Overall, DADS data show high levels of drug involvement on the part last spring's high school seniors. In contrast, data from young people who were freshman in the spring of 2000 show significant declines from previous 9th grade classes for marijuana and alcohol abuse. Among 7th grade students there was very little change from previous years. Daily marijuana use was reported by 7 percent of the high school seniors. DADS is administered through participating school districts.
Students respond anonymously and on a voluntary basis.
Any school district in the Miami Valley area may participate at no charge. Districts choose which grade levels they want to survey between grades 7 and 12. DADS began as an annual survey in 1990 and has been conducted biennially since 1994. DADS is a cross-sectional study that provides estimates of youthful drug use at one point in time. The same schools do not always participate in the study.