Kankakee County
70% of 8th graders & 25% of 10th & 12th graders in Kankakee County were surveyed.
Drug Prevalence and Behaviors
New – Twice as many students had smoked e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, as had smoked traditional cigarettes. 10th & 12th graders were almost twice as likely to do this as 8th graders (13% vs 7%). Similar numbers smoked a hookah or water pipe. These rates were similar to marijuana use.
Drug Use Contributing Factors
Alcohol continues to be the most abused substance, with 14% of 8th graders, 23% of 10th graders, and 37% of 12th graders indicating drinking during the past 30 days. However, 68% of high schoolers think the actual rates are higher; only about 10% have an accurate perception.
More than three quarters of adolescents who smoke marijuana are given it by a friend. About half of the users also buy it from someone who sells drugs. Nearly a quarter take it from their parents without their parents’ permission, while slightly less than 10% also report getting it from their parents with their permission.
Nearly the same percentage of adolescents view taking prescription drugs and smoking cigarettes as a moderate or great risk to harming themselves (87-88%). They also consider these behaviors to be more risky than drinking alcohol (76%) or smoking marijuana (58%).
Interpersonal Conflict, Violence and Delinquency
Nearly half of 8th graders report having been bullied in some way, as well as more than a third of 10th graders and more than a quarter of 12th graders. The most likely form of bullying is name calling, followed by being harassed or having rumors spread on the Internet or through text messages and by being threatened with physical harm.
Twice as many 8th graders as 10th and 12th graders had been in a physical fight on school property during the past year (17% vs 8%).
Academic and School Experiences
Nearly 40% of the students think none or few teachers or other adults notice if they are having trouble learning something. More than 30% think that few if any adults at school really care about them, or notice if they are not there, or listens to them when they have something to say, or tells them when they do a good job.
Nearly two thirds of the students think that few if any things they do at school make a difference. Just over half of the students think that the activities they do at school are interesting.
Approximately 60% of respondents are involved in two or more activities. Sports related activities are most popular, followed by participation in faith-based youth groups and service or volunteer projects.
12th graders are more likely than 10th graders to expect to complete a training program, military service, and/or a college degree after high school, while 12% of 10th graders and 6% of 12th graders indicate that they probably or definitely will not.
Mental, Social and Physical Health
During the past 12 months, 17% of 10th & 12th graders seriously considered attempting suicide.
Approximately one third of the students felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row that they stopped doing some usual activities.
One in five students (20%) knows only one adult (other than a parent) that they could talk to about important things in their life, while 15% do not know anyone.
65% of the students are a healthy weight, 2% are underweight and a third are either overweight or obese.
Nearly 30% of the students have dinner with their families only two or fewer times per week.
View full survey, here.