Assessing problematic drug use in teenagers through school-based survey research

In 2008, 11th and 12th grade students (n=3974) from 16 high schools in the Dayton, Ohio, area responded anonymously to a 73-item drug survey that included CRAFFT, a screen for problematic substance use among adolescents. Regression analyses were used to test the association between CRAFFT scores, which could range from 0-6, with scores of 2-3 suggesting drug abuse and scores ≥ 4 suggesting dependence, and lifetime drug use (ever/never), number of drugs ever used, and number of drugs currently used (at least once within 30 days before the survey). Problematic drug use was common with 22.5% of the students scoring 2-3, and 14.1% scoring 4-6. Getting drunk on alcohol was by far the most common drug use practice for students who reported lifetime use of any drug, regardless of CRAFFT score. Among students with scores ≥ 4, 75% reported recent drunkenness, 52% were current cigarette smokers, 57% reported current marijuana use, and 26% were current users of benzodiazepines. These students reported having used, on average, 6.5 drugs during their lifetimes and 3.5 drugs currently. Higher CRAFFT scores were associated with higher numbers of drugs ever used (p < 0.0001) and higher numbers of drugs currently used (p < 0.0001). The majority of students with CRAFFT scores of 0 had never used any drug. The results showed that more than one-third of the students surveyed were at very high risk for substance abuse and dependence. Using CRAFFT alone or in combination with school-based surveys may help inform prevention and intervention programming.