All Chittenden County Residents are Healthy **Data for the ECOS health indicators are not yet available due to Health Department Staff being focused on COVID-19** and 2 more...
Percent of Youth (grades 9-12) who report using Alcohol in in the last 30 days
Current Value
31%
Definition
Comparison
Story Behind the Curve
Both alcohol consumption and binge drinking in the past 30 days for youth in grades 9-12 have been decreasing since 1993. Even though this is strong evidence of the effectiveness of prevention programs, policies and practices almost one third (31%)still reported drinking, and 17% reporting binge drinking in the past 30 days; there is more work to be done. Click on this indicator to make it full screen, then click the Toggle Comparison button to see drinking compared with binge drinking. The age when a young person starts drinking is a strong predictor of later alcohol-related problems including a significantly greater risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. In 2013, 9% of Chittenden County students drank alcohol, other than a few sips, before age 13.
Why Is This Important?
Excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of death nationwide and the most prevalent form of substance abuse in Chittenden County. Policies that reduce exposure to alcohol advertising and curb youth access to alcohol limit the health impacts of high-risk alcohol consumption.
The mean age of first use of alcohol in Vermont is 13.5 years old which means that as students are transitioning from middle school to high school their likelihood to engage in this risk factor goes up significantly. Increasing the age of first use of alcohol has positive correlations in later resiliencies to alcohol addiction and dependence as well as other positive health outcomes. Excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of death nationwide and the most prevalent form of substance abuse in Chittenden County. Policies that reduce exposure to alcohol advertising and curb youth access to alcohol may limit the health impacts of high-risk alcohol consumption.
As students transition from middle school to high school, their likelihood of engaging in this risky behavior increases. Delaying the first use of alcohol has many positive health effects including lowering risk for developing substance use disorder as young adults.
Partners
Local schools
Local community coalitions
Law Enforcement
Mentoring organizations
Afterschool programs
Citation
Vermont Department of Health, Burlington District Office, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs
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