Blog Report

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Michigan Survey Shows Drop in Student Drug Use

From Grand Blanc News, Saturday July 26, 2008

The Michigan Alcohol and Other Drugs School Survey (MAOD) is a voluntary survey that collects data from eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders from more than 400 school districts across the state regarding their attitudes toward, and use of, drugs. Students were asked whether they had, in their lifetimes or in the past month, used alcohol, cigarettes, inhalants, marijuana, smokeless tobacco, amphetamines, barbituates, tranquilizers, hallucinogens, cocaine, steroids, heroin or other narcotics.

"Alcohol seems to be the drug of choice as we go through this," said Assistant Superintendent Norman Abdella, who presented the information showing that in each grade, alcohol was in the highest percentage of use. However, since 1996, when Grand Blanc began participating in the survey, drug use has dropped in almost every category.

This is the last year the MAOD survey will be given, but Abdella said the district will begin conducting its own similar survey in 2009. Abdella said the survey was "extremely voluntary and extremely confidential," which could mean that the numbers may not accurately reflect student drug use.

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