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Youth Development Survey

Dutchess County

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Youth Development Survey


The following survey asks questions about a number of things in your life including your friends, your family, your neighborhood, and your community.

Your answers to these questions are anonymous and confidential. That means that no one will know your answers. This survey is voluntary. That means you do not have to take it. If you choose to take it, you may skip any questions you do not want to answer.

This is not a test. There are no right or wrong answers.

If you do not find an answer that fits exactly, use the one that comes closest. If any question does not apply to you or if you are not sure what a question means, just leave it blank.

Why are you being asked to take this survey?
Have your voice heard.

Know what is really going on with kids in Dutchess County.

Thank you for your participation.

What grade are you in?
Are you:
What do you consider yourself to be? (select all that apply)
What language do you use most at home?
Where do you currently live?

The next section asks about your experience at school. Choose the answer you agree with the most.

During the LAST FOUR WEEKS how many whole days of school have you missed because you skipped or "cut"?
In my school, students have lots of chances to help decide things like class activities and rules
My teacher(s) notice when I am doing a good job and lets me know about it.
There are lots of chances for students in my school to get involved in sports, clubs, and other school activities outside of class
There are lots of chances for students in my school to talk with a teacher one-on-one.
I feel safe at my school.
The school lets my parents know when I have done something well.
My teachers praise me when I work hard in school.
My school grades are better than the grades of most students in my class.
Do you friends think doing well in school is important?
I have lots of chances to be part of class discussions or activities.

Bullying is when one or more students tease, threaten, spread rumors about, shove, or hurt another student over and over again.

During the past 12 months, have you ever bullied someone?
During the past 12 months, have you ever been bullied when you were on school property?
During the past 12 months, have you ever been bullied when you were not on school property (on your way home or wherever you spend your free time)?
During the past 12 months, have you ever been electronically bullied (through e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, websites, or texting)?

The next questions ask about your experiences and feelings in other parts of your life.

How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to:

Pick a fight with someone?
Attack someone with the idea of seriously hurting them?
Steal anything worth more than $5?
Stay away from school all day when their parents think they are in school?
Drink beer, wine or hard liquor (for example, vodka, whiskey, or gin) regularly?

How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to:

Smoke or vape marijuana?
Use prescription pain relievers without your doctor's orders?
Smoke cigarettes?
Smoke e-cigarettes?
Vape tobacco/nicotine?
Use LSD, cocaine, amphetamines, or another illegal drug?

Think of your four best friends (the friends you feel closest to). In the past year (12 months), how many of your best friends have:

Smoked cigarettes?
Smoked e-cigarettes?
Vaped tobacco/nicotine?
Gotten drunk?
Used marijuana marijuana (smoking, vaping, edibles, ingestibles)?
Carried a handgun?

How wrong do your friends feel it would be for YOU to:

Have one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage nearly every day?
Smoke cigarettes?
Smoke e-cigarettes?
Vape tobacco/nictotine?
Use marijuana (smoking, vaping, edibles, ingestibles)?
Use prescription pain relievers without your doctor's orders?
Use any other prescription drugs without your doctor's orders?

In your LIFETIME, on how many occasions (if any) have you:

Had alcoholic beverages to drink? (A "drink" is a glass of wine, a bottle of beer, a wine cooler, a shot glass of liquor, or a mixed drink.)
Used marijuana (grass, pot, weed)?
Vaped marijuana (dabs, dabbing) or used hash oils?
Eaten marijuana or hash oil (edibles, or ingestibles such as in brownies, cakes, cookies, candy, etc.)?
Used heroin (dope, smack, H)?
Used prescription pain relievers (OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, Tylox) without doctor's orders?
Used prescription stimulant pills (such as Ritalin, Adderall, or Concerta) without a doctor's orders?
Used prescription tranquilizers or "benzos", (like Zanax, Valium, or Ativan) without a doctor's orders?
Used a non-prescription cough or cold medicine (robos, DXM, etc.) to get high?
Used LSD (acid) or other psychedelics (peyote, PCP)?

In your LIFETIME, on how many occasions (if any) have you:

Drank energy drinks with caffeine (like Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, or 5-Hour Energy)?
Used caffeine pills (No-Doz, Vivarin, Dexatrim)?
Used phenoxydine (pox, px, breeze)?
Used cocaine (coke, blow, snow)?
Sniffed glue, breathed the contents of an aerosol spray can, or inhaled other gases or sprays, in order to get high?
Used Molly, MDMA, ecstasy, or Rolls?
Used synthetic marijuana ("K2", "Spice") or bath salts ("Flakka") to get high?
Used methamphetamines (meth, speed, crank, crystal, or ice)?
Smoked e-cigarettes?
Vaped tobacco/nicotine (such as Puff Bar, Surrin Air Bag, or posh)?

During the PAST 30 DAYS (PAST MONTH), on how many occasions (if any) have you:

Had alcoholic beverages to drink? (A "drink" is a glass of wine, a bottle of beer, a wine cooler, a shot glass of liquor, or a mixed drink.)
Used marijuana (grass, pot, weed)?
Vaped marijuana (dabs, dabbing) or used hash oil?
Eaten marijuana or hash oil (edibles or ingestibles such as in brownies, cakes, cookies, candy, etc.)?
Used heroin (dope, smack, H)?
Used prescription pain relievers (such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, or Tylox) without a doctor's orders?
Used prescription stimulant pills (such as Ritalin, Adderall, or Concerta) without a doctor's orders?
Used Molly, MDMA , Ecstasy, or Rolls?
Used a non-prescription cough or cold medicine (robos, DXM, etc.) to get high?
Used LSD or other psychedelics (peyote, PCP)?

During the PAST 30 DAYS (PAST MONTH), on how many occasions (if any) have you:

Drank enery drinks with caffeine (like Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, or 5-Hour-Energy)?
Used caffeine pills (No-Doz, Vivarin, Dexatrim)?
Used phenoxydine (pox, px, breeze)?
Used cocaine (coke, crack, blow, snow)?
Sniffed glue, breathed the contents of an aerosol spray can, or inhaled other gases or sprays, in order to get high?
Used Molly, MDMA , Ecstasy, or Rolls?
Used "synthetic marijuana" ("K2", "Spice") or bath salts ("Flakka") to get high?
Used methamphetamines (meth, speed, crank, crystal, or ice)?
Smoked e-cigarettes?
Vaped tobacco/nicotine (such as Puff Bar, Surrin Air Bag, or posh)?

These next questions are about tobacco/nicotine:

Have you ever smoked cigarettes?
Have you ever used smokeless tobacco (chew, snuff, plug, dipping tobacco, or chewing tobacco)?
How frequently have you smoked cigarettes during the past 30 days?

These next questions are about alcohol:

Think back over the last two weeks. How many times have you had five or more alcoholic drinks in a row? (A "drink" is a glass of wine, a bottle of beer, a wine cooler, a shot glass of liquor, or a mixed drink.
If you drank alcohol (not just a sip or taste) in the past year, how did you usually get it?

In what situations do you typically use alcohol?

At parties
In school
Alone
With 1-2 friends

During the past 30 days:

How many times did you drive a car or other vehicle when you had been drinking alcohol?
How many times did you drive a car or other vehicle after you had been using marijuana or other drugs?
During the past 30 days, how many times were you a passenger in a car with a driver who had been drinking?
During the past 12 months, have you talked with at least one of your parents about the dangers of underage drinking? (By parents, we mean either your biological parents, adoptive parents, stepparents, foster parents, or other adult caregivers whether or not they live with you).
When parents find out their kids have been drinking they may discuss it, take away privileges, add chores, take away cell phones, use of the car, etc. In the past 12 months, if your parents found out you were drinking, how did they respond?
If the police caught you drinking, which of the following would most likely happen? (Select one option).

In what situations do you typically use marijuana?

At parties
In School
Alone
With 1-2 Friends

In what situations do you typically use other drugs?

At parties
In School
Alone
With 1-2 Friends
Have you drank alcohol in the past 12 months?

During the past 12 months, how many times has each of the following things happened after you had been DRINKING?

You had problems at school or work?
You had problems with your friends?
You had problems with someone you were dating?
You were hung over?
You were sick to your stomach or threw up?
You got into a situation that you later regretted?
You got into a physical fight?
You did not remember what happened or what you did?
You found yourself in a relationship that you regretted?
Have you used marijuana/marijuana product in the past 12 months?

During the past 12 months, how many times has each of the following things happened after you used MARIJUANA/MARIJUANNA PRODUCTS?

You had problems with your friends?
You had problems with someone you were dating?
You got into a situation that you later regretted?
You did not remember what happened or what you did?
Have you used prescription pain relievers without doctor's orders in the past year?

During the past 12 months, how many times has each of the following things happened after you used prescription pain relievers without a doctor's orders?

You did not remember what happened or what you did?
You had problems at school or work?

In what situations do you typically use marijuana/marijuanna products?

At parties
In school
Alone
With 1-2 friends

During the past 12 months, how many times has each of the following things happened after you used PRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVERS without a doctor's orders?

You had problems at school or work?
You had problems with your friends?
You had problems with someone you were dating?
You were sick to your stomach or threw up?
You got into a situation that you later regretted?
You did not remember what happened or what you did?

How many times in the past year (12 months) have you:

Been arrested?
Sold illegal drugs?
Been suspended from school?
Been drunk or high at school?
Participated in clubs, organizations, or other organized activities at school?
Which best describes how you spend your time after school?
Have you ever belonged to a gang?

These questions ask about your feelings. Chose the response you agree with most.

Sometimes I think that life is not worth it.
At times I think I am no good at all.
All in all, I am inclined to think that I am a failure.
In the past year, have you felt depressed or sad MOST days, even if you felt okay sometimes?
It is all right to beat up people if they start the fight.
I think it is okay to take something without asking if you can get away with it.
I think sometimes it's okay to cheat at school.

The following questions are about your family and parents. By parents, we mean either your biological parents, adoptive parents, stepparents, foster parents, or other adult caregivers whether or not they live with you.

The rules in my family are clear.
My parents notice when I am doing a good job and let me know about it.
How often do your parents tell you they're proud of you for something you've done?
If you skipped school would you be caught by your parents?
Do you feel very close to your mother?
Do you share your thoughts and feelings with your mother?
Do you enjoy spending time with your mother?
My parents ask me what I think before most family decisions affecting me are made.
If I had a personal problem, I could ask my mom or dad for help.
Do you feel very close to your father?
Do you share your thoughts and feelings with your father?
Do you enjoy spending time with your father?
My parents give me lots of chances to do fun things with them.
My parents ask if I've gotten my homework done.
People in my family have serious arguments.
Would your parents know if you did not come home on time?
My family has clear rules about alcohol use.
My family has clear rules about other drug use.
It is important to be honest with your parents, even if they become upset or you get punished.
People in my family often insult or yell at each other.
When I am not at home, one of my parents knows where I am and who I am with.
We argue about the same things in my family over and over.
If you drank some beer or wine or liquor (for example, vodka, whiskey, or gin) without your parents' permission, would you be caught by your parents?

How wrong do your parents feel it would be for YOU to:

Have one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage nearly every day?
Smoke cigarettes?
Use marijuana (smoking, vaping, edibles, ingestibles)?
Use prescription drugs without a doctor's orders?
Steal something worth more than $5?
Pick a fight with someone?
Gamble (bet money or something else of value on sports, cards, dice, lottery, etc.)?
Smoke e-cigarettes?
Vape tobacco/nicotine?
You're in a store with a friend. You look up and see her slip an item under her coat. She smiles and says "Which one do you want? Go ahead, take it while nobody's around." There is nobody in sight, no employees and no other customers. What would you do now?
You are visiting another part of town, and you don't know any of the people your age there. You are walking down the street, and some teenager you don't know is walking toward you. He is about your size, and as he is about to pass you, he deliberately bumps into you and you almost lose your balance. What would you say or do?
It's 8:00 on a weeknight and you are about to go over to a friend's home when your mother asks you where you are going. You say "Oh, just going to go hang out with some friends." She says, "No, you'll just get into trouble if you go out. Stay home tonight." What would you do now?
You are at a party at someone's house, and one of your friends offers you a drink containing alcohol. What would you say or do?

How much do you think people risk harming themselves (physically or in other ways) if they:

Smoke one or more packs of cigarettes per day?
Try marijuana once or twice a week?
Use marijuana (smoking, vaping, edibles, ingestibles) regularly?
Consume two or more drinks of an alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, or hard liquor) every day?
Smoke e-cigarettes?
Vape tobacco?
Use prescription pain medication without a doctor's order?
Use heroin?

About how many adults (over 21) have you known personally who in the past year have:

Used marijuana, crack, cocaine, or other drugs?
Sold or dealt drugs?
Done other things that could get them in trouble with the police, like stealing, selling stolen goods, mugging or assaulting others, etc.?
Gotten drunk or high?

Are the following activities for people your age are available in your community?

Sports teams
Scouting?
Boys and girls clubs?
YMCA, other community centers?
Service clubs?
Art, Music, Theater Clubs?

If a kid smoked marijuana in your neighborhood would he or she be caught by the police?
If a kid drank some beer, wine or hard liquor (for example, vodka, whiskey, or gin) in your neighborhood would he or she be caught by the police?
If a kid carried a handgun in your neighborhood would he or she be caught by the police?
If you wanted to get some cigarettes, how easy would it be for you to get some?
If you wanted to get some beer, wine or hard liquor (for example, vodka, whiskey, or gin), how easy would it be for you to get some?
If you wanted to get a drug like cocaine, LSD, or amphetamines, how easy would it be for you to get some?
If you wanted to get prescription pain relievers, like OxyContin, how easy would it be for you to get some?
If you wanted to get some marijuana/marijuana products, how easy would it be for you to get some?


The last time you used prescription pain relievers without a doctor's orders (such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, or Tylox), how did you get them?
How many times have you changed neighborhoods since kindergarten?
Did you ever have to change schools because you moved?
How far do you live from other family members (think of the ones who live closest but not in your home)?

The message I received from my parent/guardian about:

Using alcohol?
Using drugs?
Getting into fights?
Engaging in sexual activity?
Skipping school?
Carrying a handgun?

During the PAST YEAR (12 MONTHS), on how many days (if any) have you:

Played bingo for money?
Bet money on raffles or charity games?
Bet or spent money on pull tabs?
Played cards for money?
Bowled, or played pool, basketball, or another game of skill for money?
Bet money on sports teams or sports events?
Played "Quick Draw"?
Played the lottery, Lotto, or scratch off tickets?
Played dice games for money?
Played the numbers or "Bolita"?
Bet money on arcade or video games?
Bet or spent money on slot machines, poker machines, or other gaming machines?
Bet money on horses, dogs, or other animals?
Bet money at a casino?
Bet money over the Internet?

How many times in the past year (12 months) have you:

Carried a handgun?
Sold illegal drugs?
Attacked someone with the idea of seriously hurting them?
Taken a handgun to school?
If you wanted to get a handgun, how easy would it be for you to get one?

What are the chances you would be seen as cool if you:

Smoked cigarettes?
E-cigarettes?
Vaped tobacco?
Began drinking alcoholic beverages regularly, that is, at least once or twice a month?
Volunteered to do community service?
Stood up for a classmate/peer/friend who was being cyber bullied (i.e. buliied on Facebook, Twitter, over text messages etc.?)
Reported bullying behavior to a responsible adult whom you trust?
During the past 12 months, have you talked with at least one of your parents about the dangers of drinking and driving?

Choose the response you agree with most:

If I had to move I would miss the neighborhood I now live in
I feel safe in my neighborhood
There is a lot of crime and/or drug selling in my neighborhood
There are a lot of fights in my neighborhood

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