Report Paints 'Tough' Picture of P.G. Youth
By 250 News
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 03:59 AM
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Prince George, B.C.- There are some who say you can't fix something if you don't know what's wrong, well, the City of Prince George certainly knows what is "wrong" when it comes to the risk behaviours of youth in this city.
The Communities That Care community assessment report indicates Prince George youth are more likely to try alcohol, or cigarettes than their counterparts in the lower mainland, they also believe there is a community acceptance to anti-social behaviour.
The report, compiled from data collected from nearly 3,000 surveys of students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12, looks at 6 areas of problem behaviour:
Substance abuse:
A higher percentage of Northern Interior youth report trying alcohol, and begin using it at earlier ages. The picture for marijuana use in Northern Interior youth is similar, with Northern Interior youth being more likely than average to try marijuana. The most popular substance used is alcohol, but the number one drug overall is inhalants, while ecstasy is the most popular for students in grade 12. The report notes the students in the Northern interior have a higher than provincial average when it comes to the use of hallucinogens, mushrooms, and amphetamines.
Delinquency:
While rates of serious crime for adults in the Prince George Local Health Area (LHA) are significantly above the BC average, rates of youth crime are at or below average. Prince George youth have lower than average rates of serious property crime (1.0 crimes per 1,000 population vs. 1.5 for BC), and average rates of serious violent crime (2.7 crimes per 1,000 population). However, non-marijuana related drug charges are more common among Northern Interior youth (63.3 per 100,000 population vs. 52.4 for BC).
Violence:
Crime statistics for the Northern Interior region indicate that rates of adult violent crime are elevated in this region compared to BC, levels of violent crime among youth are similar to the BC average at 2.7 offences per 1000 population. As is the case with other areas of the province, boys were about twice as likely to have been in a fight than girls. Close to 40% of Prince George youth felt that it would be “a little bit wrong” or “not wrong at all” to pick a fight with someone. 27% of youth felt this way about skipping school.
Teen Pregnancy
Rates for teen pregnancy in the Northern Interior are significantly above the provincial average. From 2005-2007, there were 42.3 pregnancies in teens aged 15-19 per 1000 women compared to 27.6 for BC.
School Drop Out:
Detailed data is not available as the survey was conducted among students in class, however, Ministry of Education information shows 6 year completion rates (8-12) is 79% for BC overall, but only 70% for School District 57.
Depression and Anxiety:
The percentage of Prince George youth reporting depressive symptoms (40%) was significantly below the CTC survey norm (46%), and slightly above Williams Lake (39%). Reported depressive symptoms were lowest in grade 6 students (34%), and highest in grade 10 students (46%).
The next steps in this process will involve looking at the programs and supports already in the community that reduce the risks for youth, then, new programs will be designed to build on those strengths.
It isn't all bad news, the survey has already indicated there are plenty of positive supports especially within the school system, but, the level of parental involvement in, or awareness of the activities of their children is low. Over 40% of youth reported that their parents would not know if they drank alcohol, 34% said their parents would not know if they carried a weapon, 22% said their parents would not know if they skipped school, and 21% said their parents would not know if they came home on time.
RCMP Superintendent Brenda Butterworth-Carr says police are actively involved in several preventive initiatives including the D.A.R.E. program, the "Walk Tall" program with the Carrier -Sekani Family services, the PARTY program and liaison officers in the schools,"We are involved wherever there is an opportunity to prevent youth getting involved in crime."
Councillor Garth Frizzell says this report means the City no longer has to wonder what the high risk issues are for its youth "We are really doing something good here".
Communities That Care has been identified as an effective crime prevention model that has been active in the United States since the 1990's and just recently, Williams Lake has started implementing a Communities That Care program.
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Posted by: Thunder on September 21 2010 10:04 AM