Contact: Karen Acar,
Communications Director
(703) 248-5699

PRIDE Survey Indicates Student Substance Use

The Falls Church City School Board received a sobering report at its last regular meeting. While the results of the 2005-2006 Pride Survey indicate student alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use for FCCPS students in grades 6-8 is far below the national average, overall use among George Mason High School students (grades 9-12) is only slightly below the national average, and student tobacco and marijuana use exceeds the national average.

The following shows the percentage of the 549 high school students surveyed who indicated they have used substances in the past year:

When it comes to frequency of use, 131 high school students (23.9%) indicated they use tobacco daily, weekly or monthly, 181 (32.9%) indicated they use alcohol daily, weekly or monthly and 114 indicated they use marijuana daily, weekly or monthly. Experts say the 30-day numbers are important because they indicate habitual use.

“As indicated in every PRIDE Survey, the vast majority of drinking, smoking cigarettes or marijuana occurs in the community,” FCCPS Student Services Coordinator Judy Becker said. “The vast majority report they use on weekends, followed by weeknights and then after school.”

The survey indicated that students are least likely to use substances at school, where zero-tolerance expectations and consequences are made very clear, and the rules are strictly enforced. According to the survey, the places students are most likely to use are at a friend’s house, followed by “other,” in a car or at home.

“A phrase I am hearing more frequently from parents is that their students, “work hard, party hard,” and as long as grades are high and there is no legal involvement, their drinking is acceptable,” Becker said.

The survey is administered annually to measure student alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. The anonymous questionnaire also measures behavior on many crucial issues that can affect learning such as safety, activities and more.

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