OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
MADISON BOARD OF EDUCATION
MADISON, CONNECTICUT

For Immediate Release
Dr. H. Kaye Griffin, Superintendent

PRESS RELEASE
THE AMERICAN DRUG AND ALCOHOL SURVEY

Several weeks ago, The American Drug and Alcohol Survey™ was administered to students in the Madison Public Schools. The results indicate that in the last 30 days, at least 11 percent of the 7-12th graders have used marijuana or another type of illegal drug. In the same period of time, 18 percent of these students report that they have gotten drunk.
The report issued by Rocky Mountain Behavioral Science Institute (RMBSI), the Fort Collins, CO based firm that developed the survey, classified students in the district according to their level of involvement with alcohol and other drugs. The students were categorized as having no drug use, or as having a "low," "moderate," or "high" involvement with drugs. In the Madison Public Schools, about 20 percent of 7-12th graders were moderately or highly drug involved. This categorization means that they are using drugs and alcohol enough to warrant serious concern. However, about 80 percent had never tried a drug or had a very low level of drug involvement.

Madison Public Schools Students' Drug Involvement (2006-07)
	7-12thGraders
No Use	62.3%
Low Drug Involvement	18.2%
Moderate Drug Involvement	12.0%
High Drug Involvement	7.5%

Source: The American Drug and Alcohol Survey

The American Drug and Alcohol Survey™ is comprised of 55 questions and has been administered to over a million students in communities nationwide. The questionnaire asks students questions about amounts and types of drugs they have taken and their beliefs and experiences regarding drugs and alcohol. The resulting information provides invaluable insight into adolescent substance use at the local level.

Alcohol and marijuana are the substances most widely used among Madison Public Schools students. However, almost any kind of drug used by young people is available to the youth in this area. Other drugs reported as having been used include various forms of inhalants, stimulants, hallucinogens, cocaine and narcotics.

Madison Public Schools Students' Drug Use in the Last Month (2006 – 2007)
	7-12thGraders
Alcohol	30%
Gotten Drunk	18%
Marijuana	11%
Inhalants	1%

Source: The American Drug and Alcohol Survey

A misconception that some people have is that most drug and alcohol use occurs at school. The survey results indicate, however, that the majority of Madison Public Schools students use drugs and alcohol away from school. The report emphasizes that young people's drug and alcohol use should be the concern of the entire community, not merely of the school system.

 

The RMBSI report also discussed the students' perceptions of the harm drugs can cause. While alcohol and marijuana are often viewed as relatively harmless when compared to other drugs, the report warned that these two substances can be dangerous. Impaired driving is one obvious threat. The report showed that 5 percent of the 7-12th graders surveyed have used alcohol, and 6 percent have used marijuana (or another drug) "while driving around."

According to Ruth Edwards, Ph.D., one of the developers of The American Drug and Alcohol Survey™, "It is important to neither overstate nor understate the drug and alcohol use situation among the students in the Madison Public Schools. The data should be used as a solid base on which to build community drug and alcohol use prevention and treatment efforts. Using this information to identify common goals that the entire community can act upon in a progressive and cooperative manner to fight the substance abuse battle is crucial."