Health & Human Services to survey adults about alcohol

Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services plans to conduct a survey of adults around the county about their feelings on the use of drugs and alcohol.

Department spokesperson Chris Holmes said Tuesday the survey data would be used to help community leaders develop programs to reduce alcohol use among youth.

The survey will be done by telephone February 6-23, he said. People conducting the survey will make random phone calls; it takes about five minutes to complete the few questions, he said.

Surveys show that youth in the county are starting to use alcohol starting around 12 years of age. Four percent of sixth graders said they’ve used alcohol; 19 percent of eight graders, 28 percent of 10th graders and 38 percent of 12th graders. In grades 8, 10 and 12, 12 percent of the youth say they use alcohol frequently, and 12-14 percent say they use it heavily.

The most common source of alcohol, 36 percent, is from the home, the youth say; another 22 percent obtain alcohol from friends, 14 percent get it at parties, and 7 percent give people money to buy it.

“We don’t have good information about adults,” Holmes said.

The messages youth receive from the community and their families is very important in forming young people’s ideas and standards for alcohol use, said Health and Human Services Administrator Judy Bright.