National youth health survey: 23% of US high schoolers used marijuana in the past month
The 2013 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 23.4% of US high school students had used marijuana in the past 30 days, while marijuana lifetime use prevalence had not changed over the monitoring period.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, covering 104 health-risk behaviors among US high school students, found that 23.4% had used marijuana during the 30 days before the survey. Other key substance use findings: 34.9% had drunk alcohol and 15.7% had smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days.
Long-term trend analysis showed that while many risky behaviors had decreased since monitoring began (physical fighting, cigarette use, sexual activity), marijuana lifetime use prevalence had not changed. The survey also found that 8.0% had attempted suicide in the past year and 19.6% had been bullied at school.
Data were available at national, state, and large urban school district levels, providing a comprehensive picture of youth health behavior.
Key Numbers
23.4% past 30-day marijuana use. 34.9% past 30-day alcohol use. 15.7% past 30-day cigarette smoking. 8.0% attempted suicide. 46.8% ever had sexual intercourse. 14.8% cyberbullied. Data from 42 states, 21 urban districts.
How They Did This
National school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey administered in 2013 across the United States, with additional state-level surveys (42 states) and large urban school district surveys (21 districts). Representative sampling of students in grades 9-12.
Why This Research Matters
The YRBSS is the gold standard for monitoring youth health behaviors in the United States. The finding that marijuana use prevalence has remained stable while cigarette use declined suggests different factors drive each behavior and that cigarette prevention strategies have not transferred to marijuana.
The Bigger Picture
This comprehensive surveillance system provides the baseline data against which all youth substance use trends are measured. The divergence between declining cigarette use and stable marijuana use challenges assumptions that reducing one substance automatically reduces others.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported data collected in school settings. Students absent on survey day and out-of-school youth are missed. Social desirability bias may affect responses on sensitive topics. Response rates varied across jurisdictions.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why has marijuana use not declined alongside cigarette use?
- ?Have marijuana use rates changed since 2013, particularly with state legalization trends?
- ?Are school-based surveys capturing the full picture of youth substance use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 23.4% of US high schoolers used marijuana in the past month (2013)
- Evidence Grade:
- National surveillance system with representative sampling, the gold standard for youth health behavior monitoring.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2014 with 2013 data. The YRBSS continues to be conducted biennially.
- Original Title:
- Youth risk behavior surveillance--United States, 2013.
- Published In:
- MMWR supplements, 63(4), 1-168 (2014)
- Authors:
- Kann, Laura(2), Kinchen, Steve, Shanklin, Shari L(2), Flint, Katherine H, Kawkins, Joseph, Harris, William A, Lowry, Richard, Olsen, Emily O'Malley, McManus, Tim, Chyen, David, Whittle, Lisa, Taylor, Eboni, Demissie, Zewditu, Brener, Nancy, Thornton, Jemekia, Moore, John, Zaza, Stephanie
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00815
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is marijuana use among high school students?
The 2013 national survey found 23.4% of US high school students had used marijuana in the past 30 days. Lifetime use prevalence had not changed over the survey monitoring period.
Is marijuana more common than cigarettes among teens?
In the 2013 data, past 30-day marijuana use (23.4%) exceeded past 30-day cigarette smoking (15.7%). Cigarette use had declined significantly over time while marijuana use remained stable.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00815APA
Kann, Laura; Kinchen, Steve; Shanklin, Shari L; Flint, Katherine H; Kawkins, Joseph; Harris, William A; Lowry, Richard; Olsen, Emily O'Malley; McManus, Tim; Chyen, David; Whittle, Lisa; Taylor, Eboni; Demissie, Zewditu; Brener, Nancy; Thornton, Jemekia; Moore, John; Zaza, Stephanie. (2014). Youth risk behavior surveillance--United States, 2013.. MMWR supplements, 63(4), 1-168.
MLA
Kann, Laura, et al. "Youth risk behavior surveillance--United States, 2013.." MMWR supplements, 2014.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Youth risk behavior surveillance--United States, 2013." RTHC-00815. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kann-2014-youth-risk-behavior-surveillanceunited
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.