California Student Survey

Three Major Findings from the 11th California Student Survery

First, California students' overall use of drugs and alcohol is leveling off; however, there is a slight increase in 7th graders' substance use, which the CSS will be monitoring.

Second, CSS findings from a new question on prescription painkillers show a significant number of students are taking them to get high: 15 percent of 11th graders, 9 percent of 9th and 4 percent of 7th graders reported they took the painkillers without a doctor's orders. These results place diverted prescription drugs as the third most commonly used substance by students, after alcohol and marijuana.

Third, the heavy use of drugs and alcohol -- an example is binge drinking -- is still at unacceptably high levels. Thirty-two percent of 11th graders are heavy users of alcohol and drugs -- that is basically the same finding from the previous survey in 2003-04. Their numbers have remained relatively unchanged for the last 15 years that the survey has been reporting on heavy use.Read the complete report at SafeState.org