The CORE Drug and Alcohol Survey was developed in the late 1980s by the US Department of Education and advisors from several universities and colleges. The survey is used by universities and colleges to determine the extent of substance use and abuse on their campuses. The survey is now administered by the CORE Institute at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale (SIUC).

The CORE survey is given to students and asks general demographic information as well as the following:

• on- or off- campus residence
• grade point average
• attitude towards alcohol or drugs at parties
• knowledge about campus alcohol and drug policies
• weekly alcohol consumption
• binge drinking frequency
• age of first use of tobacco, alcohol, and several specific kinds of drugs
• frequency of use of tobacco, alcohol, and several specific kinds of drugs over the last year, and the last month
• perception of tobacoo, alcoholc and drug use by "the average student" on campus
• location of the student's own tobacoo, alcohol and drug use
• if any family members have had a substance abuse problem
• frequency of ill effects from drinking or drug use over the past year, including hangovers, trouble at school or with the law, and trouble stopping use
• frequency and type of volunteer work
• frequency and type of campus group activities
• whether the student has experienced some kind harassment or violence in the last year, and whether drugs or alcohol were involved
• perception of how friends would feel about the student's use of tobacoo, alcohol, or drugs
• belief about whether alcohol has any of several positive effects
• perception of importance of alcohol to campus groups (male/female, fraternities, etc.)
• perception of campus enviroment with regards to alcohol, drugs, and personal safety
• perception of alcohol use on student's campus compared with other schools
• availabiltiy and desirability of substance-free campus housing
• perception of other students' concern about several safety issues
• changes in alcohol and drug consumption over the last year
• beliefs about harmfulness of drugs or alcohol
• pattern of combining alcohol or drugs, and sexual behavior
• perception of positive environment on campus
• whether others' drinking interferes with the student's life in any of several ways