A recent survey asked Herkimer County young people a range of questions involving everything from substance abuse to family dinners.
Over 1,800 students in grades 7, 9 and 11 - or 80 percent of enrollment in all three grades - from 11 of the school districts in the county participated. Richfield Springs school district was the only district in the county not involved, choosing to participate in an Otsego County survey.
The 2009 Teen Assessment Project Report evaluated the survey. Looking at problem areas - like 27 percent of teens reported sending nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves via cell phone or e-mail - as well as positive trends - such as fewer teens smoking tobacco or using alcohol and marijuana.
Chip Bassett, principal planner with Herkimer -Oneida Counties Comprehensive Planning Program, which administered the survey, answered a few questions on what the results says about local youth.
Q. How much was spent overall on the survey (has the cost increased since the first survey)? And which entities provided funds?
A. We have estimated the total cost to be $17,000 and that really has not changed much for the four surveys we have conducted since 1997. Herkimer BOCES, and the county Department of Social Services and Stop DWI program contribute funds and Catholic Charities of Herkimer County assists with volunteer services.
Q. Teens in Herkimer County overall appear to be using less tobacco (other than snuff), alcohol and marijuana and other drugs. How will this trend impact services related to substance abuse among teens in the coming years?
A. [Schools and] a host of other agencies use this data for program planning and grant applications.
It is very difficult in any survey to isolate the causes. However, we do know based on the TAP Survey results that fewer teens believe it would be easy or very easy to get tobacco products, alcohol or marijuana.
Between 2001 and 2009 the percent that reported it would be easy or very easy to get tobacco dropped from 56 percent to 41 percent, to get alcohol declined from 60 percent to 49 percent, and to get marijuana went from 43 percent in 2001 down to 32 percent in 2009.
In the case of cigarettes, we know, and youth know, that they are more expensive, harder for minors to purchase and unhealthy. I would say that government has had an impact on all of these factors, and that the local programs, such as the [county] Prevention Council, have helped re-enforce the message about the dangers of smoking and of the use of other illegal substances. As for alcohol, I think the Stop DWI campaign has had a positive impact. Also, schools repeatedly advise youth about the dangers of alcohol.
Q. Why include gambling statistics, and what does the data tell you about Herkimer County youth gambling problems?
A. The New York State Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) has recently been examining this issue and has grant funds for preventive services aimed at gambling. In order to seek these grants, it’s helpful to have evidence there is a problem. Also, with the [Turning Stone] casino nearby there was the question of whether local youth were more likely to gamble at a casino. The answer to that question is no. However, what is evident from the results is that teens in Herkimer County are more likely to play the lottery, but less likely to play cards for money, than teens across New York State.
Q. Will the figures on Internet use (namely the 9 percent of county teens meeting up with strangers from online and having a higher likelihood of 'sexting') drive certain actions?
A. These survey results document that many teens need to be more careful about how they use the Internet and cell phones, and there is an important message to parents, schools and the community at large that we need to talk to our youth about responsible use of these technologies.
The fact that over one-quarter (27 percent) of teens reported they had sent a nude or semi-nude picture of themselves via cell phone or e-mail to someone should raise some concerns.
Q. You mention the large decline in teens having thoughts of depression or suicide. Did the higher percentages of depression or suicidal thoughts prior to this year drive certain efforts to address the issue?
A. Yes. Since the first Herkimer County TAP Survey in 1997 found that there was a relatively high rate of depression and suicide ideation among local teens, there has been a heightened awareness of this issue among school, county and community agency officials, as well as among youth.
I know the Herkimer County Department of Mental Health has sponsored related trainings, and most schools, I believe, have also. In both Oneida and Herkimer counties there was the formation of the Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force. Their main purpose has been to help schools respond to this problem.
The 1997 survey results were shared with high school students that year at the Herkimer County Youth Summit. Due to their concern about depression, they suggested the initiation of the Teen Talkline, which the YMCA sponsored up to just recently through the volunteer efforts of students. Though the survey cannot prove the impact of all of these efforts, I think it is safe to say the increased awareness of this issue and these responses must have helped bring down the percentage of teens who suffer with depression and suicidal ideation.
Q. What are the three positives in teen behavior taken from this survey?
A. 1. Fewer teens, by a large margin, are feeling depressed and suicidal.
2. Fewer are smoking tobacco, and fewer are using alcohol and marijuana.
3. Fewer feel bullied or sexually harassed.
Q. What are the three areas of concern you feel are exposed by this survey?
A. 1. Sexting is more prevalent among teens than most people, I think, realize.
2. Gambling among teens is widespread, with as many as two out of three (66 percent) saying that they have gambled in the past year. Almost one in ten of these gamblers (8 percent) has borrowed money or sold personal property to support their gambling habit.
3. Local youth are significantly less likely than teens nationally to have dinners regularly with their families. Research shows that family dinners are important to children’s emotional and social development.
Herkimer, N.Y. —
