Local and national studies have shown that some drugs are abused more frequently than others. In Rock County, alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs have the highest rates of abuse.

In the fall of 2009 Partners in Prevention administered the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) tool in six Rock County school districts. Here is a sampling of some answers provdied by middle and high school students.

A sampling of the information available: Middle School

• 12.5% (268)of students had at least one drink of alcohol during the past 30 days
• 31% (665) of students rode in a car driven by someone who had been drinking
• 5.3% (114) have smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days
• 5.5% (118)of students have had 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row (binge drinking) during the past 30 days
• 4.3% (92) of students have used marijuana in the past 30 days
• 7% (147) of students that have ever used a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription
• 8% (172) of students who have in the past 12 months offered, sold or given an illegal drug on school property

A sampling of the information available: High School

• 45.6% (1287) of students reported that they have had sexual intercourse.
• 3.4% (96) of students reported using heroin at least once in their life.
• 6.5% (183) of students reported using ecstasy at least once in their life.
• 17.4% (491) of students reported being offered, sold or given an illegal drug on school property during the last 12 months.
• 11.7% (330) of students have taken an over-the-counter drug to get high.
• 3.8% (107) of students reported using any form of cocaine, including powder, crack, or freebase during the past 30 days.
• 21.5% (607) of students reported using marijuana during the past 30 days.
• 13% (367) of students drove a car or other vehicle when they had been smoking marijuana during the last 30 days.
• 44.6% (1259) of students reported having at least one drink of alcohol during the past 30 days.
• 28.5% (804) of students reported having 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row (binge drinking) during the past 30 days.
• 41.9% (601) of female students have been asked to send or post a sexually explicit photo of themselves
• 13.1% (370) of students smoked at least one cigarette every day for 30 days.
• 13% (367) of students have used chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip during the past 30 days.
• 23% (649) of students have ever used a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription