93-10-19 Statistics Addressing Potential for Youth Violence in Virginia

Statistics Addressing The Potential for Youth Violence in Virginia

     A spring, 1992 survey conducted among Virginia youth in
grades 9 through 12 showed the following: 

- 26 percent of students surveyed reported having carried a
weapon such as a gun, knife or club at least once during the past
30 days.

- 6 percent of students surveyed reported having carried a
handgun or other guns, such as a rifle or shotgun, at least once
during the past 30 days.

- 26 percent of students surveyed reported having seriously
considered attempting suicide during the past 12 months.

- 45 percent of the students surveyed reported having at least
one drink of alcohol during the past 30 days, and 26 percent of
the students surveyed reported having had five or more drinks of
alcohol in a row, within a couple of hours, at least once during
the past 30 days.

- 30 percent of the students surveyed reported having had their
first drink of alcohol, other than a few sips, prior to age 13.

- 12 percent of the students surveyed reported having used
marijuana at least once during the past 30 days, while 2 percent
of the students surveyed reported having used any form of cocaine
at least once during the past 30 days.

     The survey was developed cooperatively by the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control, the Virginia Department of Education and the
Governor's Drug Policy Office to focus on health-risk behaviors
of high school students.  Among the behaviors being surveyed were
intentional and unintentional injuries and alcohol and other drug
use.  The survey questions focused on behaviors that are most
likely to cause injury, disease or death to adolescents, as well
as create mortality and morbidity in adulthood.

      Of the 1,640 students who participated, 48.3 percent were
female and 51.7 percent were male.  By grade, 34 percent were
enrolled in 9th grade, 28.3 percent in 10th grade, 21.5 percent
in 11th grade, and 16.2 percent in 12th grade.  Of the students
completing the survey, 66.9 percent were white, 25.1 percent
black, 2.0 percent Hispanic and 6.0 percent described themselves
as other.  

     The survey results were first announced as a media advisory
from the Office of Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder on Dec.
15, 1992.  For more information, contact Robert B. Northern,
special assistant to the governor for drug policy, (804) 786-
2211.
                                                     October 1993

 
Karen Castle, Office Services Specialist, University News Office
P.O. Box 9018, Booker House, Charlottesville, VA  22906
(804) 924-7116, kac@virginia.edu

[Submitted by: Karen A. Castle  (kac@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu)
               Tue, 19 Oct 93 10:04:08 EDT]