The 2013 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey asked students questions about substance use and perceptions surrounding substance use. The following are three tables summarizing the major finding for the 2013 survey year. The tables include the measures and a comparison to the 2011 prevalence. These are only summary tables, for a full report please go to: http://healthvermont.gov/research/yrbs/2013/index.aspx
Table Key
or 
shows improvement
or 
shows worsening
shows no change
Table 1. High school students alcohol and marijuana use and perceptions, a side by side comparison.
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High School Alcohol Use |
Compared to 2011 |
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High School Marijuana Use |
Compared to 2011 |
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59% ever drank alcohol |
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39% ever used marijuana |
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33% drank alcohol in the past 30 days |
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24% used marijuana in the past 30 days |
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19% binge drank (five or more drinks within a few hours) in the past 30 days |
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11% used marijuana 10 or more times in the past 30 days |
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14% drank before age 13 |
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7% used marijuana before age 13 |
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High School Alcohol Perceptions |
Compared to 2011 |
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High School Marijuana Perceptions |
Compared to 2011 |
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74% think their parents would think it is wrong or very wrong for them to drink alcohol |
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82% think their parents would think it is wrong or very wrong form them to smoke marijuana | |
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38% think having five or more drinks of alcohol once or twice each weekend poses great risk of harm to people their age |
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31% think that students their age are at great risk of harm if they smoke marijuana regularly |
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49% think it would be wrong or very wrong for someone their age to drink alcohol |
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57% of students think it is wrong or very wrong for students their age to smoke marijuana |
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72% think it would be easy or very easy to get alcohol
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63% think it would be easy or very easy to get marijuana | |
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27% thought it was likely or very likely that a party they were at with peers who were drinking would be broken up by police |
New in 2013 |
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Table 2. High school students drug use.
|
High School Drug Use |
Compared to 2011 |
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13% ever misused a prescription drug without a prescription |
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7% ever misused a prescription stimulant |
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11% ever misused a prescription pain reliever |
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7% misused a prescription drug without a prescription within the past 30 days |
New in 2013 |
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2% ever used heroin |
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| 5% ever used cocaine |
New in 2011 |
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9% ever used hallucinogens |
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| 7% ever used inhalants |
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3% ever used methamphetamines |
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18% were offered, sold, or given an illegal drug on school property during the past 12 months |
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Summary of High School Findings
In 2013, high school students reported decreased prevalence of alcohol use compared to 2011. There was no change in the prevalence of marijuana use compared to 2011. Perceptions surrounding alcohol use improved in 2013 compared to 2011. However, perceptions surrounding marijuana use remained constant or worsened in 2013 compared to 2011.
Prescription pain reliever misuse and inhalant use decreased in 2013 compared to 2011. Other drug use among high school students was fairly stable.
Table 3. Middle school students alcohol and marijuana use and perceptions, a side by side comparison.
|
Middle School Alcohol Use |
Compared to 2011 |
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Middle School Marijuana Use |
Compared to 2011 |
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18% ever drank alcohol, other than a few sips |
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6% ever used marijuana |
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7% of students reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days |
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3% smoked marijuana in the past 30 days |
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2% binge drank (five or more drinks within a few hours) in the past 30 days |
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1% smoked marijuana 10 or more times in the past 30 days |
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7% drank alcohol other than a few sips before age 11 |
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1% used marijuana before age 11 |
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Middle School Alcohol Perception |
Compared to 2011 |
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Middle School Marijuana Perception |
Compared to 2011 |
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91% think their parents would think it is wrong or very wrong for them to drink alcohol |
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95% think their parents would think it is wrong or very wrong for them to smoke marijuana |
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51% think kids their age risk great harm from having five or more drinks once or twice each weekend |
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64% think kids their age risk great harm from smoking marijuana regularly |
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88% think it is wrong or very wrong for kids their age to drink alcohol |
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92% think it is wrong or very wrong for kids their age to smoke marijuana |
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38% perceive that alcohol is easy to obtain |
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14% perceive that marijuana is easy to obtain |
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Summary of Middle School Findings
In 2013 middle school students reported decreased prevalence of alcohol use. There was no change in marijuana use prevalence. Middle school students reported a lower perceived risk of harm for both alcohol and marijuana use, at the same time reporting a lower ease of access to both.
Section Pages
VADIC provides communities with informational resources pertaining to substance abuse and at-risk issues. VADIC is a grant-funded program, and its services are free for Vermonters. www.vadic.org
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