5.5% felt that cocaine was easy to access. â 4.5% felt that ecstasy was easily accessible. â More females than males
National Secondary School Survey 2013
FACT SHEET Background: The National Council on Drug Abuse exists to provide quality, reliable information to policy makers, international partners and the general public, about substance use and misuse in Jamaica: its nature, the extent, prevention, treatment, control and underlying problems that negatively impact on nation building. The agency has conducted research on the drug situation in Jamaica since the 1980’s. Our studies have identified trends in licit and illicit substance use among adults, adolescents and pre-adolescents. Surveys have also measured access and attitudes to drugs and associations between substance use and behavioural/social problems. The Organization of American States Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS/CICAD) has supported the implementation of National Secondary School Surveys in member states to improve surveillance among adolescents. This survey was conducted in Jamaica in 2006 and more recently in 2013. The issues investigated in the 2013 survey include: Basic socio-demographic data; Composition of the household of students; Parental involvement and supervision; Perception of parental opinions; History of parental drug use; School dynamics - connectedness; Risk perception and curiosity; Prevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking, as well as the pattern of use (frequency, age of first use); Prevalence of the use of illicit drugs, use pattern (frequency, age of first use) and use-related risks; Prevalence of the use of psychotropic drugs and use pattern (frequency, age of first use); Access to illicit drugs and supply; Exposure to prevention and treatment programmes and other health related questions such as injection drug use and condom use.
Marijuana and cigarette use were higher among students age 15-16 1 in 5 students who were current alcohol users were at risk for alcohol misuse
2013
ga re tte s M ar iju an a In ha la nt s
Alcohol use was higher among older students (age 17+)
2006
ho l
Prevalence of Use of Main Substances (%): Lifetime Past Month Past Year Substance Alcohol 64.1 44.0 33.6 Cigarettes 27.5 9.6 4.4 Marijuana 20.7 11.7 6.2
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Ci
Gender Distribution: Males - 42.7% Females – 57.3%
Trends: 2006 & 2013 Lifetime Prevalence by Substance
Al co
Sample: 3,365 grades 8, 10, 11 & 12 students from 38 schools island-wide (11 parishes)
Alcohol and marijuana use have remained at similar levels
Similarly, 1 in 5 students who were current marijuana users were at high risk for marijuana misuse
Lifetime use of cigarettes has seen a 3% increase
Age of First Use: Alcohol Cigarettes Marijuana -
Male use of marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes remains higher than females while use of inhalants among females is higher than males
12.3 ± 2.74 12.4 ± 2.69 12.9 ± 2.6
Inhalant use has decreased from 25.5% to 13.3%
National Secondary School Survey 2013
FACT SHEET Access to Illicit Drugs & Supply 43.2% reported that marijuana was the easiest illicit drug to access 5.5% felt that cocaine was easy to access 4.5% felt that ecstasy was easily accessible More females than males reported that marijuana and cocaine were easily accessible Significantly more males than females reported greater accessibility to crack, ecstasy, LSD and heroin Significantly more students from 4th form (grade 10) reported easy accessibility to illicit drugs than all other grade levels Risk Factors (Parents): 20.8% reported that their father/guardian smoked regularly, mothers/guardian (3.5%) and both parents (2.5%) Students who had one or both parents who smoked regularly were more likely to report that they had ever used cigarettes (lifetime prevalence) Parental use of alcohol was associated with students’ use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana and inhalants
Exposure & Risk Factors (School): 30.8% reported that drugs were available at their school 50.4% believed that drugs were available near school Students who believed drugs were available reported significantly higher use of all substances than those who did not believe drugs were available in and around school Poor school performance was associated with: o
Lifetime prevalence of cigarette, alcohol and marijuana
o
One-year prevalence of alcohol and marijuana
o
One month prevalence of alcohol
Behavioural and disciplinary problems in school over the past year were associated with: o
Lifetime, one year and one month alcohol, cigarette and marijuana use
o
High risk of marijuana misuse
Protective Factors: Those who reported poorer relationships with their fathers were more likely to report lifetime alcohol, cigarette, marijuana and inhalant use as well as one year alcohol and cigarette use and one month inhalant use Students who reported that their parents knew their whereabouts after school and on weekends, knew the type of TV shows they watched, ate meals together and knew their close friends well reported significantly lower frequencies of alcohol, cigarette and marijuana use and lower risk of alcohol and marijuana misuse Students who felt a sense of belonging at school reported significantly lower frequencies of one year use of solvents, one month use of cigarettes and marijuana as well as risk for marijuana misuse compared to those who did not feel a sense of belonging at school Recommendations: Increase prevention programmes among secondary school students to build life-skills to combat risk factors Target parenting programmes to include awareness building on the impact of parenting practices on drug use Address access to substances in and around schools This work was conducted by the NCDA with funding support from the OAS. The NCDA must be cited in all references to this material. For further information please contact Uki Atkinson, Research Analyst, at
[email protected] Tel. 926-9002-4
