Posted on 08/08/2020 11:03:43 AM PDT by NobleFree
Newly-released data shows the majority of Colorado’s youth are participating in healthy behaviors and that marijuana use among school-aged children has not significantly changed since legalization.
The data comes from the bi-annual statewide Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) conducted last year with more than 100,000 students participating. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released the results of the survey Monday.
The survey shows marijuana use among school-aged kids has stayed relatively flat since legalization, but the way kids are using marijuana has changed. In 2019, 20.6% of youth said they use marijuana compared to 19.4% in 2017. More youth are now vaping marijuana -- 10.6% in 2019 compared to 5.1% in 2015. Dabbing rose from 4.3% in 2015 to 20.4% in 2019.
A troubling finding in the survey shows more youth are experiencing depression, but the percentage of youth who have seriously considered suicide and attempted suicide has not changed. In 2019, 34.7% of youth reported feeling so sad or hopeless, up from 31.4% in 2017 and 29.5% in 2015.
The results indicate that children experience less mental health problems and avoid unhealthy behaviors when they have access to trusted adults, a stable family life and safe schools, according CDPHE analysis of the survey results.
Other highlights of the survey include:
Tobacco use/Vaping: In Colorado, the percent of youth who vape has not significantly changed since 2015, and cigarette use is declining. In 2019, 5.7% of youth reported smoking cigarettes compared to 7.2% in 2017. In 2019, 25.9% of youth reported vaping compared to 27.0% in 2017. This is not a statistically significant change. The percent of youth who think vaping is risky rose 23.2% between 2017 and 2019
Sexual health: The percent of youth who have had sex has not significantly changed since 2015. In 2019, 24.6% of youth said they were sexually active. Of those youth, 59.4% used a condom the last time they had sex, 79.2% used birth control, and 78.5% said they didn’t use drugs or alcohol before sex.
Healthy Eating: In Colorado, sugary beverage consumption by youth is decreasing. In 2019, 14.4% of youth consumed more than one soda per day in the last week compared to 15.8% in 2017. The percent of youth who are overweight or obese has not significantly changed since 2015.
Substance use: Youth who report that they use alcohol (29.6%), marijuana (20.6%), or vape (25.9%) has not significantly changed since 2015. Cigarette use among youth has decreased from 7.2% in 2017 to 5.7% in 2019.
Protective factors: Most youth in Colorado reported having a trusted adult to go to for help. In 2019, 72.7% of youth report having a trusted adult to go to for help with a serious problem, 87.4% of youth think their family has clear rules about alcohol and drug use, and 86.2% of youth report feeling safe at school.
I wish I could have back all the money I spent on junk food because of that crap....
“We have people standing on the street waiving signs to where the local pot shot is!!”
And that shop could lose its license for selling to kids ... unlike the local dealer.
Or did my use of the word "abuse" trigger you?
Sure ... but it remains false that “This assumes that kids are telling the truth about their abuse of pot.”
I disagree.
Thanks.
It’s like smoking really good bud. One hit stoned.
You’re mistaken; if two measurements are equally biased, their difference (which is what the article is about) is unbiased.
People go in buy for the kids and give it to them.. Just like they did with liquor!
And both measurements are still biased. Put down the bong.
Irrelevant. Read the headline ... move your lips if it helps.
Did AND STILL DO with liquor. Whereas a seller of illegal marijuana will sell directly to kids with no middleman required, thus making it easier for kids to get.
Not proven! You must use pot!!
People like you make me sick. You're in a hole. But your solution is not to drag yourself out of the hole. Your solution is to drag everyone else into the hole with you.
All you are peddling is misery and death. You're little better than the dealer selling heroin to kids on the playground.
If I was running the show, you and your pothead friends would be in prison until you were clean.
No, you're sick all on your own - with your foul and baseless slanders. Your bile speaks more ill of you and your position than I ever could have.
All you can run is your mouth.
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