Measuring student concerns about drugs

WINSTED — Northwestern Regional High School administrators have pledged to continue to take an aggressive, proactive approach to preventing drug and alcohol abuse on campus after the results of a recent survey reported that the majority of students rated drug use at the high school as either “moderate� or “minimal.�

The anonymous survey, which was administered online, was taken in the spring by students in grades seven to 12.

Region 7 School District Superintendent Clint Montgomery said while school officials are still concerned about the overall numbers, the results indicate that the level of drug and alcohol use on campus among students is not as widespread as some previously thought.

“The data suggests that the perception that was out there was a misperception,� Montgomery said, pointing out that the survey asked students to rate the level of drug and alcohol activity in the high school based on their own observations, not “heresay.�

“We think that the results are accurate,� he said.

 According to the survey:

 â€¢ 40.1 percent of students rated their observed level of drug use at the high school as “moderate.â€�

• 29.6 percent as “minimal.�

• 18.3 percent as “widespread.�

• 8.4 percent as “nonexistent.�

• and 3.8 percent as “severe.�

The district’s middle school students also took the survey. According to middle school Principal Candy Perez, 90 percent of the school’s students at that time said they did not use drugs or alcohol on campus.

Perez said the administration will continue to target the 10 percent of students who may now be experimenting with drugs and alcohol at the middle school level, while also working to keep the remaining majority drug free.

“Because once they start at this age, it will tend to escalate as they get older,� she said.

One of the main focal points of any drug prevention program is stressing the importance of good decision making. And so Perez said she touched on the topic during her beginning of the year talk with students.

“We’ve also asked all our teachers to incorporate making good, healthy decisions in whatever they do in the classroom,� she said, adding that students also address drug and alcohol use in their science curriculum.

In addition, the middle school will hold a special drug and alcohol awareness and prevention assembly for seventh- and eighth-grade students on Nov. 9. The talk will be hosted by counselors from the Mountainside Addiction Treatment Center in North Canaan.

For the last eight years, the center has partnered with the district, assisting the administration in developing its drug and alcohol prevention program, as well as working with students who may require an intervention due to a drug- or alcohol-related problem.

The center also runs a weekly outreach program at the high school that meets every Wednesday. The partnership between the center and the district, which began eight years ago, was the first of its kind in the state.

The administration has also partnered with the McCann Foundation in Torrington. The district began working with the private, nonprofit agency two years ago on its prevention program.

“They also helped to design the survey,� said Northwestern Principal Wayne Connor.

Earlier this month, the Wallingford-based Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association held a drug awareness and prevention education workshop for parents at the high school. It was the third time the association has been to the school to speak with students, parents and/or staff.

Connor, who is a member of the Northwest Connecticut Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking, said one of the biggest concerns students raised through the survey was drug and alcohol use outside of school, in the greater community.

“There are a lot of underage parties going on when the parents are not home,� he said. “We need a closer partnership with parents.�

In a direct response to the survey results, Connor said the district intends to expand its relationship with Mountainside and McCall, increase awareness of the substance abuse counseling available on campus, increase the awareness of substance abuse screenings, increase districtwide preventative efforts through curriculum and increase educational programs for students and their parents.

“We will be doing this repeatedly,� Montgomery said of the survey. “This first one will serve as a baseline for future results. We have work to continue to do. And we will continue to take an aggressive, long-term approach.�

Connor agreed.

“Our goal is to become a drug-free school community,� he said.

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