By Pam Dudding-Burch
Results from a behavioral survey at Craig County Middle School and High School have teachers and administration diligently working to create assistance programs for students struggling with tobacco and drug use, as well as suicidal thoughts and attempts.
“All of our children are important, and their future is equally important, so we want to do everything we can to keep them in school and learning,” said Chip Gray, interim superintendent.
A Craig County Youth Risk Behavior Survey was conducted by the Craig Prevention Planning Team, and statistics were recently presented by J.D. Carlin, a prevention specialist from Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare in Roanoke.
Carlin thanked school staff and administration, as well as other outside agencies, community leaders and parents for supporting the CPPT initiatives over the years.
Every two years, the survey is conducted at the middle and high school, with 300-350 participating students.
“This data is then sent to Dr. Redican at Va. Tech and Dr. Sallee at Radford who then processes this information for us,” Carlin said.
One concern is that funding is no longer available from the previous avenues, and that Craig County will have to search for new ways to continue the survey. The survey has been conducted every two years since 2003, except for 2007 due to lack of funding.
Survey questions address alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, vaping, and drug use. Questions also address violence, mental health, sexual behavior, personal safety, and health and social activities.
According to the survey, tobacco smoking in Craig County has increased form 22.2 percent in 2005 to 24.8 percent in 2015, whereas use of chewing tobacco or snuff has increased from 8.8 percent to 20.6 percent in the same time frame.
Smokeless tobacco use has increased in the middle school from 6.7 percent to 9.4 percent in the last 10 years, and from 8.8 percent to 21.6 percent in the high school.
However, one of the main concerns is electronic cigarettes and vapors, which 30.9 percent of high school students currently report to use.
Depression and suicidal feelings declined from 2005 to 2011, however have began escalating in the last four years to 27.7 percent. A staggering 15.9 percent of high school students in Craig County actually said they attempted suicide in 2015. Statistics increased at the middle school as well, with 11.1 percent of students claiming to have attempted suicide in 2015.
“Though increasing nationally, it is increasing at a much higher rate in Craig County,” Carlin said. “We want to provide more suicide awareness education. We need to know that these are issues and we need to continue to look at ways to apply for grants and really view these as topics that need our attention.”
The presentation also addressed suspension policies, and how detrimental being out of school can be to a student’s overall wellbeing. This year, Craig County had 140 student in-school suspensions and 37 out-of-school suspensions.
“We would like to get it to zero, and we want to think our administrators are looking for options and alternatives for out of school suspension,” Gray said. “There is a national understanding that children are not being educated if they are not in school.”
“Obviously there are situations in which an administrator may have little choice, such as violent or threatening behavior, things that are clearly criminal, or behavior that disrupts the orderly delivery of an education to other students,” he added.
Preventative education during the 2015-16 school year has included programs such as “Too Good for Drugs” and “Too Good for Violence,” which were taught in the elementary and middle school.
Carlin emphasized, “When parents disapprove of drug use, kids listen.”
Statistics suggest that Craig County teens who know their parents disapprove of drug use are nearly two times less likely to drink alcohol, nine times less likely to smoke marijuana, and almost five times less likely to use prescription drugs when taught the dangers of drug use.
Craig County teens who know there is moderate-to-great risk to drug use are over 50 percent less likely to drink alcohol, 13 times less likely to smoke marijuana, and 7.5 times less likely to use prescription drugs to get high.
Aaron Calfee, school board member, said he was concerned that there aren’t more educational programs for older students, which Carlin said can be difficult due to scheduling.
“It would be something we could write into the grant that would be very attractive,” Carlin added. “Make sure staff is truly and properly trained in how to recognize, identify and initiate conversations, so then we can do referrals.”
Those in need of help are encouraged to reach out for support. For more information from CPPT, call 540-982-1427.
“This is so serious, as it only takes one night and one student, and an entire community is affected,” Carlin added.