The latest results from the National Evaluation of the Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) found that coalitions funded by the DFC program have been successful at reducing drug and alcohol use in their communities.
The evaluation found that rates of past 30-day use declined significantly across all substances (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana) and school levels (middle and high school) between all DFC grantees ever funded across in the program.
Among current DFC grantees, prevalence of past 30-day use declined significantly for alcohol and tobacco at each school level (middle and high school) between first and most recent data reports. Past 30-day use of marijuana also declined significantly among middle school youth for this group.
In addition, prevalence of past 30-day use was significantly lower for DFC high school students as compared to a nationally-representative sample of high school students taking the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Differences in prevalence of 30-day use between DFC and YRBS were statistically significant for alcohol in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011. Differences in prevalence of 30-day use were statistically significant for marijuana in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009, but not in 2011.
However, similar to what other national studies are finding, marijuana use increased slightly in DFC communities. Among DFC grantees that reported data from 2011, prevalence of marijuana use among both middle school and high school youth increased significantly (+0.7 and +1.3 percentage points respectively) from their next most recent report. During this same time frame, there was a significant decline in perception of risk for using marijuana among middle school and high school youth in these DFC communities. The recent trend in increased prevalence of marijuana use is similar to the results from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health which reported that 30-day use of marijuana increased by 0.6 percentage points among 13 year olds and by 1.0 percentage points among 18 year olds between 2010 and 2011.
The work of DFC grantees represents a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach focusing on the reduction of youth substance use that reaches communities containing more than one third of the Nation’s population.
Visit the DFC website to read the full 2012 National Evaluation Interim Report.
Among current DFC grantees, prevalence of past 30-day use declined significantly for alcohol and tobacco at each school level (middle and high school) between first and most recent data reports. Past 30-day use of marijuana also declined significantly among middle school youth for this group.
In addition, prevalence of past 30-day use was significantly lower for DFC high school students as compared to a nationally-representative sample of high school students taking the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Differences in prevalence of 30-day use between DFC and YRBS were statistically significant for alcohol in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011. Differences in prevalence of 30-day use were statistically significant for marijuana in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009, but not in 2011.
However, similar to what other national studies are finding, marijuana use increased slightly in DFC communities. Among DFC grantees that reported data from 2011, prevalence of marijuana use among both middle school and high school youth increased significantly (+0.7 and +1.3 percentage points respectively) from their next most recent report. During this same time frame, there was a significant decline in perception of risk for using marijuana among middle school and high school youth in these DFC communities. The recent trend in increased prevalence of marijuana use is similar to the results from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health which reported that 30-day use of marijuana increased by 0.6 percentage points among 13 year olds and by 1.0 percentage points among 18 year olds between 2010 and 2011.
The work of DFC grantees represents a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach focusing on the reduction of youth substance use that reaches communities containing more than one third of the Nation’s population.
Visit the DFC website to read the full 2012 National Evaluation Interim Report.
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