CORE Alcohol and Drug Use Survey

            The CORE Drug and Alcohol Use Survey was developed to measure alcohol and other drug usage, attitudes, and perceptions among university students at two and four year institutions.  Students attitudes, perceptions, and opinions about alcohol and other drugs, their own use and the consequences of use, as well as demographic and background characteristics are measured.

            We have administered the CORE biennially since 1992.  We randomly select classes in which to administer the 20 minute survey, surveying 700 students to obtain a statistically relevant sample.  Having these statistics helps us to plan needed substance abuse prevention activities and guides our alcohol and other drug education programming.  The data has also been very valuable in helping us to obtain a significant grant in the past. 

            The data is processed and returned to PSU in the form of an "Executive Report" with a summary of the results and how PSU data compares to a "reference group" made up of other colleges around the USA who have also taken the survey.  We are also sent the raw data for our own use.

            A statewide committee, the NH Higher Education Alcohol and Other Drug Committee, is made up of myself along with other representatives from NH Colleges and Universities who engage in AOTD prevention activities.  The Committee has developed a survey, similar to the CORE that was administered on five New Hampshire campuses in the Spring of 2001.  We plan to administer this survey again in February of this year but it is not certain at this time that PSU will participate due to the high number of surveys that are already scheduled this year.  The data from the NH survey gives a basis of comparison with other NH colleges as a reference group, and provides a basis for coordinated prevention practices, support and the sharing of resources among NH Colleges and Universities

            In addition to aiding our program planning, we have been able to use the information to obtain many positive messages that are used as part of PSU's Social Norm prevention program.  Research is showing that abusive drinking and drugging patterns are changed most effectively through the use of messages that show that the majority of kids are engaging in healthy behaviors, and have attitudes that reflect these behaviors.

Nancy Dyer, ATOD Prevention Coordinator

October 3, 2002