MOUNTAIN HOME — The Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment (APNA) Survey is an essential tool designed to assess adolescent substance use and related behaviors. However, the survey's validity is determined by the number of youths in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 who actually complete it. The survey is available every year, free of charge, to all Arkansas public school districts that choose to participate.
"It is instrumental in prevention work," said Kyle Evatt, the prevention specialist for Rise Above Alcohol & Drugs Region 2. Working through the North Arkansas Partnership for Health Education (NAPHE) based in Harrison, Evatt provides prevention informational support for Baxter, Boone, Marion, Newton and Searcy counties. Evatt was the first of several speakers on the agenda of the Region 2 Emerging Drug Trends Conference held Tuesday, July 30, at the Arkansas State University campus in Mountain Home.
Over the past five years, the region has secured over $2 million dedicated to substance prevention, almost solely because of this survey, Evatt said. Sadly, the 2023-24 survey had only 2,492 participants region-wide, a considerable decrease from previous years.
This may be the result of the survey being made available as a virtual option for students to voluntarily fill out on-line, he speculated. It takes just under an hour to complete the 150-question survey. Evatt said he believes there weren't many students willing to take the time to participate.
"That's an issue," he said.
The data available still showed some significant trends.
Of the number of students who reported using specific substances within the last 30 days, 7.4% said they had used alcohol. It showed 1.9% said they had smoked cigarettes. The trend on cigarettes is giving way to vaping which is growing in popularity among youth. Marijuana use was reported by 4.7% which is actually down from the year before.
Prescription drug use without a prescription was reported by 2.7% of the students.
Methamphetamine use was reported by 0% of the students. This is a statewide trend, Evatt said. "I don't have an exact reason for that. My best guess is methamphetamines compared to alcohol, cigarettes and cannabis is a harder substance that students aren't willing to take that risk."
Perception of harm caused by such substances was also reported. Students said they believe their parents would disapprove of their use of substances, but in spite of that belief, those same students reported they did not believe they would be harmed by using the substances.
The age of initiation showed the first use of cigarettes, at the age of 12; vaping 13, marijuana, 13 and 1/2; alcohol, just over 12; first prescription drug use without a prescription, just over the age of 12.
"If we are waiting until 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade to start talking to these kids about substances we are waiting too late. We missed the window." Evatt warned.
He said school administrators and school board members need to be made aware of the APNA survey and its importance. Maybe then student-participation will increase.
There is a drug overdose fatality every 5 minutes in the United States, said Lesley Gabel. Many of those dying of drug overdoses are youths and the number is growing.
The prevention specialist and peer recovery coach, speaking at the conference about the impact of fentanyl, said the drug is attributed to about 70% of those deaths, and 43% of all Americans are impacted by the drug.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which shuts down the ability to breathe. A lethal dose of the drug can fit on the point of a pencil.
Those who deal the drug have found it is inexpensive to produce and profitable. It was first introduced in the northeastern part of the country, but has spread from coast to coast.
Primarily produced by cartels in Mexico with ingredients imported from China, much of fentanyl passes through Arkansas via the interstate highway system, Gabel said.
The Drug Enforcement Agency seized 29 million pills containing fentanyl and over 4,000 pounds of powder so far this year.
Gabel warns to make sure of prescription drugs' origins before taking them.
Gable said overdose deaths would be even higher, but the availability of the drug Narcan is becoming more available. This drug reverses the effects of opioids. It is becoming readily available and doses are even being given to the public for free. It is easy to administer and will not harm a person who may appear to be having an overdose reaction to an opioid, but is not.
"Narcan saves lives," Gabel said.
Rukaya Alrubaye, 18, of Fayetteville, was born in Iraq and came to the United States with her family when she was 2 years old. Currently, she attends the University of Missouri at Kansas City, where she is enrolled in a six-year bachelor's and medical school degree program. She was invited to share her story at the conference because it includes her work in substance prevention when she was a high school student.
Her talk focused on the dangers of marijuana and how she organized youth coalitions.
Alrubaye received the 2022 National Youth Advocate of the Year Award from Tobacco Free Kids. She recently was awarded $10,000 through the Glenn English National Cooperative Leadership Scholarship program. The scholarship is awarded by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) studies help us understand how early trauma impacts the brains and bodies of children. Nicole Fairchild, licensed professional counselor brought the subject home to those attending the conferences by helping them uncover their own ACE.
Her examples from her own life experiences demonstrated how these impacts shape us in profound ways and how understanding them gives insight into issues like addiction and mental illness. Her discussion was aimed at shifting our thinking around the stigma of addiction.
The conference also included a short presentation from the Mountain Home Student Education Against Drugs (SEAD). This group is addressing vaping in school and providing students with alternative activities while instilling leadership and team building skills.
