Basic Community Assessment for Chemical Health

Questions:

  • Do we have chemical health problems in our community?
  • What does chemical use cost our community?

To carry out a basic chemical health assessment in your community, here are some county and community-level data that you may want to collect:

YOUTH CHEMICAL USE

Indicator
Protective Factor (PF)
County Data
State/National Data
Alcohol used in the past 30 days
MN Student Survey*
Monitoring the Future Survey*
Daily or weekly tobacco use: smoking and/or chewing
MN Student Survey*
Monitoring the Future Survey*
Marijuana use in the past 30 days
MN Student Survey*
Monitoring the Future Survey*
Other illicit drug use in the past 30 days
MN Student Survey*
Monitoring the Future Survey*
Where youth get tobacco and alcohol products
MN Student Survey*
Exposure of youth and others to tobacco / alcohol advertising and promotions
Percent of youth who report no alcohol or other drug problem in their family
PF*
MN Student Survey*
Reasons for not using alcohol or other drugs
PF*
MN Student Survey*
Frequency of drinking 5+ drinks in a row in past two weeks
MN Student Survey*
Monitoring the Future Survey*
Youth drinking and driving
MN Student Survey*
Youth riding with drinker
MN Student Survey*

*PF: Protective factors are conditions within individuals, families, organizations and communities that reduce the risk of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-related problems.

*Minnesota Student Survey www.mnschoolhealth.com/data.html

The Minnesota Student Survey contains county-level data on many protective factors for students.
Examples include:

  • Unfavorable attitudes towards use of alcohol and other drugs
  • Feel cared about at school
  • Friends don't use alcohol or other drugs
  • Family rules and standards exist
  • Can talk to parents about problems
  • Parents don't use alcohol or other drugs
  • Family support: respect, care, privacy, and understanding
  • Youth who volunteer
  • How alcohol and tobacco are obtained

*Monitoring the Future Survey www.monitoringthefuture.org

ADULT CHEMICAL USE

Indicator
Protective Factor (PF)*
County Data
State/National Data
Community Data Needs Collection
Percent at risk for smoking  
BRFSS*
BRFSS*
Percent at risk for acute drinking - consuming 5+ drinks at one time at least once in the past month  
BRFSS*
BRFSS*
Percent at risk for chronic drinking - consuming an average of 60 or more alcoholic drinks in the past month  
BRFSS*
BRFSS*
Illicit Drug Use, 1996  
MN Household Survey, 1996*
National Household Survey, 1996
Non-smoker exposure to Environmental Fact Sheet, Tobacco Smoke, ETS  
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Facts [LINK]
Drinking and Driving (Youth and Adult)
Percent of adults at risk for drinking and driving		  
BRFSS*
BRFSS*
Alcohol-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities  
Dept. of Public Safety*
Driving While Impaired (DWI) Violation  
Dept. of Public Safety*

*PF-Protective factors are conditions within individuals, families, organizations and communities that reduce the risk of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-related problems.

*BRFSS-Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
National-http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/brfss
Minnesota-

*Minnesota Household Survey
www.samhsa.gov/oas/nhsda/pe1996/httoc.htm

*Department of Public Safety
www.dps.state.mn.us

Community Health Check Main Page

Chemical Health Community Health Promotion Guide Main Page

Community Health Promotion Guide Main Page



See also > Center for Health Promotion > Health Promotion and Chronic Disease