OWEGO, N.Y. -- Leaders in Tioga County are hoping to get a better handle on what's going on in their schools.

Nearly 1,200 students in six districts were surveyed about drinking and smoking habits, as well as opioid and heroin use.

"That data that we have collected will help them get a snapshot of what's going on in their schools. I suspect they already know but there's nothing like data to point it out," said Martha Sauerbrey, Tioga County Legislature Chair.

Questions range from how often students drink alcohol and where they get it, to if they've explored drug use, and why.

According to the statistics, drug use was higher than the national average.

"We really needed to look at what it is going on with our students now, what are they seeing, how are they feeling and not only with the use statistic, like who's using what, but also the risk factors," said Christina Olevano, Casa Trinity Prevention Supervisor.

This data hasn't been collected since 2002.

We’re told students were happy to participate.

"They want to be heard. They want us to know what's going on with them. They want us to know what they're seeing in their peers, what their concerns are," said Olevano.

The results come as the county seeks funding for its substance abuse prevention coalition.

It would be used to create more educational opportunities throughout the county as well an additional staff person to the coalition.

"We're all spread pretty thin and it's all pretty much a volunteer kind of organization, so funding is important to this coalition, even more effective than it is already,” said Sauerbrey.

The data was submitted to the state, and the county is currently awaiting word on any potential funding.