This year’s 2021 Cortland County Youth Survey is out! Results from this survey look promising for Cortland County teens. This year, we gathered results from every school district in the county, while navigating the challenges of survey administration during COVID-19. Each year from 2019 to now, we have gotten responses from 1,800-2,000 students throughout Cortland County.
And if you were wondering whether students may have lied on these surveys, no need to worry. We utilize a survey validity tool that includes five different ‘checks’ that discard surveys that appear to include dishonest answers. For more information about the survey visit this link: https://www.upstreamparent.org/?p=1030
It may be a common belief that underage drinking and substance use is inevitable, and that most high school students engage in it. However, we know that this is actually not the case, and today, many rates of substance use are at an all time low. Underage prevention efforts will continue to remain prevalent as long as any teens are using substances, but today, MOST teens in Cortland County are not drinking, smoking marijuana, or vaping.
This year’s survey shows positive news about past 30 day use for alcohol among high school students. In all grades, past 30 day use for alcohol has decreased or remained relatively consistent from 2020. Additionally, the percent of teens reporting binge drinking has also decreased from 9.8% in 2020 to 7.1% in 2021.
Additionally, teens who reported lifetime Marijuana use has hit an all time low since 2019. The current percent of teens in Cortland County reporting lifetime marijuana use is currently 15.7%, which is a massive decrease from 22.1% in 2019.
Past 30 day use of prescription drugs among 7th-12th graders is currently at a historic low with a decrease from 1.2% in 2020 to 0.7% in 2021. Lifetime use and 30 day use of cigarettes has also declined from 2020. Lifetime use of cigarettes has decreased from 11.7% in 2020 to 10.0% in 2021, and 30 day use of cigarettes has decreased from 3.2% in 2020 to 1.5% in 2021.
