The survey measured alcohol use, binge drinking, vaping, and marijuana use among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, and showed sharp reductions across every major category when compared to data from a decade ago.
The survey measured alcohol use, binge drinking, vaping, and marijuana use among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, and showed sharp reductions across every major category when compared to data from a decade ago.
The local Neighborhoods Against Substance Abuse (NASA) coalition has released the results of the 2024 Spring Indiana Youth Survey conducted by Indiana University.

The results, county leaders say, which included information provided by over 3,000 students participating, reveal one of the most significant declines in youth substance use ever recorded in Hancock County. The survey measured alcohol use, binge drinking, vaping, and marijuana use among eighth-, 10th-, and 12th-graders, and showed sharp reductions across every major category when compared to data from a decade ago.

Results of the test show since 2016 show eighth-graders’ involvement in vaping declined 65%; 10th-grade involvement declined 48% and 12th-grade involvement declined 75%. A decline in marijuana use for eighth-graders dropped by 42%. For 10th-graders it dropped by 81%, and for 12th-graders use dropped by 72%. Binge drinking numbers were even better, with eighth-graders showing a 78% decline, while 10th-graders dropped by 95% and 12th-graders dropped by 83%.

Alcohol use also declined by 47% by eighth-graders, 81% by 10th-graders, and 73% by 12th-graders.

County officials say the improvements reflect years of collaboration among community partners including NASA; the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office; the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office; police departments in Greenfield, McCordsville, Fortville, New Palestine, Wilkinson, Shirley and Cumberland; Hancock County Probation Department; all four public school corporations in the county, and various youth service organizations.

“Collaboration is the key to success when addressing any significant public safety issue,” Prosecutor Brent Eaton said. “I am grateful for and proud of the work everyone has done to support one another in making youth sobriety a priority in Hancock County. It is gratifying to see these tremendous results.”

The local NASA is the county’s certified local coalition dedicated to substance abuse prevention, education and community engagement. Through data-driven strategies and local partnerships, NASA works to reduce youth and adult substance misuse and strengthen community well being.

Neighborhoods Against Substance Abuse Executive Director Tim Retherford said the efforts by NASA, students and local law enforcement groups are paying off.

“I’m really pleased with the results we saw, particularly when you compare them to other communities, and while we’ve seen some national decline in a lot of the drugs and the 30-day usage rate for alcohol and drugs, our community usage rate is significantly below many of those rates,” Retherford said. “It’s exciting to see, and I know it’s a direct result of the work of NASA and all the people who partner with us, especially with the underage drinking and our underage drinking task force.”

Retherford noted it’s great to work in a county where everyone, including the schools and law enforcement, are willing to work together because they know it’s good for youth and families in general.

Hancock County Underage Drinking Task Force is a partnership of law enforcement agencies, schools, probation, judges, the prosecutor’s office and NASA, who work to educate underage youth on the dangers of consuming alcohol.

Retherford noted NASA’s peer-to-peer education team is top-notch and he’d put it up against any in the state and even across the country for the positive things it is doing by showcasing the positive things that can happen when kids stay away from alcohol and drugs.

NASA executive director Tim Retherford and County Sheriff Brad Burkhart shared low rate drinking numbers with others in Indianapolis earlier this fall.Photo provided

The peer-to-peer high school group starts by talking with second-graders, then middle school students, sharing the dangers of alcohol and drugs.

“Those little kids, they look up to the high school students, and we know they’re making a difference, providing a positive message,” Retherford said.

Retherford works with four student representatives from each of the county’s four high schools, the NASA Youth Council who meet once a month, to help spread the word about the dangers of alcohol and drugs via events in local schools and throughout the community.

Lilli Maxwell is a senior at Eastern Hancock High School and is a member of the NASA Youth Council. She noted the four seniors from each school district take a lot of pride in the work they do to help educate students on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

“We do a bunch of different things throughout the year for students of all ages, and we know it’s important,” Lilli said. “We’ll talk to second-graders about the dangers of medications, and we do big youth summits every other year where we’ll get eighth- and ninth-graders together for a full day and just talk to them about the dangers of drugs.”

Lilli noted hearing such an important message from peers is really the key.

“Kids will listen to other kids more than they will an adult,” Lilli said. “A kid will sometimes trust another kid more because sometimes children feel like if they talk to an adult about an issue they might get in trouble.”

Lilli noted having a teenager, a senior in high school, tell other students the true dangers of alcohol and drugs really hits home.

“They’ll remember us saying, ‘Hey, stay away from that, it’s dangerous,’ more than they will an adult telling them that,” Lilli said. “We hope we are making a real difference.”

Retherford noted he is pleased to see youth usage rates remain low and continue to decline.

“This progress reflects strong community partnerships across Hancock County focused on addressing youth substance abuse,” Retherford said. “We are proud to be part of a community where individuals, agencies, businesses and leaders work together to create a safer, healthier place for children and families. While there is still work to do, I am confident we can continue this progress together.”

The downward trend aligns with a major shift toward integrated prevention, early intervention and treatment-based accountability, along with proactive criminal enforcement. Over the past decade, Hancock County has strengthened its problem-solving court programs, created the Hancock County Jail Navigation Program, and increased the use of residential treatment options as part of sentencing.

The prosecutor’s office has also implemented administrative changes to ensure a greater share of criminal court fees is directed to NASA for prevention programming. Additional initiatives, such as the Underage Drinking Task Force and Hancock County School Safety Meetings, have contributed to a unified and proactive prevention environment.

“The significant decline in youth substance use across Hancock County over the past decade is an encouraging reflection of what long-term collaboration can accomplish,” Sheriff Brad Burkhart said.

“These results are the outcome of years of coordinated efforts among law enforcement, schools, prevention organizations and community partners who share a common goal protecting our youth and providing them with the support, education and resources needed to make healthy choices. When a community works together with purpose, the results are measurable and meaningful.”

Eaton said sobriety is good for public safety, and he was thrilled to see the results of the latest survey.

“These results reflect years of intentional collaboration across our justice system and community, holding people accountable while prioritizing prevention, treatment and early intervention,” Eaton said. “It is remarkable what we can accomplish when working together.”
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