Substance abuse may begin during adolescence for many Iowans. Use of substances, including both legal substances like prescription medications and illegal substances, at an early age is associated with future substance-related problems. Research findings demonstrate that brain development continues well into early adulthood and that substance use can interfere with such development. Substance use by youth is a serious public health concern.

Youth who use substances are more likely to:

About Youth Substance Abuse Data

Tracking youth substance use involves collecting data about the number of individuals who report substance use in response to the Iowa Youth Survey (IYS).

This page provides general information about youths’ use of alcohol through measures developed by the Iowa Public Health Tracking program. Contact us for more information about these data.

What is the source of the data?

  • The substance use data displayed here are collected through the Iowa Youth Survey (IYS). The IYS is Iowa’s long-running survey that is a near total census of 6th, 8th, and 11th grade students statewide. The IYS is administered every other year with students completing the survey online.

The IYS is conducted online with a questionnaire of approximately 210 questions.

How does IYS collect data?

  • The IYS is conducted online with a questionnaire of approximately 210 questions.

Questions on substance use in the IYS questionnaire include:

Aerosols

  • The question asked students, “In the past 30 days, on how many days have you: Sniffed glue, breathed the contents of gases or sprays in order to get high?” 
    • Students who answered at least “1-2 days” were counted as having used an aerosol.
    • Students who responded "0 days" were not counted as having used an aerosol.

Age of First Use

  • The IYS students are asked: "How old were you (if ever) when you first drank (more than a few sips) of alcohol (beer, wine, or liquor)?" 
    • Students who answered "13 or older" were counted as first drinking alcohol at age 13 years or older.
    • Students who answered "12 or younger" were counted as first drinking alcohol at age 12 or younger.
  • In the IYS, students are asked: "How old were you (if ever) when you first tried marijuana (pot, grass, hash, weed)?" 
    • Students who answered "13 or older" were counted as first trying marijuana at age 13 years or older.
    • Students who answered "12 or younger" were counted as first trying marijuana at age 12 or younger.

Alcohol

  • The 30-day drinking question asked students, “In the past 30 days, have you had at least one drink of alcohol (glass, bottle or can of beer, glass of wine, liquor, or mixed drink)?”
    • Students who answered "Yes" were counted as having had an alcoholic beverage
    • The binge drinking question asks respondents, “During the last 30 days, on how many days did you have 5 or more drinks of alcohol (glasses, bottles, or cans of beer, glasses of wine, liquor, mixed drinks) in a row, that is within a couple of hours?”
    • Students who responded "No" or "None" were not counted as having at least one drink of an alcoholic beverage.

Alcohol Accessibility

  • In the IYS survey, students are asked: "During the past 30 days did you get alcohol from the following sources: I bought it." 
    • Students who answered "Yes" were counted as having alcohol accessibility.
    • Students who answered "No" were counted as having no alcohol accessibility.
  • In the IYS survey, students are asked: "During the past 30 days did you get alcohol from the following sources: I gave someone money to buy it." 
    • Students who answered "Yes" were counted as having alcohol accessibility.
    • Students who answered "No" were counted as having no alcohol accessibility.
  • In the IYS survey, students are asked: "During the past 30 days did you get alcohol from the following sources: I got it from a parent/guardian." 
    • Students who answered "Yes" were counted as having alcohol accessibility.
    • Students who answered "No" were counted as having no alcohol accessibility.
  • In the IYS survey, students are asked: "During the past 30 days did you get alcohol from the following sources: I got it at a party." 
    • Students who answered "Yes" were counted as having alcohol accessibility.
    • Students who answered "No" were counted as having no alcohol accessibility.
  • In the IYS survey, students are asked: "During the past 30 days did you get alcohol from the following sources: A friend who is under 21 gave to me." 
    • Students who answered "Yes" were counted as having alcohol accessibility.
    • Students who answered "No" were counted as having no alcohol accessibility.
  • In the IYS survey, students are asked: "During the past 30 days did you get alcohol from the following sources: A friend who is over 21 gave to me." 
    • Students who answered "Yes" were counted as having alcohol accessibility.
    • Students who answered "No" were counted as having no alcohol accessibility.

Amphetamines

  • The question asked students, “In the past 30 days, on how many days have you: Used amphetamines other than methamphetamines (like stimulants, uppers, speed)?” 
    • Students who answered at least “1-2 days” were counted as having used amphetamines.
    • Students who responded "0 days" were not counted as having used amphetamines.

Cocaine

  • The question asked students, “In the past 30 days, on how many days have you: Used cocaine (crack, rock, coke [not Coca Cola])?” 
    • Students who answered at least “1-2 days” were counted as having used cocaine.
    • Students who responded "0 days" were not counted as having used cocaine.

Illicit Opioids

  • The question asked students, “In the past 30 days, on how many days have you: Used an illicit opioid (heroin) or used a prescription opioid (oxycodone, hydrocodone, Oxycontin, codeine, etc.) for non-medical reasons?” 
    • Students who answered at least “1-2 days” were counted as having used an illicit opioid.
    • Students who responded "0 days" were not counted as having used an illicit opioid.

Marijuana

  • The question asked students, “In the past 30 days, have you used marijuana (pot, grass, hash, bud, weed)?” 
    • Students who answered "Yes" were counted as having used marijuana.
    • Students who responded "No" were not counted as having used marijuana.

Methamphetamines

  • The question asked students, “In the past 30 days, on how many days have you: Used methamphetamines (crank)?” 
    • Students who answered at least “1-2 days” were counted as having used methamphetamines.
    • Students who responded "0 days" were not counted as having used methamphetamines.

Over the Counter Medications

  • The question asked students, “In the past 30 days, on how many days have you: Used over-the-counter medications different from the directions?” 
    • Students who answered at least “1-2 days” were counted as having used over-the-counter medications.
    • Students who responded "0 days" were not counted as having used over-the-counter medications.

Perception of Risk

  • In the IYS, students are asked: "How much do you think you risk harming yourself (physically or otherwise) if you: Drink 5 or more drinks of alcohol (glasses, bottles, or cans of beer, glasses of wine, liquor, mixed drinks) within a couple of hours, more than once a week?" Note: The wording of this question changed in 2018 so previous IYS alcohol questions are not reported. 
    • Students who answered "Slight-No Risk" were counted as low risk.
    • Students who answered "Great-Moderate Risk" were counted as high risk.
  • In the IYS, students are asked: "How much do you think you risk harming yourself (physically or otherwise) if you: Smoke marijuana more than once a week?" 
    • Students who answered "Slight-No Risk" were counted as low risk.
    • Students who answered "Great-Moderate Risk" were counted as high risk.
  • In the IYS, students are asked: "How much do you think you risk harming yourself (physically or otherwise) if you: Take methamphetamines (crank) once a week?" 
    • Students who answered "Slight-No Risk" were counted as low risk.
    • Students who answered "Great-Moderate Risk" were counted as high risk.
  • In the IYS, students are asked: "How much do you think you risk harming yourself (physically or otherwise) if you: Take cocaine once a week?" 
    • Students who answered "Slight-No Risk" were counted as low risk.
    • Students who answered "Great-Moderate Risk" were counted as high risk.
  • In the IYS, students are asked: "How much do you think you risk harming yourself (physically or otherwise) if you: Take amphetamines other than methamphetamines (like stimulants, uppers, speed) once a week?" 
    • Students who answered "Slight-No Risk" were counted as low risk.
    • Students who answered "Great-Moderate Risk" were counted as high risk.
  • In the IYS, students are asked: "How much do you think you risk harming yourself (physically or otherwise) if you: Use any other illegal drug once a week?" 
    • Students who answered "Slight-No Risk" were counted as low risk.
    • Students who answered "Great-Moderate Risk" were counted as high risk.
  • In the IYS, students are asked: "How much do you think you risk harming yourself (physically or otherwise) if you: Use over-the-counter medications different from the directions?" 
    • Students who answered "Slight-No Risk" were counted as low risk.
    • Students who answered "Great-Moderate Risk" were counted as high risk.

Prescriptions

  • The question asked students, “In the past 30 days, on how many days have you: Used prescription medications that were not prescribed for you by your doctor?” 
    • Students who answered at least “1-2 days” were counted as having used prescription medications.
    • Students who responded "0 days" were not counted as having used prescription medications.

What time period was the data collected?

  • The alcohol questions were asked in the IYS biannually from 2008 to present.
  • The marijuana question was asked in the IYS biannually from 2008 to present.
  • The aerosols question was asked in the IYS biannually from 2008 to present.
  • The over-the-counter medications question was asked in the IYS biannually from 2008 to present.
  • The prescription medications question was asked in the IYS biannually from 2008 to present.
  • The cocaine question was asked in the IYS biannually from 2008 to present.
  • The methamphetamines question was asked in the IYS biannually from 2008 to present.
  • The amphetamines question was asked in the IYS biannually from 2008 to present.
  • The illicit opioids question was asked in the IYS in 2018.

Can I compare IYS data from years not included here?

  • A comparison to IYS data not included here is not recommended. Analysis is done for each question to ensure that the question wording and response options were consistent across the reported time period. This is not the case for years not included here.

Where can I find more technical information about the data?

  • To explore technical information and to review reports, please visit the IYS website.