PUBLICATIONS

MONTANA METH USE & ATTITUDES SURVEY   VIEW SURVEY

The Montana Meth Project conducts the periodic Montana Meth Use & Attitudes Survey to track attitudes and behaviors related to Methamphetamine throughout the state. This research provides the foundation for the Project's messaging programs.

The research studies are conducted among three key groups in Montana—teens, young adults, and parents of teens—to gain insight into attitudes, behavior, and prevalence of drug use.

To date, three studies have been completed

• 2005 Benchmark Survey: The first Montana Meth Use & Attitudes survey was performed in August 2005 as a benchmark, prior to the launch of the Montana Meth Project's messaging campaign.
• 2006 Survey: The second survey was conducted 8-months later in March and April, 2006, following the first wave of the Project's messaging campaign.
• 2007 Survey: The third survey was conducted in December, 2006 and January, 2007, 18-months following the benchmark study to determine the level of change in attitudes and behavior since 2005.

KEY FINDINGS

Findings from the 2007 Meth Use & Attitudes Survey indicate that there have been dramatic shifts in attitudes toward Meth in past two years. Compared to the 2005 Benchmark survey, Montana teens, young adults, and parents are more aware of the dangers of taking Meth, more likely to disapprove of taking the drug, and more likely to have had parent-child discussions about the subject.

Perception of Risks & Benefits

• Teens now view Meth as more dangerous than heroin.
• Few teens of any age see a benefit in taking Meth.
• More than 80% of teens believe there are substantial risks in taking Meth.

Social Disapproval

• The majority of Montana teens (87%) now strongly disapprove of Meth use, even once or twice.
• 85% of young adults and 79% of teens now agree their friends would give them a hard time if they used Meth.

Awareness & Dialogue

• Parent-child discussions about Meth have increased.
• 96% of parents say they have discussed the subject of Meth with their teen in the past year, more than half the time TV ads prompted these conversations.
• Montana Meth Project's ads are reported by all groups as effective—7 in 10 "strongly agree" the ads show that Meth is dangerous to try just once, will make you look different than normal, will make you act in a way you would not want to, is more dangerous than they originally thought, and that Meth problems could happen in their town or school.

VIEW 2007 METH USE & ATTITUDES SURVEY