The Youth Drug Survey:
Parent Guide
The Youth Drug Survey fuels prevention efforts in your community to help reduce youth substance use.
What is the YDS?
The YDS is a school-based survey sponsored by the Center for Prevention Services in Charlotte, NC, since 1972. The survey assesses youth use of, perceptions of, and attitudes toward tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs, marijuana, and other substances. The survey provides critical data to help guide targeted prevention efforts and programming to reduce youth substance use in your community.
Why Your Child is Participating
If your child’s school has elected to participate in the YDS, you will receive information about how your child may participate. Participation is encouraged so that the survey results provide accurate and representative information about youth substance use in your community.
Participation in the YDS is always voluntary. Parents may opt their child out of participation at any time, and students may also choose not to participate.
Protecting Privacy
This survey is anonymous. While the survey does include some questions that could indirectly identify your child, no individual student responses are shared publicly. In addition, no information will be shared with law enforcement (except when mandated by law/court order) or your child’s school. No school or student will be mentioned by name in survey reports.
Data-driven prevention efforts are reducing substance use.
The YDS provides a comprehensive picture of youth substance use at the local level. Recent surveys indicate that trends on youth use of cigarettes and alcohol are in decline, indicating that prevention can be an effective tool to reduce youth substance use.
