In June 2018, the State of Tennessee launched the Tennessee Together initiative—a comprehensive state plan aimed at addressing the opioid crisis in Tennessee through expanded opioid prevention, treatment, and enforcement strategies. As part of this effort, TDMHSAS partnered with the Tennessee National Guard and community Substance Use Prevention Coalitions (SUPCs) across the state to recruit local school districts to participate in a survey of youth alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. The purpose of the survey is to inform state and local prevention planning efforts and to serve as a tool for evaluating the impact of prevention strategies aimed at reducing opioid and other alcohol and drug misuse.
The Tennessee Together Student Survey captures data on youth behaviors, attitudes, and social norms related to substance misuse, emotional wellness, and other risk behaviors among Tennessee 8th, 10th, and 12th grade public school students. The third biennial administration of the student survey was conducted during the 2022-2023 school year. The final survey sample included more than 23,000 respondents across five Behavioral Health Planning Regions, 35 counties, and 186 schools statewide. The Tennessee Together Student Survey represents the largest survey of youth behavioral health ever undertaken in the state. It fills a critical information gap by providing locally representative data that have been previously unavailable for most Tennessee counties or regions.
Click the images below for select results from the study:
