Data Source: Minnesota Student Survey (MSS)

Description: The MSS is a confidential and anonymous self-administered survey given to students attending Minnesota public, charter and tribal schools. From 1995 to 2010, the survey was administered to students in 6th, 9th, and 12th grades. New in 2013, the survey was administered to students in 5th, 8th, 9th, and 11th grades. Trend data are now only available for 9th graders, and only for survey questions that did not change. Most schools elect to participate in the survey; in 2013, this included 84% of public schools in Minnesota.

Although the data are not presented here, the survey is also administered to area learning centers, juvenile correction facilities and private schools electing to participate.

Sponsored by: Minnesota Department of Education

Geographic Level: State, Region, and County

Aggregated data at the state and county level do not reveal disparities that may exist within a given geographic area.

Frequency: Data collected and reported every three years

Characteristics: The results of the MSS are also available at a county level. Data Privacy requirements mandate that data is presented in a manner such that no individual student can be identified through the presentation of the results. As part of the Data Privacy practices, the results are also presented in a manner that no individual school district could be identified through the results. Therefore, for counties that have only one school district, the results are not presented. Results are also withheld for counties in which the minimum number for student participation was not met.

The MSS is a “census” of schools, not a sample. The school districts get their own data. Fifth-graders were not asked all substance use questions. Some school districts do not participate, and student participation within the school district can vary widely. These data are self-reported.

Data Source: Minnesota Survey of Adult Substance Use (MNSASU)

Description: The Minnesota Survey on Adult Substance Use is conducted to obtain current estimates of the number of adults in the general population in Minnesota who are abusing or dependent on alcohol or other drugs and are in need of treatment. The prevalence of substance abuse and dependence and need for treatment were assessed for the total population, and by region, race and ethnicity, gender, age group, and sexual orientation.  The population for this survey included Minnesota residents 18 years of age or older and non-institutionalized.

Sponsored by: Minnesota Department of Human Services, Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement

Geographic Level: State, Region. 

Frequency: The most recent survey was conducted in 2015; previous surveys were conducted in 2010 and 2004.

Characteristics: The sample was stratified by region, and African Americans, American Indians, Latinos, Hmong and other Asian Americans were over-sampled to ensure adequate numbers of respondents to provide reliable estimates for these sub-groups. The survey instrument included demographic information, diagnostic measures of abuse of and dependence on alcohol or drugs, use of treatment services, depression, serious mental illness and body weight. These data are self-reported.