1. Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Heather Clark, April 21 st, 2008 A Coordinated Approach to Student Drug Use Surveys

2. Background  8 of 10 Canadian provinces regularly conduct surveys that assess student drug use.  Variability exists in both the methods and indicators used.  Limitations in the ability to make cross-regional comparisons of student drug use in Canada.  Improving comparability across these surveys would enhance communication across jurisdictions and our understanding of student substance use. 2

3. Development of Core Indicators: What indicators should be considered “core”?  Importance across regions.  Ability to attain a reliable estimate.  More detailed information regarding substances that have a high prevalence of use in student populations: e.g., alcohol and cannabis.  Ability to measure across jurisdictions.  Ability to measure the issue in a valid and reliable manner.  Indicators that are currently measured and have demonstrated reliability and validity in student surveys. 3

4. Framework for Core Indicators  Develop core indicators as minimum standard.  Timeframe of 5-7 minutes to complete.  Focus on core indicators provides balance between comparability of key substance abuse indicators and need to assess other areas of local importance.  Additional optional indicators if time and space permit.  Important areas that do not fit within the restricted timeframe of core indicators.  Assessing areas that have not been adequately addressed in past surveys. 4

5. Measuring Alcohol and Drug Use  Alcohol and Cannabis  Common description (standard measure for alcohol):  Age of first use  Frequency of use in last 12 months  Frequency of use in past month  Frequency of binge drinking in past month (alcohol only)  Other Drugs  Prevalence of use in past 12 months 5

6. Measuring Harms and Problems From Alcohol and Drug Use  Harms  Measures of impaired driving and being a passenger with an impaired driver  Moving towards measuring specific domains of harms relevant for youth 6

7. Short-Term Gains and Long-Term Goals  Short-Term Gains  Surveys are beginning to move towards core indicators developed by the group.  Discussion of measures in surveys that can be improved.  Commitment to publish a National Report on Student Drug Use.  Long-Term Goals  Continue to enhance comparability across surveys. 7