Excerpt from Needs Assessment Report to Identify Substances Most Commonly Used by Benicia Youth (2017), BYAC Underage Marijuana Use was identified as one of the primary substance use issues for Benicia youth in a needs assessment conducted by the Benicia Youth Action Coalition this summer based on findings from: (a) California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS); (b) interviews with key informants and stakeholders in the community; and (c) discussions with BYAC members, parents, Family Resource Center, and youth. The following priority needs areas are based on the sum of those findings.
Marijuana use has emerged as the primary problem for youth due to changing social norms resulting in California’s passing legalization laws and the growing acceptance among California voters. As a result, the increase in overall availability and accessibility are likely to cause an increase in experimentation and problem use. Alcohol use also remains a concern with 27 percent reporting lifetime use. Electronic cigarette use was the third most common substance at 19 percent.
Marijuana is the most commonly used drug for Benicia youth The percentage of students reporting marijuana use in 11th grade was triple that of 9th graders.
Only 32 percent of 11th graders perceive peers as thinking that marijuana use is wrong or very wrong, as opposed to 59% who believe their friends think that marijuana is only a little or not at all wrong. Marijuana was the substance that had the lowest disapproval score.
MARIJUANA USE - 4 OR MORE TIMES 2015-16 40%
35% 30% 20%
80% 71%
66%
40%
45%
42%
20%
23% 9%
60%
0%
10% 0%
Peer Opinion of Marijuana
9%
16% 12% 9% 3%
Very wrong
0% 7TH GRADERS
9TH GRADERS
11TH GRADERS
7th
Wrong
1% A little bit Not at all wrong wrong 9th
20% 11% 10% 9%
18%
17% 11% 4% 3%
11th
I don't know NT
According to interviews with two adults who work closely with Benicia youth, marijuana us is very prevalent in both Benicia and Liberty High. Easy to access. Edibles are sold openly on the school grounds (cookies, candies, gummy bears, etc.) BHS – 70% say they use it to sleep since they drink energy drinks all day Liberty – parents are using, legalization has made it more acceptable. Students not seeing it as a health problem, marijuana helps calm them down and with stress.
Benicia Unified 2015-16, CA Healthy Kids Survey Table A.6.11 Perceived Harm and Availability
Marijuana Perceived to be Fairly to Very Easy to Obtain 84% 74% 62%
15% GRADE 7
GRADE 9
GRADE 11
NT
Perceived difficulty of Obtaining Marijuana
Very difficult Fairly difficult Fairly-very easy Don't know
Grade 7 25%
Grade 9 6%
Grade 11 4%
NT 5%
11%
4%
1%
2%
15% 48%
62% 27%
74% 20%
84% 10%
Marijuana Harms Perceived to be Slight/None for Occasional Use
Marijuana Harms Perceived to be Slight/None for 1-2x Use per week
71% 61% 72% 43%
50%
31%
GRADE 7
GRADE 9
GRADE 11
NT
Perceived Harm of Smoking Marijuana occasionally Grade Grade 7 9 Great 41% 29% Moderate 28% 28% 31% 43% Slight-None