Data collected from Colorado students shows that approximately half of the state’s high school students, and less than half of the state’s middle school students had a conversation with their parents about alcohol in the past year. That’s one of multiple findings that shows why it’s important for Colorado parents to Speak Now about the dangers of teen drinking.
Every other year the state of Colorado administers the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) in high schools (Grades 9-12) throughout the state. In 2011, a middle school version of the survey (Grades 6-8) was also administered for the first time in Colorado, and provides important information about substance use and other health behaviors among younger students in our state. This survey is administered while the students are in school and asks Colorado students about their current attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors regarding health and well being. The state survey effort is supported by the Colorado Departments of Education, Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health, and Public Health and Environment.
View/Download an overview of HKCS 2011 findings
The latest survey in 2011 was administered by OMNI Institute. A total of 1,523 students at 33 high schools and 1,614 students in 33 middle schools participated in the HKCS. The results for these surveys were statistically adjusted to represent the population of Colorado high school and middle school students statewide. This means that these data are a representative sample, and can be interpreted as a snapshot of all public high school and middle school students in Colorado for the following topics:
- Trends in Teen Substance Use (2005, 2009, 2011 HKCS HS)
- Middle School Substance Use (2011 HKCS MS)
- Trends in Teen Alcohol Use (2005, 2009, 2011 HKCS HS)
- Teen Alcohol Use (2011 HKCS MS & HS)
- Alcohol Access (2011 HKCS MS & HS)
- Social Norms (2011 HKCS MS & HS)
- Teen Perception of Alcohol Risk (2011 HKCS MS & HS)
- Parent Communication (2011 HKCS MS & HS)
- Vehicular Safety Risk Behaviors (2011 HKCS HS)
Data from the 2011 administration are available as of April 1, 2012. As additional analyses are conducted, updated information will be available on this website.
Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is also available on a national level to examine Colorado regions. The NSDUH survey collects data differently by using in-person interviewing, which means that the data collected reaches different groups of youth ages 12-17. The survey can be administered, for example, in the youth’s home. Find Colorado regional results on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
Trends in Teen Substance Use (2005, 2009, 2011 HKCS HS)
High school students are asked on the HKCS to report if they have ever tried a number of different substances. Results from the 2011 survey indicate that alcohol is most commonly reported substance among Colorado high school youth, followed by marijuana and prescription drugs. Data presented in the graph below also show important changes in substance use over time. The prevalence of lifetime alcohol use (ever trying) has decreased over the past several years, whereas use of ecstasy and heroin has increased since 2005. Although these increases are concerning, the percentage of students engaging in these behaviors is small compared to the percentage reporting alcohol or marijuana use.
*Please note: Prescription Drug use questions were not asked in 2005 or 2009 on HKCS
Middle School Substance Use (HKCS 2011 MS)
Similar to high school students, alcohol was the most commonly reported substance among Colorado middle school youth. After alcohol, middle school students most commonly reported use of cigarettes and inhalants.
Trends in Teen Alcohol Use (2005, 2009, 2011 HKCS HS)
Comparison of the 2011 high school results to prior years (2005 and 2009) show that alcohol use among high school students is declining. The prevalence of lifetime alcohol use (ever trying alcohol), as well as current alcohol use (drinking in the past 30 days) and binge drinking (drinking five or more drinks in the past 30 days) was significantly lower in 2011 compared to prior years.
Although alcohol use has declined over the past several years, alcohol is still the most commonly used substance for both high school and middle school students. The sections below show data from the 2011 HKCS survey for both middle and high school students.
Teen Alcohol Use (2011 HKCS MS & HS)
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance for both middle school and high school students.
In 2011, a total of 22% of Colorado middle school students reported they had consumed an alcoholic beverage in their life, while 6% reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days. There were no differences in alcohol use between males and females; however, there were differences between Hispanic/Latino students and non-Hispanic White students. Hispanic/Latino students were more likely to report using alcohol.
*Please note:
Only two race/ ethnicity groups are available due to sample size – other groups have too few students to present reliable estimates. When looking at substance use by gender and ethnicity, it allows a better understanding of patterns in risk behaviors
A much higher percentage of high school students reported using alcohol, suggesting that alcohol prevention efforts should start early. In 2011, 65.5% of high school students reported they had consumed an alcoholic beverage in their life, while 36% reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days.
*Please note:
Only two race/ ethnicity groups are available due to sample size – other groups have too few students to present reliable estimates. When looking at substance use by gender and ethnicity, it allows a better understanding of patterns in risk behaviors
Alcohol Access (2011 HKCS MS & HS)
Just over one-third (34%) of middle school students and close to two-thirds (60.4%) of high- school students reported that it would be “sort of easy” or “very easy” for them to get beer, wine or hard liquor if they wanted it. Research has shown that easy access to alcohol increases the likelihood of youth drinking.
Social Norms (2011 HKCS MS & HS)
A total of 86% of middle school students and 61% of high school students reported that it was “wrong” or “very wrong” for someone their age to drink beer, wine or hard liquor regularly. Attitudes toward alcohol predict alcohol use. Social norms of peers, parents and community members help to shape youth behavior. For example, students who think it is wrong or very wrong for their peers to drink alcohol are less likely to drink alcohol themselves. A higher percentage (95% of middle school students and 82% of high school students) thought that their parents would think it was “wrong” or “very wrong” for them to drink alcohol regularly.
Student perceptions about alcohol use were far greater than reality. Among middle school students, 38% of students thought that a typical student drank in the past 30 days compared to only 6% who reported actual alcohol use in the past 30 days. Additionally, 29% of students thought that a typical student engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days, compared to 4% that reported actual binge use.
Inflated perceptions of alcohol use was also a pattern for high school students. A total of 77% of high school students thought that a typical student drank in the past 30 days, yet 36% of students reported actually drinking in the past 30 days. Additionally, 70% of students thought that a typical student engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days, compared to 22% that reported actual binge use. These data suggest that actual teen alcohol use is significantly less common than most teens believe.
Teen Perception of Alcohol Risk (2011 HKCS MS & HS)
A total of 32% of middle school students reported that there was “slight risk” or “no risk” in binge drinking (consuming 5 or more drinks in one sitting). A slightly higher percentage of middle school students reported that there was “slight risk” or “no risk” in daily drinking. Among high school students, 29% reported that there was “slight risk” or “no risk” in binge drinking, while 28% reported that there was “slight risk” or “no risk” in daily drinking.
Parent Communication (2011 HKCS)
Students were asked about their communication with their parents about substance use. Less than half (45%) of middle school students, and slightly more than half (51%) of high school students reported they spoke with a parent in the last year about drug and alcohol use.
Vehicular Safety and Risk Behaviors (2011 HKCS HS)
Students were asked if they had ever ridden in a car with a driver who had been drinking alcohol or using marijuana, or if they had driven a car themselves after using alcohol or marijuana. Among Colorado high school students, more than 20% reported riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol or using marijuana. Approximately 6% of high school students reported driving after drinking, and 11% of students reported driving after using marijuana.
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
The most recent available data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) indicates teen alcohol use is a common problem in Colorado and nationwide.
The NSDUH surveys more than 200,000 youth age 12 and older in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The data below represents a three year average from 2006-2008 at the state and regional levels. Data is averaged across multiple years to improve accuracy.
Each region includes multiple Colorado counties, except for Region 7 which is limited to Boulder County.
Source:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies (2010). Substate estimates from the 2006-2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD.
Perception of Risk
| Perceptions of Great Risk of Having Five or More Drinks of an Alcoholic Beverage Once or Twice a Week (Ages 12-17) |
|
|---|---|
| United States | 38.7% |
| Colorado | 36.0% |
| Region 1 | 33.5% |
| Regions 2 and 7 | 36.5% |
| Region 3 | 36.9% |
| Region 4 | * |
| Regions 5 and 6 | 34.2% |
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies (2010). Substate estimates from the 2006-2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD
30-day Alcohol Use
| Alcohol Use in Past Month (Ages 12-17) |
|
|---|---|
| United States | 15.7% |
| Colorado | 18.9% |
| Region 1 | 22.5% |
| Regions 2 and 7 | 19.3% |
| Region 3 | 14.6% |
| Region 4 | 16.4% |
| Regions 5 and 6 | 19.6% |
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies (2010). Substate estimates from the 2006-2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD
30-day Binge Drinking
| Binge Alcohol Use in Past Month | |
|---|---|
| United States | 9.6% |
| Colorado | 11.2% |
| Region 1 | 12.6% |
| Regions 2 and 7 | 11.7% |
| Region 3 | 8.2% |
| Region 4 | 10.0% |
| Regions 5 and 6 | 11.6% |
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies (2010). Substate estimates from the 2006-2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD