2017 Washington County Speaks Survey Report
Here are some of the conclusions from the 2017 Washington County Speaks Survey conducted throughout Washington County. For the full report click here.
- Most adults tend to think youth drink alcohol primarily due to peer pressure and secondarily because they think it is a way to have fun.
- Most adults tend to think youth use tobacco products due to either peer pressure or parents who smoke and/or chew.
- Adults identify the primary reason for use of other drugs by youth as pressure from friends.
- A notable percentage of adults surveyed attribute use of ATODs to parents who use ATODs.
- Adults surveyed think youth get alcohol from older friends who buy it for them or from home.
- More than one of every three adults surveyed identify sources within the home as the primary way youth get alcohol.
- The predominant source of access to tobacco identified by adults is from older friends who buy tobacco products and give them to underage youth.
- Half of the adults surveyed believe youth get other drugs from their friends and schoolmates.
- Both adults and youth believe parental use has a lot of influence on whether or not youth use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
- A high percentage (85% to 95%) of adults have consistently said they believe adults should engage in a number of actions to reduce youth alcohol and drug use over the years the WCS-Adult survey has been administered.
- Nearly all adults are aware of the law related to purchase of alcohol.
- A small percentage (3.4%) of the adults surveyed said they would allow youth under 21 yrs. of age to have party where alcohol is served.
- The percentage of youth who say they have used alcohol or other drugs without discussing it with a parent, teacher, or counselor has declined over the past eight years.
- A smaller portion of the WCS-Youth Survey sample reported they know how to use their school’s Student Assistance program in 2017.
- The percentage of youth who are sure they can refuse alcohol if their friends offer it to them declined in 2017.
- The percentage of youth survey respondents who say use of alcohol, tobacco, and/or marijuana by their friends is not OK increased in 2017.
- A smaller percentage of the survey respondents believe “most kids my age” drink alcohol, use tobacco, and/or use marijuana than in past years.
- The percentage of all youth surveyed who say kids their age can get alcohol and marijuana declined in 2017.
- Smaller percentages of the youth surveyed in 2017 indicate kids their age use other drugs.
- Alcohol and marijuana are identified by most youth surveyed as the primary substances used by kids their age.
- 13.3% of underage youth responding to the survey say their parents allow them to drink alcohol if they know about it.
- 3.3% of the youth surveyed say their parents would allow them to have alcohol at a party if the parent was home.
- Findings from both the WCS-Youth Survey and the PA Youth Survey support a conclusion that alcohol use by underage youth is a significant problem in Washington County.
- The use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco declined in 2017; however, PAYS data indicates vaping and e-cigarette use by youth is a notable problem in Washington County.
