This fall marks the tenth cycle of the PreventionFIRST! Student Drug Use Survey (SDUS). This survey is administered every other year to schools in the Greater Cincinnati Region. Every school in our service region is invited to participate. Students at participating schools are asked questions about substance abuse, personal and family life, gambling, mental health, and life style habits. The SDUS is a valuable tool to better understand the scope of youth substance use and the strengths and weaknesses of prevention efforts in schools and communities.   

Learn more about the Student Drug Use Survey

Contact Sarah Sawmiller at ssawmiller@prevention-first.org or 513-751-8000 ext 17

Data Guiding Prevention

Data is an important tool to help develop school policies, practices and programs. Data shows where the problems and challenges of youth exists and helps us better understand the youth in our communities. What youth tell us on the survey enables communities, schools, and parents to better support them in healthy choices. What we learn helps better direct substance abuse prevention strategies and create policies and environments that nurture and strengthen youth.

Schools who participate in our survey for several cycles are able to see trends and recognize the long term impact and effectiveness of policies or programs. With data, schools can ensure they are making data-driven decisions when it comes to the well-being and benefit of their student bodies. This data helps schools apply for grants and additional funding as well as establish community partnerships with other organizations.

What is measured?

-Core measures: past 30-day use, perception of risk, parental and friend disapproval

-Substance Use: use of which substances, how often, where, when, and who do they obtain them from

-Health and Wellness: thoughts of suicide, stress, eating fruits and vegetables, how much sleep, etc.

-Safety: Riding/ Driving while drunk or high, do students feel safe at school, do students bring guns to school

-Gambling: how often, where it takes place, if it is problem gambling, etc.

-Family and Personal life: questions on parents, job status, grades, amount of screen time, etc.