Students organize drug prevention program

Three Columbia Falls High School students interested in careers in the health industry have organized a drug-prevention program targeting junior high students.

Danielle Delventhal and Kelsey Gilbertson, both seniors, and Marquis Isley, a junior, spoke to the School District 6 Board of Trustees about the program on April 8.

They said they were shocked to hear the results of the state’s 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey for Columbia Falls junior and senior high schools while at a HOSA Fall Leadership Workshop in Helena. They noted the embarassment of hearing the bad numbers in front of students from other high schools.

The three sought state grants to get a program in place to discourage junior high students from drug use before they’re overwhelmed by peer pressure in high school. Delventhal, Gilbertson and Isley talked to junior high students about drug use on April 12.HOSA-Future Health Professionals is a national organization with a 50-year history that introduces students in grades 8-12 and post-secondary schools to health occupations. The Columbia Falls chapter is in its third year and is supported in part by donations from the North Valley Hospital Foundation.

The three students said they learned in Helena that self-reported marijuana use by Columbia Falls students under-13 was nearly twice the rate reported statewide, and alcohol use by the same group was about 60 percent higher than the statewide rate. Use of harder drugs, such as cocaine, meth or heroin, was nearly nonexistent here.

Some experts question results from the state’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which looks at a wide range of risky behavior, from cell phone use while driving and sexual activity to suicide and bullying.

While the Montana Office of Public Instruction says the survey has a plus-or-minus 3 percent error rate, it cautions that “respondents in self-reported surveys may have a tendency to under report behaviors that are socially undesirable, unhealthy or illegal” while at the same time “over report behaviors that are socially desirable,” such as exercise.

Forty-six Montana schools participated in the 2011 survey, and 81 percent of the students in randomly selected classes volunteered to participate. The surveys were administered during second-period classes in the last week of February.

To encourage accurate responses, students were told the results would remain private and they could stop filling out the survey at any time. The Hungry Horse News could not obtain results for Columbia Falls schools without the school superintendent’s permission.

The local HOSA chapter is new but quite active. Six members competed at the State Leadership Conference in Great Falls, and three are qualified to attend the National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn.

Delventhal said she was involved in conferences and grant applications through the year. She credited HOSA for inspiring her to pursue a career in the health industry.

“HOSA has given me a huge insight on what kind of professions exist in the medical field,” she said. “I encourage any and all students to get involved.”

Gilbertson said she wants a medical career in the Air Force. She’s toured North Valley Hospital and the athletic training center at the University of Montana.

“Because of HOSA, I have had the opportunity to watch surgeries as well as job shadow a few health professionals,” she said. “HOSA has been a great eye-opener for me as well as helping me get involved with the community.”

Isley plans to run for president of the local HOSA chapter next year. He wants to join the Army and be a combat medic.

“I joined HOSA at the beginning of the year as a way to get more involved with different health occupations,” he said. “HOSA has given me the opportunity to travel all over the state and meet people and explore different health occupations.”