Pennsylvania Kids Prefer GANGS to Drugs

Survey: Less substance abuse, more gangs

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 7 (UPI) --

Fewer Pennsylvania students in grades six to 12 admit abusing drugs and alcohol but more are involved in gangs, a U.S. survey indicates.

The 2007 Pennsylvania Youth Survey by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency is voluntary and anonymous, and asks students questions about their behaviors and attitudes on drug, alcohol and tobacco use, gang involvement and related issues. More than 16,000 students from schools across Pennsylvania were randomly selected to participate.

The survey finds youth binge drinking is down. In 2001, 20.9 percent of 10th graders surveyed admitted binge drinking, compared to 16.8 percent of students in 2007, while 28.6 percent of 12th graders admit using marijuana, down from 40.5 percent in 2001.

However, in 2007, 7.1 percent of 10th graders said they belonged to a gang, compared to 4.6 percent in 2001.

Fewer youth said they are threatened or attacked on school property. In 2007, 20.7 percent of students said they had been threatened with physical harm at school, compared to 24.7 percent in 2003.

The report is at http://www.pccd.state.pa.us.