Interesting new inhalant data from Carroll County, Arkansas.

The Carroll County News in Berryville, Arkansas reports that at a recent community coalition meeting, results from the 2006 Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey were released.

“All three school districts in Carroll County have participated in the survey annually since 2002. The survey is filled out by students in sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades voluntarily and anonymously during one class period.”

The survey is also broken down by “Lifetime Use” of 6^th, 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th grades and “Past 30-Day Use” for the same grades. Percentages for all categories can be found on table 3 of the report:

LIFETIME:
6^th grade county 2005 – 9.6%
6^th grade county 2006 -8.33 %
State 2006 – 9.3%

8^th grade county 2005 – 18 %
8^th grade county 2006 -22.99 %
State 2006 – 15.41%

10^th grade county 2005 -15.2%
10^th grade county 2006 -19.05%
State 2006 -16.35%

12^th grade county 2005 -10.1%
12^th grade county 2006 -13.23%
State 2006 -13.16%

PAST 30-DAY USE:
6^th grade county 2005 -4.9%
6^th grade county 2006 -3.89%
State 2006 -4.10%

8^th grade county 2005 -7.4%
8^th grade county 2006 -6.95%
State 2006 -6.53%

10^th grade county 2005 -5.8%
10^th grade county 2006 -4.76%
State 2006 -5.16%

12^th grade county 2005 -2.2%
12^th grade county 2006 -5.82%
State 2006 -3.08%

Between 2005 and 2006, inhalant use has increased for lifetime: 8^th, 10^th, and 12^th graders and for 30-day use, it has increased for 12^th grade. The percentage increase for all these grades is significant.

In addition, for lifetime inhalant use, county inhalant use compared to state is higher for 8^th, 10^th and 12^th. For 30-day use, county use is higher than state for 8^th and 10^th grade. Here, the most dramatic difference between county and state numbers was for 8^th grade lifetime use. County use is 22.99% while state use is reported at 15.41%.