High Risk Behaviors

The rate of Monmouth County Middle School and High School students engaged in substance use and delinquent behavior is startling. According to the 2007 New Jersey Middle School Risk & Protective Factor Survey the prevalence rates for alcohol use were above the state average, as were rates for attempting to steal a vehicle, carrying a handgun and taking a handgun to school as demonstrated below:

• Alcohol- annual- 28.5%; State 25.8%
• Alcohol-past 30 days-16.4%; State 15.3%
• Attempting to steal a vehicle-1.2%; State .9%
• Carrying a handgun-2.4%; State 1.6%
• Taking a handgun to school-.6%; State .4%

For high school students many rates were not only above the state average, but were the highest reported in the state. The 2008 New Jersey High School Risk & Protective Factor Survey cited the following prevalence rates that were the highest in the state:

• Alcohol-lifetime-80.2%; State 72.1%
• Alcohol-past year-74.2%; State 63.1%
• Alcohol-past 30 days-59.2%; State 45.9%
• Marijuana-lifetime-39.6%; State 29.7%
• Marijuana-past 30 days-23.4%; State 16.6%

In addition, many of the prevalence rates for delinquent behaviors were above state average:

• Attacking someone with intent to harm-12.6%; State 11.1%
• Attempting to steal a vehicle-2.2%; State 1.9%
• Being arrested-8.5%; State 6.5%
• Being drunk or high at school-20.5%(highest in state); State 13.9%
• Selling drugs-10.5%; State 7.9%
• Taking a handgun to school-.6%; State .4%

These reports also note that by addressing the risk and protective factors associated with these behaviors we can decrease the above noted prevalence rates. Research shows that the more risk factors students are exposed to, the more likely they are to use drugs or participate in anti-social behaviors. Conversely, increasing the protective factors in a students’ environment will protect them against risk factors. The Search Institute also reports similar findings through their 40 Development Asset model. Their research shows that youth with the most assets (qualities associated with resilience) are least likely to engage in patterns of high-risk behavior, including substance use, violence and sexual activity.

Research has also shown that protective factors such as parental resilience are linked to a lower incidence of child abuse and neglect while also recognizing the risk factors or attributes commonly associated with maltreatment. Children in families and environments where these factors exist have a higher probability of experiencing abuse.

By addressing the risk and protective factors that underlie high risk behaviors along with a comprehensive approach that increases resiliency, we can decrease the patterns of these harmful and destructive behaviors.