Through a collaborative effort, Carbon County is learning about students' alcohol, tobacco and drug habits.

The Carbon County Child and Family Collaborative recently released the results of the 2013-2014 Carbon County Schools Drug and Alcohol Survey conducted through a partnership between the collaborative and Carbon County school districts. The group has been conducting the survey annually since the 2010-2011 school year.Jamie Drake, treatment program manager for Carbon-Monroe-Pike County Drug and Alcohol Commission, compiled the data collected.Drake said the survey helps schools and county agencies determine when students are experimenting with drugs and alcohol."We are able to see what the students feel, since we have gotten consistent results over the years it is reliable to look at trends and also look at the large number of students who are making positive decisions not to use drugs and alcohol and the reasons behind it," she said. "This also gives us information on family perceptions on drug and alcohol use."Drake added that each participating school receives an individualized copy of the school's results, which they can then use as they see fit.The surveyA total of 2,807 students in grades sixth through 11th in Panther Valley, Palmerton, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Weatherly school districts, as well as Carbon Career & Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe, participated in the anonymous survey.Students were asked if they use drugs, alcohol or tobacco; how frequently they do use; what age they first tried it; how easy is it to obtain alcohol, drugs or tobacco; who gets it for them; why they use; if their parents know; where they use; and if they have been arrested for drug or alcohol use.Bullying and safety at school were also included. Questions asked include if a child feels safe at school; if, in the last 30 days, the child missed school because they felt unsafe; if they got into a fight on school property; and if there is adult supervision after school.D&A resultsThe findings showed that 24.3 percent of students have tried alcohol; 15.4 percent have experimented with tobacco; and 12.33 percent have tried other drugs.Of those, the highest percentage of alcohol and tobacco use started when students were in seventh and eighth grade; while the highest percentage of other drug use started in ninth and 10th grades.The results are particularly important because it pinpoints where schools and county programs should focus when looking to educate students on the dangers of these substances.Drake pointed out that the results showed no significant changes in comparison to previous surveys.Some of the most alarming results of the survey though wasn't that the students were using; but rather it was where they get these substances; why they use them; how many parents know their child uses; and what drugs they are using.As far as obtaining substances, 1,067 students reported they get alcohol, tobacco or drugs from friends; 396 get it from parents; 365 get it from family members; 313 from strangers; 293 from siblings; and 267 get it from dealers or businesses.Reasons students gave as to why they used included to fit in, peer pressure, to get high, because they liked the taste, boredom, stress and to just be outgoing.In addition, 381 students said their parents know they drink; 169 said their parents know they smoke; and 119 said their parents know they use other drugs.On the other side, 77.59 percent of the students reported they do not use alcohol; 87.32 percent do not use tobacco; and 88.96 percent do not use other drugs. These children said they don't use because they weren't interested, sports, future goals, academics, the legal consequences, respect for their parents and individualism.Bullying resultsOf the students who participated in the survey, 2,275 reported that they feel safe in school; while 532 said they have felt unsafe at some point in their academic career.The reasons why included bullying from their peers or older students; threats from adults; fear of a school employee; bullies outside of school and while riding on the buses.Of the 532 who said they felt unsafe, the results found that 69 students missed six or more days of school; 22 missed four or five days; 49, two or three days; and 65, one day.How Carbon comparesAnnually, the state conducts a statewide survey, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.According to the 2013 Pennsylvania Youth Survey results, which surveyed 200,622 students in 891 schools starting in sixth grade, alcohol use for students in eighth grade across the state was 7.3 percent higher than the national average of 27.8 percent; 9.4 percent above the national average of 52.1 percent in 10th graders; and 6 percent above the national average of 68.2 percent in 12th graders. A national average was not available for sixth grade alcohol use.In Carbon County, where 1,895 students were surveyed for PAYS, 41.6 percent of students in grades sixth through 12th used alcohol, 5.3 lower than the state average; 15.8 percent said they used tobacco, 1.8 percent lower than the state average; and 14.8 percent used marijuana, 4.1 percent lower than the state average.Sources of obtaining alcohol, cigarettes and drugs were primarily the same in both the PAYS results and Carbon County results, meaning that parents, friends and family members were giving the student these substances.How other counties compareBased on the 2013 PAYS survey results, county reports for Schuylkill, Lehigh and Northampton counties are also available. No data for Monroe County was available for unspecified reasons.In Schuylkill, 4,667 students were surveyed. The results showed that 47.5 percent use alcohol, 0.6 higher than the state average; 20.6 percent use cigarettes, 3 percent higher than the state average; and 16.5 percent use marijuana, 2.4 percent lower than the average.In Lehigh, 3,939 students were surveyed. The results showed that 40.8 percent use alcohol, 6.1 percent lower than the state average; 9.8 percent use cigarettes, 7.8 percent lower than the state average; and 13.7 percent use marijuana, 5.2 percent lower than the average.In Northampton, 5,132 students responded. The results showed that 46.5 percent use alcohol, 0.4 lower than the state average; 19.2 percent use cigarettes, 1.6 percent higher than the state average; and 18.6 percent use marijuana, 0.3 percent lower than the state average.