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Research Addressing Youth Substance Involvement

in the District of Columbias Ward 7



Key Findings

December 2013


























Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE
Suite 202
Washington, DC 20019

202.329.8227
info@w7sdcc.org
www.w7sdcc.org
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Introduction
While youth substance use is a pervasive problem in Ward 7, little research had been conducted in the
Ward to uncover the specific reasons why this is the case until the Ward 7 Safe and Drug-Free
Communities Coalition (W7SDCC) conducted a first-of-its-kind study of the attitudes and behaviors
related to substance use among Ward 7 youth

The research, conducted from April 2013 through September 2013, included a mixed-model study,
including surveys and focus groups designed to examine the ever-changing dynamic interaction among
between youth, parents, families and neighborhoods; psychosocial strengths and weaknesses that exist
in the communities of Ward 7; and the influencing factors that either promote or deter youth substance
use.

The nationally recognized PRIDE, INC. Risk and Protective Factor Survey was used to provide quantitative
information to uncover the who, what, when and where aspects of the study. Real Talk focus
groups, facilitated by Dr. Bruce Purnell on behalf of W7SDCC, were conducted to gain a qualitative
interpretation of how youth and adults in Ward 7 think, feel and act regarding substance use and related
behaviors. The focus groups provided the opportunity to address the why and how questions the
survey alone could not answer.

Ward 7 Facts
More than 71,000 residents reside in Ward 7, including nearly 18,000 children and youth under
the age of 18.
1

There are 29 distinct neighborhoods, each with unique characteristics, issues and needs.
Ward 7 has one of the highest poverty rates in the District, where one-in-three residents lived
below the poverty line in 2012.
2

Forty-four percent of residents receive food stamp assistance.
3

Nearly three-fourths of all families in Ward 7 are headed by single mothers.
4

The 11.6% unemployment rate in Ward 7 is the second highest among DCs eight Wards and is
far higher than the national unemployment rate of 6.7%.
5

Violent crime continues to be high in Ward 7, with 17 violent crimes per 1,000 people,
compared to a DC-wide rate of 12.
6

The Ward has the highest number of gang crews in the District.


1
Source: Suburbanstats.org, US Census
2
Source: http://www.dcfpi.org/poverty-rates-remain-high-for-some-groups-of-dc-residents
3
Source: http://www.neighborhoodinfodc.org/wards/Nbr_prof_wrdb7.html
4
Source: http://www.neighborhoodinfodc.org/wards/Nbr_prof_wrdb7.html
5
Source: http://does.dc.gov/node/767652
6
Source: http://www.neighborhoodinfodc.org/wards/Nbr_prof_wrdb7.html
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Research Key Findings

Quantitative Data
The Pride Surveys, Inc. Risk and Protective Factor Questionnaire administered to 186 Ward 7 middle and
high school students (grades 6-12) at the Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy serving the
Kenilworth, Parkside and Mayfair communities revealed the following information:

The three most salient risk factors that increase the likelihood that a young person in Ward 7 will
become involved in drugs, alcohol, delinquency, violence and/or drop out of school are:
1. Community disorganization
2. Interaction with antisocial peers
3. Low neighborhood attachment

The most salient asset, or protective factor, that buffers Ward 7 youth from risks is school opportunities
for prosocial involvement.

By far, alcohol and marijuana are the drugs of choice among Ward 7 youth who participated in the
survey.
In the past year, 33% of students surveyed had consumed alcohol and 25% had used marijuana.
In contrast, only 6% had used synthetic marijuana, 7% smoked cigarettes, and 5% abused
prescription drugs.
In the past 30 days, nearly 18% of respondents had consumed alcohol and 16% had used
marijuana. Prescription drug and cigarette use trailed behind, with only 3% of respondents
reporting they used either substance in the last month.

The most prevalent self-reported antisocial behaviors are:
Suspended from school in the past year (nearly 38% of respondents)
Attacked someone with the idea of seriously hurting them (more than 22% of respondents)
Drunk or high at school (17% of respondents)

Qualitative Data
The Real-Talk Focus Group Study consisted of 128 youth, ages 13 to 20 (grade levels 6-12) and 14
adults, who reside in seven Ward 7 public housing developments surrounding the Kenilworth, Parkside
and Mayfair communities. Respondents participated in a total of 10 group sessions. Information derived
from two preliminary group sessions allowed the research team to create verbatim statements derived
from community youth with which focus group participants could then agree, disagree and elaborate on.

The statements focused on their overall impressions of the drug situation among youth in Ward 7; how
Ward 7 is similar to or different from other communities; how youth have been impacted by drugs in the
community; whether drug use is accepted as normal behavior in the community; what needs to happen
for Ward 7 to become a drug-free area in which youth can thrive.

Specific information the research team sought included:
The age at which participating youth were first exposed to substances
Whether use of specific substances was viewed as normal behavior
If specific substances were considered to be cool and popular
Perceptions of risk or potential harm in using specific substances
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The general perception of adults regarding specific substances use by youth and/or adults

Some of the most significant findings from the Real-Talk focus groups were:

Exposure to substance use begins at a young age.
Children as young as 7 years old have easy access to alcohol.
Youth and adults report that most youth will have their first drink by age 13.

Many youth make the choice to consume alcohol in Ward 7.
Alcohol is widely available to youth.
Drinking alcohol is considered a natural rite of passage for youth.
Many retailers will openly sell alcohol to underage youth.
Because alcohol is a legal substance, many adults do not consider it to be illegal for minors to
consume.
Youth respondents report that drinking alcohol makes them feel better about themselves and
more social with others.

Gateway substances, such as alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes, are easily accessible and openly used.
Usage of these substances is considered normal behavior, even for youth.
The most popular drugs among Ward 7 youth are marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes.
The same substances are most popular among adults in Ward 7, but in the following order of
preference: alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana.
It is easy for youth to buy these substances or find an adult willing to buy for them.
Many youth believe that if drugs were really bad, they would not be so easy to obtain and adults
would not be so complacent about youth drug use.
Designer marijuana and brand-name alcohol are considered cool.

Perception of drug use in Ward 7 is very high.
Youth reported that in the last 30 days, half of all 13-15 year old youths in Ward 7 have
consumed alcohol. They believe that 70% of youth ages 15-17 and 80% of youth ages 18-20 have
consumed alcohol in that same time period.
Perceptions of marijuana usage are nearly identical, with the only difference being 80% of youth
ages 15-17 have consumed marijuana in the last 30 days.

The reasons to use or not use drugs are not unexpected.
Youth respondents gave the following top three reasons to use drugs: stress, peer pressure and
the perception that drugs are cool.
Depression and traumatic events are also triggers for youth drug use.
Conversely, being connected to positive people, family and activities, and school engagement
are strong reasons to be drug-free.

Both youth and adults report that alcohol and tobacco advertisements in the community greatly
influence their decisions to use these substances.
Youth are highly influenced by celebrity endorsements of particular brands, especially alcohol.
A variety of advertisements billboards, in-store, TV, radio and Internet are effective at
influencing youth to drink or smoke.

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Some parents and other adults often allow youth drug use to take place in their homes and some
occasionally do drugs with their own children.
Some parents would rather have their children use drugs at home rather than be on the street
and potentially at a greater risk.
Youth are split on whether parents should allow drug use in the home. Some stated that parents
should act more like parents.
Youth respondents state that each neighborhood has hang-out houses where youth use drugs
unsupervised.

Conclusions
There were many significant differences between the Pride Survey findings and the Real Talk focus
group findings that suggested the neighborhood Charter School (Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for
Public Policy, Parkside Campus) represents not only a protective factor, but a different norm within the
community. Future analysis intends to discover the reasons that Pride Survey responses from Cesar
Chavez School were significantly more favorable than the Focus Group data, especially at the 12
th
grade
level. It may be that there is a resilience building component within the school development process
that acts as a protective force against the negative norms and, by the 12
th
grade a student has either
bought into the Cesar Chavez culture or removed him/herself from the process.

According to focus group respondents, youth and adult substance use has become normal behavior for
many communities within Ward 7. There appears to be little incentive to change the status quo, despite
acknowledgement from respondents that the behavior is harmful, both to the individual and the
community.

To influence positive change in Ward 7, this research indicates that it is imperative for an organization to
have a strategic focus on educating residents, both young and old, about what a resilient and vibrant
community looks like; the lasting effects of gateway drugs, such as alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes;
the tendency for gateway drugs to lead to more serious drug use; and the negative impact of substance
use on a persons overall quality of life.

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