Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
Statistics of teens increasing their intake of alcohol, nicotine and marijuana, as well as contemplating and committing suicide, appear to be parallel with divorce statistics.
In 1950, the divorce rate was 10 per 1,000 couples. In 1960, that number decreased to nine, then started escalating again. In 1980 it was 23 per 1,000 couples but those numbers have been slowly declining. Experts believe that in 2020 that number will be 20 out of 1000 families.
Statistics also show that fewer and fewer couples are getting married. Many live together, “making it easier to separate if their ‘trial’ period doesn’t work out.”
Both have detrimental effects on youth’s feelings of security and their everyday functions in life at school and home.
In Craig County, statistics are taken every other year and compared to the previous years and to the national averages.
Charts help people to see the exact increase and hopeful decrease in each category.
Depression & Suicide – Percentage of youth who, during the past 12 months, felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row, they stopped doing some usual activities.
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Youth
MS age |
20.2% | 23.3% | 23.1% | 28.0% | 28.7% |
| Craig Youth
HS age |
18.9% | 23.0% | 27.7% | 34.8% | 42.5% |
| National
HS YRBS |
28.5% | 27.1% | 29.9% | 31.5% | N/A |
Depression & Suicide – Percentage of youth who, during the past 12 months, made a plan about how they would attempt suicide.
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
Youth MS age |
10.2% | 14.9% | 15.4% | 18.5% | 17.2% |
| Craig Co.
Youth HS age |
14.6% | 19.8% | 19.7% | 18.9% | 15.7% |
| National
HS YRBS |
12.8% | 13.6% | 14.6% | 13.6% | N/A |
Depression & Suicide – Percentage of youth who, during the past 12 months, actually attempted suicide.
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
Youth MS age |
4.8% | 12.9% | 11.0% | 9.6% | 15.6% |
| Craig Co.
Youth HS age |
7.3% | 18.6% | 15.9% | 13.3% | 9.7% |
| National
HS YRBS |
7.8% | 8.0% | 8.6% | 7.4% | N/A |
Student Feelings of Support/Recognition – Percentage of youth who agree that their parents or school lets them know when they have done something well.
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
Youth MS age |
33.6% | 54.5% | 47.5% | 31.5% | 60.2% |
| Craig Co.
Youth HS age |
39.3% | 47.3% | 44.9% | 35.1% | 40.5% |
Student Feelings of Support/Recognition – Percentage of youth who agree that there are people in their community that encourage them to do their best.
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
Youth MS age |
82.5% | 77.8% | 88.4% | 71.6% | 78.9% |
| Craig Co.
Youth HS age |
85.8% | 78.7% | 78.1% | 75.3% | 74.3% |
Sleep Habits – Percentage of youth who reported sleeping eight or more hours per night on an average school night.
| 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
Youth MS age |
52.5% | 49.4% | 51.2% |
| Craig Co.
Youth HS age |
36.5% | 35.3% | 29.9% |
| National HS
YRBS |
27.3% | 25.4% | N/A |
In 2019, Tobacco Laws Changed – 21 and over to purchase or possess tobacco / nicotine products (Active Duty Military – 18 or older). School districts must have a tobacco-free policy (including vapes) that applies to all school grounds and all school-sanctioned events (on or off school grounds) 30-day Use (cigarettes).
Percentage of youth who admitted to smoking cigarettes on one or more occasion in the Past 30 days.
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
Youth MS age |
5.4% | 6.0% | 6.5% | 3.8% | 6.6% |
| Craig Co.
Youth HS age |
18.8% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 21.5% | 11.5% |
| National
HS YRBS |
18.1% | 15.7% | 10.8% | 8.8% | N/A |
30-Day Use (Smokeless Tobacco) – Percentage of youth who used chewing tobacco, dip or snuff in the Past 30 days.
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
Youth MS age |
8.6% | 6.8% | 9.4% | 5.0% | 3.8% |
| Craig Co.
Youth HS age |
11.5% | 21.1% | 20.6% | 16.7% | 9.6% |
| National
HS YRBS |
7.7% | 8.8% | 7.3% | 5.5% | N/A |
30-Day Use (Alcohol) – Percentage of youth who had at least one drink of alcohol in the Past 30 days.
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
Youth MS age |
20.2% | 17.0% | 21.2% | 11.9% | 13.8% |
| Craig Co.
Youth HS age |
31.5% | 39.8% | 42.1% | 33.0% | 32.5% |
| National
HS YRBS |
38.7% | 34.9% | 32.8% | 29.8% | N/A |
30-Day Use (Alcohol – Binge) – Percentage of youth who had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row at least once in the past 30 days.
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
Youth MS age |
4.7% | 7.6% | 12.5% | 2.0% | 6.6% |
| Craig Co.
Youth HS age |
20.0% | 25.2% | 27.5% | 22.2% | 14.4% |
| National
HS YRBS |
21.9% | 20.8% | 17.7% | 13.5% | N/A |
30-day use (Marijuana) – Percentage of youth who used marijuana or hashish at least once in the past 30 days.
| 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
Youth MS age |
4.7% | 12.0% | 7.0% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| Craig Co.
Youth HS age |
12.4% | 13.7% | 13.9% | 19.6% | 17.5% |
| National
HS YRBS |
23.1% | 23.4% | 21.7% | 19.8% | N/A |
30-Day Use (Electronic Vapor) – Percentage of youth who used an electronic vapor product in the past 30 days.
| 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Craig Co.
MS |
23.6% | 9.4% | 18.7% |
| Craig Co.
HS |
30.9% | 28.7% | 33.6% |
| National HS
YRBS |
24.1% | 13.2% | N/A |
Sadly, the percentages drastically increased since the last report amongst high school students who have felt depressed. Though alcohol and marijuana use is decreasing in high school (HS) students, the numbers escalated for middle school (MS) from 2017 to 2019.
The use of cigarettes increased in MS but dropped almost half in HS and smokeless dropped for both. Some feel that students who become active in sports and clubs have more goals and reasons not to smoke. Sadly though, the easy access of electronic vapor devices shows through in the numbers where MS usage has doubled, and HS increased.
The CPPT recommendations are to: initiate a student recognition program at schools and in the community, provide Suicide Awareness Education for youth, provide mental health education for faculty and staff, to provide ATOD Prevention Programs and to continue to provide essential health services (e.g. counseling and school clinic).
Craig County citizens are encouraged to always give a compliment to any young person they see. One never knows the profound impact a small gesture can have on kids. You could give someone a life changing moment of hope that could redirect their destiny in life.