The Prevention Needs Analysis (PNA) measures a wide variety of attitudes, beliefs, perceptions that have been shown to be related to alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, along with violent andproblem behaviors. It also monitors the percent of students that have used or are currently using alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs, along with the percent who are participating or have participated in violent and other problem behaviors.

The PNA helps identify and bridge the distance between some of the “causes” and the actual problem behaviors exhibited by the students. Information from this survey is used to choose and evaluate prevention interventions, strategies and policies.

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What are some of the risk factors that create an environment for students to experiment or use drugs, alcohol and tobacco products?

A parents’ favorable attitude toward drug use may promote the use of illegal substances by their children. Parental rewards for antisocial behavior, or lack of discipline for such behavior, is another risk factor. In FCSD 1, these and other risk factors scored greater when our students are compared to other Wyoming students.

As there are risk factors that increase the potential for antisocial behavior and/or substance abuse, there are also protective factors that reinforce acceptable community norms.

For example, the community at large encourages students to be involved in many different activities. These provide numerous opportunities for students to interact with each other and gain pro-social skills. In addition, students who attend religious services are less likely to become involved in negative behaviors, a protective factor termed “religiosity.”