Some of the findings from the 1995 Minnesota Student Survey are very encouraging. Most students report positive feelings toward their families, teachers and other people who are important to them. Most of the students also feel genuinely good about themselves, and are involved in healthy, responsible activities and behaviors. Recent results were compared with those from 1992 and 1989. Alcohol use continued a decline noted from 1989 to 1992. The number of sexually active students declined since 1992. Vandalism and physical fighting also decreased over the past three years.
Several negative trends were also noted however. Tobacco use increased at all grade levels surveyed. The largest increase in substance use was in the use of marijuana. The prevalence of marijuana use at least once a month almost doubled for 12th graders since 1992, and tripled for 9th and 6th graders in the same period. Inhalant use and the use of LSD and other hallucinogens also increased. Rates for smoking cigarettes among Minnesota students were higher than the national average but alcohol, marijuana and other drug use prevalence rates were lower.
Survey results examining the correlates of high risk behavior among adolescents
have been very consistent over time. Many of the same factors associated with a
lower likelihood of substance abuse among adolescents are also associated with
a lower likelihood of other risk behaviors as well, specifically high-risk sexual activity and
suicide attempts. Believing that they can talk with parents about problems, that their parents
care very much about them, and that their parents' rules are fair and reasonable are all
associated with a much lower likelihood of risk behaviors among adolescents. Similarly,
positive attitudes about school and teachers, along with aspirations for college, are
associated with a lower likelihood of risk behaviors. Several environmental factors are
associated with a much higher level of risk behaviors: family violence, sexual abuse and
family alcohol or other drug problems. Adolescents with low self-esteem, serious emotional
distress, and patterns of antisocial behaviors are more likely than other students to abuse
substances, engage in unsafe sex and attempt suicide, indicating that many high-risk
students report a constellation of problem behaviors. Future reports on risk and protective
factors will provide useful information for improving prevention and early intervention efforts.For the first time, the 1995 Minnesota Student Survey incorporated a series of questions to address diagnostic criteria for substance abuse. The Department of Human Services Chemical Dependency Division plans to use this information to estimate the prevalence of substance use disorders among adolescents-and unmet treatment need-and to develop an adolescent screening instrument for health care and social service agencies serving adolescents.
Under a federal contract from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the Department of Human Services Chemical Dependency Division has administered the Minnesota Student Survey to adolescents in a variety of special settings: area learning centers and alternative schools, juvenile detention centers and corrections facilities, chemical dependency treatment programs, and residential facilities for adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems. A computerized, self-administered version of the survey was also tested with a random sample of area learning center students. Future reports will address the results of these studies.