INTRODUCTION

This section of the report presents and analyzes the four priority risk factors and their associated indicators for Hawaii County. While data were available for most indicators, they were not available for all, and where this was the case, it will be so noted. When the data collection and analysis phase was completed, the Data Collection and Analysis workgroup identified 12 risk factors which stood out from the rest, based primarily on comparisons between the County of Hawaii and the State as a whole, and a scoring system developed by the workgroup. Each risk factor was assigned a “data” score from 0 to 3, indicating the amount and quality of the data, and a “control” measure of “low,” “medium,” or “high,” based upon the likelihood of affecting that risk factor.

A report was presented to all Comprehensive Strategies workgroups and members of the public, after which a lengthy discussion took place, followed by a vote on the top three to five risk factors. Four factors were so identified: availability of drugs, family management problems, family conflict, and early and persistent antisocial behavior. In the report that follows, Only the priority risk factors and indicator data will be presented.

Juvenile delinquency is not disproportionately high in Hawaii County, but a number of risk factors exist which are very likely precursors of delinquency and which contribute to and reflect a variety of social ills. The rural nature of the Island County, its high unemployment rate, and a depressed County and State economy do not bode well for improvement in the near future.

Risk Factor 1: Availability of Drugs
Risk Factor 2: Family Management Problems
Risk Factor 3: Family Conflict
Risk Factor 4: Early and Persistent Anti-Social Behavior
Summary & Conculsions

Risk Factor 1: Availability of Drugs

The State Department of Health’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division data shown is based on survey of over 27,000 public and private school students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. It is considered reliable. Virtually every measure shown (over 97 percent) indicates that County of Hawaii students are at greater risk than other students statewide. Illegal substance use begins early – over 35% of Hawaii County 6th graders have tried alcohol, 16% in the 30 days prior to the survey, and over 5% tried marijuana, over 3% during the previous 30 days. Favorable attitudes toward, and exposure to, risky behavior is also higher for Hawaii County students. There is, then, clearly a substance use and abuse problem among Hawaii County’s youth.

It is clear from the tables that illegal substances are perceived as being widely available in Hawaii County (neither alcohol nor tobacco may be legally purchased by minors), and that availability increases with grade level. Marijuana is widely cultivated on the Big Island, although efforts by law enforcement officials over the past ten years have been successful in reducing its availability. Recent sting operations found a number of retail establishments selling alcohol and tobacco to minors. This resulted in police warnings and in some cases, arrests and a subsequent decrease in this type of illegal activity. Nevertheless, illegal substances are never difficult for minors to obtain.

Indicator
Lifetime Prevalence Reports of Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Use

Table 1A
Percentage of Students Whom Report Trying a Particular Substance at Least Once
(Source: ADAD Survey, 2001)

Indicator
Thirty-Day Prevalence Reports of Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Use

Table 1B
Percentage of Students who Report Using a Particular Substance in the Past Thirty Days
(Source: ADAD Survey, 2001)

Indicator
Student Perception of Availability and Use of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD)

Table 1C
Percentage of Students With Exposure to Various Aspects of ATOD Use
(Source: ADAD Survey, 2001)

Indicator
Alcohol Sales

Table 1D
(Source: Department of Liquor Control, County of Hawaii)

Alcohol sales show a steady increase over the past decade. While not a direct measure of availability, the figures do show a significant amount of money being spent by a population that ranged from 130,000 to 148,000 during the years in question.

Indicator
Tobacco Sales Establishments

Table 1E
(Source: Department of Taxation, County of Hawaii)

Data on tobacco sales come from distributors, not dealers, so figures cannot be broken down by County. Nevertheless, they show that despite national and State efforts to reduce use of tobacco, sales increase.

Indicator
Trends in Exposure to Drug Use, Reported by Students

Table 1F.1
ADAD Survey: Percentage of 6th Graders Reporting Frequent Exposure, Hawaii County – 1998

Table 1F.2
ADAD Survey: Percentage of 8th Graders Reporting Frequent Exposure, Hawaii County – 1998

Table 1F.3
ADAD Survey: Percentage of 10th Graders Reporting Frequent Exposure, Hawaii County – 1998

Table 1F.4
ADAD Survey: Percentage of 12th Graders Reporting Frequent Exposure, Hawaii County – 1998

The survey results (tables 1F.1 through 1F.4) do not distinguish the type of exposure, but it is probably divided between family and peers. The type of illegal drug is also not distinguished, but marijuana, based on other surveys, is the most available. See below.

Indicator
Trends in Perceived Availability of Drugs

Table 1G
ADAD Survey: Percentage of Students Responding “Fairly Easy to Get”, 1998, Hawaii County

Risk Factor 2: Family Management Problems

It is difficult to discern patterns with respect to family management problems in Hawaii County. Abuse, neglect, and sexual exploitation peaked in 1997, but it is not clear why that is the case. Child Protective Service filings – an indication of juveniles being taken out of the home – peaked in 1995, hit a low point in 1998, and rose again in 1999. Runaway reports, on the other hand, show a steady rise from 1998 through 2000, while Hawaii County had a higher percentage of students living in foster care than the state as a whole. Student perceptions of family management and substance abuse problems showed mixed results, with Hawaii County falling both above and below the state average, depending upon grade and risk indicator.

Table 2F shows a large number of children living outside the family, with about one-third living with relatives and more than one-half with non-relatives, usually foster care. Those living with relatives are often informally adopted under the “hanai” system, which reflects Hawaiian traditions and is widespread in the State. Child abuse and neglect figures for Hawaii County show mixed findings. Both reported and confirmed cases in all categories peaked in 1995. Whether this reflects actual increases or changed enforcement and reporting policies is unknown. Runaways have increased from 1998 through 2000, and Hawaii County has a higher percentage of students living in foster care than the State as a whole, although the differences are not great.

Indicator
Reported Child Abuse and Neglect Cases

Table 2A
Child Abuse and Neglect in Hawaii County, Reported (R) and Confirmed (C) Cases
(Source: Hawaii County Police Department, 1995 - 1999)

Indicator
Child Protective Services Filings

Table 2B
Hawaii County Child Protective Services (CPS) Filings
(Source: Family Court Data, FY 1996-2001)

Indicator
Runaway Reports

Table 2C
Reported Runaways in Hawaii County
(Source: Hawaii County Police Department Data, 1998-2000)

Indicator
Children Living in Foster Care

Table 2D
Students Living in Foster Care
(Source: ADAD Survey, 2000)

Indicator
Student Perception of Risk Factors

Table 2E
Percentage of Students Who Perceive the Risk Factors as Affecting Them
(Source: ADAD Survey, 2001)

ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Use)
ASB (Anti-Social Behavior)

Indicator
Children Living Outside the Family

Table 2F
Children Living w/o the Presence of Either Parent: Child Welfare Services Branch, 1997 – 1999

Risk Factor 3: Family Conflict

Indicator
Domestic Violence Reports

Table 3A
Hawaii County Arrests for Violence Against Family & Children
(Source: Hawaii County Police Department Data, 1999-2000)

Indicator
Single Parent Family Households

Table 3B
Single Parent Family Households
(Source: U.S. Census Data, 2000)

Risk Factor 4: Early and Persistent Anti-Social Behavior

Indicator
Emotionally Disturbed Youth

Table 4A
IDEA Students Identified in Hawaii County Under “Emotionally