CDC National Survey: 21.7% of US High School Students Used Marijuana in the Past Month in 2015
The 2015 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 21.7% of high school students had used marijuana in the past 30 days, a rate that had not significantly changed over recent years despite other substance use declining.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System is the CDC's primary tool for monitoring health risk behaviors among US high school students. The 2015 survey covered 118 health behaviors across students in grades 9-12 nationwide and in 37 states and 19 large urban school districts.
Marijuana use stood out as stubbornly persistent. While many other risk behaviors had decreased since tracking began (including cigarette use, alcohol use, and sexual activity), the prevalence of "ever having used marijuana" had not significantly changed over time.
In the 30 days before the survey, 21.7% of students had used marijuana, compared to 32.8% who had drunk alcohol and 10.8% who had smoked cigarettes. The gap between marijuana and cigarette use continued to narrow, reflecting declining cigarette use rather than increasing marijuana use.
Key Numbers
21.7% used marijuana in past 30 days. 32.8% drank alcohol. 10.8% smoked cigarettes. 41.2% had ever had sexual intercourse. Marijuana use prevalence had not significantly changed over the tracking period. Most other risk behaviors had decreased.
How They Did This
National school-based survey conducted by the CDC using a three-stage cluster sample design to produce nationally representative estimates. The 2015 survey included results from 37 state surveys and 19 large urban school district surveys. Standard statistical methods were used to assess trends over time.
Why This Research Matters
This is the gold-standard dataset for understanding adolescent risk behaviors in the United States. The persistence of marijuana use rates while other substance use declines raises questions about whether prevention approaches for cannabis need to differ from those that have successfully reduced cigarette and alcohol use among teens.
The Bigger Picture
The YRBSS data reveals a shifting landscape where marijuana has become relatively more prominent among adolescent substance use as other substances decline. This has implications for school-based prevention programs, which may need to allocate more attention to marijuana-specific messaging.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
School-based surveys miss students who are absent, dropped out, or homeschooled. Self-reported data in school settings may be affected by social desirability. The survey captures prevalence but not frequency, quantity, or potency of use.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why has marijuana use remained stable while cigarette and alcohol use have declined?
- ?Would cannabis-specific prevention strategies be more effective than general substance use programs?
- ?How has legalization in some states affected these trends?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 21.7% of US high school students used marijuana in the past 30 days
- Evidence Grade:
- National CDC surveillance system with representative sampling and rigorous methodology. One of the most authoritative data sources on adolescent behavior.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2016 with 2015 data. More recent YRBSS surveys have captured the effects of vaping, legalization, and COVID-19 on youth substance use.
- Original Title:
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2015.
- Published In:
- Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries (Washington, D.C. : 2002), 65(6), 1-174 (2016)
- Authors:
- Kann, Laura(2), McManus, Tim(2), Harris, William A(2), Shanklin, Shari L, Flint, Katherine H, Hawkins, Joseph, Queen, Barbara, Lowry, Richard, Olsen, Emily O'Malley, Chyen, David, Whittle, Lisa, Thornton, Jemekia, Lim, Connie, Yamakawa, Yoshimi, Brener, Nancy, Zaza, Stephanie
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01191
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How many high school students use marijuana?
In 2015, 21.7% of US high school students had used marijuana in the past 30 days, making it the most commonly used illicit substance among teens.
Is teen marijuana use increasing?
As of 2015, marijuana use among high school students had not significantly changed over the tracking period, unlike cigarette use (which declined) and alcohol use (which also declined).
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01191APA
Kann, Laura; McManus, Tim; Harris, William A; Shanklin, Shari L; Flint, Katherine H; Hawkins, Joseph; Queen, Barbara; Lowry, Richard; Olsen, Emily O'Malley; Chyen, David; Whittle, Lisa; Thornton, Jemekia; Lim, Connie; Yamakawa, Yoshimi; Brener, Nancy; Zaza, Stephanie. (2016). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2015.. Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries (Washington, D.C. : 2002), 65(6), 1-174. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6506a1
MLA
Kann, Laura, et al. "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2015.." Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries (Washington, 2016. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6506a1
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2015." RTHC-01191. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kann-2016-youth-risk-behavior-surveillance
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.