In fall 2006, Collin College administered its sixth Drug Awareness Perception Survey. This survey is administered every two years to comply with the US Department of Education Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act to determine the effectiveness of Collin College’s drug prevention policies. For the first time, the survey was administered electronically to all sampled students. In addition, for the first time, questions were added to the survey seeking information about respondents’ actual drug and alcohol use.

Overall, there is an increase in the awareness among students about the resources offered by Collin College related to substance use.  Following are some finding from the survey.

• Seventy one percent of males and 67 percent of females read the mailout regarding Collin’s Drug policies; the percentage is 22 points higher for males and 10 points higher for females compared to 2004 survey.        

• Higher percentages of females than males consider drugs “extremely dangerous.”

• Younger respondents consider drugs, alcohol, tobacco, use of un-prescribed prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs as less dangerous compared to older respondents. The 18-22 year old age group consider them least dangerous when compared to the other age groups.

• Respondent’s perceptions about the incidence of alcohol and drug consumption by Collin’s student body indicate that they perceive alcohol as the most consumed substance followed by tobacco, and marijuana.  Heroin is perceived as the least consumed of all the listed substances.

• Respondents perceive “Stress relief” (40 percent) as the primary reason for drug use followed by the belief that “everyone does it” (30 percent) and some “other” reasons (24 percent) which included “fun” and “lack of self discipline/knowledge.” 

• Perceptions indicate the primary reason for alcohol use is “Everyone does it” (51 percent), followed by  “stress relief” (29 percent) and “family history” (14 percent). Some “Other” reasons included drinking for “fun” and for “socialization.”

• Again, respondents indicate that “Stress relief” (48 percent) is the primary reason for tobacco use followed by the belief that “everyone does it” (27 percent) and “family history” (14 percent). The “Other” reason cited was “addiction.”

• Seventy-five percent of the respondents associate alcohol and drug use with “traffic accidents,” 65 percent with “suicide,” 62 percent with “sexual assault” and “poor academic performance,” and 46 percent with “personal injuries.”

• A high percentage of the respondents indicated they had never used heroin (97 percent), LSD (98 percent), speed (95 percent), ecstasy (93 percent,) and cocaine (91 percent) within the last year*.

• Twenty-three percent of the respondents did not drink within the last year*, nine percent tried it once, 23 percent drink less than 6 times a year, 12 percent once a month, 16 percent 2-3 times a month, 9 percent once a week, 7 percent more than once a week, and one percent reported drinking daily. One percent did not want to answer the question¹.

• Seventy-seven percent of the respondents did not use marijuana within last year*, 6 percent tried it once, 6 percent used it less than 6 times a year, 2 percent once a month, 1 percent 2-3 times a month, 2 percent once a week, 2 percent more than once a week, and 3 percent daily. One percent did not answer the question. 

* Last year refers to year prior to the survey.

¹ Percentages do not add to hundred because of rounding.

Source:  Drug Awareness and Perception Survey 2006.

For questions or comments, contact Nasreen Ahmad at  972.758.3810.