GALAXY & STARS Program
Our mission is to provide a safe, innovative and supervised environment which enhances personal growth and the character of Grinnell Youth.
Drug Free Communities
The Drug-Free Communities Program is a collaborative Federal program that aims to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, private nonprofit agencies, and Federal, State, Local and Tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions to prevent and reduce substance abuse.
"Youth substance abuse is at its lowest point in more than a decade, thanks in large measure to the concerted efforts of dedicated men and women working in prevention, treatment, and enforcement at the local level," said John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "The DFC program leverages their collaborative work with Federal support to develop effective ways to push back against local drug threats. A balanced, community-based approach will help ensure continue progress reducing substance abuse throughout our Nation."
Since 1998, this Federal program has awarded approximately 1,200 Drug-Free Community grants in all 50 states. The Galaxy has been awarded one of these grants for their continued efforts to keep the youth of Grinnell and the surrounding area on the right track.
Parental Influence: The Roper Youth Report revealed the majority of youth, ages 8-17, listed their parents as the primary influence on their decision to drink alcohol.
Reviewing results from the Iowa Youth Survey, 2008, it revealed that 9% of Poweshiek County youth reported their parents would view their child's alcohol consumption as a little wrong or not wrong at all. Although I find this number frighteningly high, it actually is down from 23% in 2002. The 2008 survey also showed that 41% of 11th graders in Poweshiek County disagreed with the statement, "It is against my values to use alcohol and drugs as a teenager." Again, this is down from 54% in 2002. For all 3 grades surveyed in the 2008 report, 21% of Poweshiek County youth disagreed with the statement, slightly more than the weighted state average of 22%. Once again, these numbers were slightly better than the 2002 survey, which showed 26% of Poweshiek County youth disagreed compared to a 25% weighted state average. We are making progress.
The following are more eyeopening statistics regarding our youth and their feelings revealed by the above surveys.
When asked, "Thinking of your best friends, how wrong would most of them feel it would be for you to drink beer, wine or hard liquor?"
| Answering Not Wrong at all |
1999 | 2002 | 2005 |
| All 3 grades surveyed (6th, 8th, and 11th) |
15% | 19% | 16% |
| 11th graders | 32% | 44% | 35% |
When asked, "Thinking of your best friends, how wrong would most of them feel it would be for you to go to a party where kids under 21 were using alcohol?"
| Answering Not Wrong at all |
1999 | 2002 | 2005 |
| All 3 grades surveyed (6th, 8th, and 11th) |
20% | 23% | 17% |
| 11th graders | 37% | 54% | 36% |
When asked, "Would you be more or less likely to be popular with the other students in your school, if you drank alcoholic beverages?"
| A lot more popular |
1999 | Weighted State Average |
2002 | Weighted State Average |
2005 | Weighted State Average |
| All 3 grades surveyed (6th, 8th, and 11th) |
20% | 21% | 23% | 20% | 3% | 5% |
Age of Onset: The next table lists the age of onset of substances from the 1999, 2002, and 2005 Iowa Youth Survey. Take specific notice to the fact that methamphetamine and cocaine usage appears to begin by 8 years of age, alcohol appears to begin by 10 years of age, and tobacco by 12 years of age. The Grinnell Middle School reports no substance abuse charges in the 2002-2003 school year, 17 charges in the 2003-2004 school year, and 3 charges in the 2004-2005 school year.
| Age of Onset |
1999 |
State |
2002 |
State |
2005 |
State |
| Cigarettes - Age 12 or younger |
17% | 18% | 12% | 13% | 8% | 9% |
| Alcohol - Age 10 or younger |
15% | 13% | 11% | 11% | 8% | 8% |
| Marijuana - Age 12 or younger |
4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 2% | 4% |
| Inhalants | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 7% |
| Meth - Age 8 or younger |
0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 0% |
| Cocaine - Age 8 or younger |
1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| Amphetamines - Age 14 or younger |
2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% |
Binge Drinking: High School graduation has become an increasingly popular time for families to provide alcohol to youth in rural areas. The time of graduation appears to be a "right of passage" to adulthood in Central Iowa Communities. Fifty-two percent of Poweshiek County youth report it is easy to obtain alcoholic beverages, higher than the state weighted average of 41% (2002 Iowa Youth Survey). Changing community "norms" needs to be addressed by the Healthy Choice Coalition.
Consequences of alcohol/drug use in the community:
High child abuse and neglect rate:
A 1998-2002 average of child abuse rates show Poweshiek County ranks 19th out of 99 counties in Iowa. As a result, the foster care placement rate in Poweshiek County is higher than the Department of Human Services area average.
High teen suicide attempts
Windle, et al reported, "Among 8th grade girls who drink heavily, 37% report attempting suicide, 3 times the attempted suicide rate of girls who do not drink (11%)." Twenty-three percent of Poweshiek County 11th graders reported having tried to kill themselves at least once, based on 2002 Iowa Youth Survey data. When the data was broken down by gender, more females had attempted suicide than males. Also, it is interesting to note that female youth in Poweshiek County reported a higher incidence of binge drinking compared to the male youth. The 2005 survey showed the same.
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