corporation, a group aimed at preventing substance abuse in the county.

The survey indicates that alcohol is still the drug of choice for teens in Westchester schools and that Westchester youth try alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco slightly later than other students of their age across the state.

Of those who used alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, respondents reported that their first-use for alcohol was on average aged 13; for tobacco, 13.1 years of age; and for marijuana, 13.8 years of age.

However, although Westchester teens start dabbling with substances later in life, they end up using alcohol, tobacco and marijuana more often than their peers across the state.

The report stated that:

• "Compared to two years ago, more Westchester 10th and 12th graders reported using alcohol and marijuana in the last month. Alcohol use increased from 39.6% to 42.1% for 10th graders (6% increase); and from 52.5% to 60.3% (15% increase) for 12th graders. Marijuana use increased from 14.5% to 16.0% (10% increase) for 10th graders and from 22.0% to 28.0% (27% increase) for 12th graders."

There were some positives in the report, mainly the steep decline in smoking and the perception that smoking is harmful.

"The message has gotten across to kids about the evils of smoking," Smith said. "It's no longer a pervasive part of teen culture, in fact it's almost crossed the threshold were it's not cool to smoke."

Tobacco use decreased for 10th graders from 11.7 percent to 11 percent (6 percent decrease), and from 18.4 percent to 16.0 percent ( 13 percent decrease) for 12th graders, the report stated.

However, the use of marijuana is continuing to decrease in terms of perceived health risk among teens across Westchester, while teens are slightly more likely than two years ago (the last time the study was conducted) to think that regular use of alcohol is hazardous to their health.

Smith said that, so far, the district has been spared from any major drug or alcohol related tragedy over the past decade, and that the messages against drunk driving were also penetrating the youth culture. He said the aim now is to continue education about the dangers of alcohol to reduce consumption across the board.

"We know that education can work," he said. "Can we use what we've learned to take it one more step further."