Data Collection: Outcome Measures
SAPCA relies on a variety of community assessments and surveys to guide our work to prevent and reduce youth substance use. SAPCA tracks the following four outcome measures:
Past 30 day use
The percentage of youth who report using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or prescription drugs at least once in the 30 days immediately preceding the survey date.
Perception of Risk
The percentage of youth who think there is moderate or great risk in binge drinking, smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day, smoking marijuana once or twice a week, or using prescription drugs not prescribed to them.
Perception of Parental Disapproval
The percentage of youth who report that their parents feel regular use of alcohol is wrong or very
wrong, and report that their parents feel any use of cigarettes, marijuana, or unprescribed prescription drugs is wrong.
Perception of Peer Disapproval
The percentage of youth who report that their friends feel regular use of alcohol is wrong or very wrong, and report that their parents feel any use of cigarettes, marijuana, or unprescribed prescription drugs is wrong.
This information can be found in two surveys conducted in Alexandria Middle and High Schools: The Search Institute’s Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors Survey and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey.
The Search Institute’s Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors Survey
This survey provides information abut:
- Measures of the 40 Developmental Assets
- Eight indicators of thriving
- Risk behaviors and high-risk behavior patterns
- Deficit measures
- Four Core Measures data required of Drug Free Community grantees
Want to learn more about Developmental Assets? Check out the presentation from our community workshop, Accelerating Assets in Alexandria, hosted on February 8, 2017.
Results from the Profiles of Student Life Survey (Developmental Assets)
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey
This survey monitors six types of health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults, including:
- Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence
- Sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection
- Alcohol and other drug use
- Tobacco use
- Unhealthy dietary behaviors
- Inadequate physical activity