An Analysis of Cigarette, Marijuana, Alcohol, and E-cigarette Use Among Maryland Teens

Christina Sarbanes

Mentor: Dr. Renee M. Johnson

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Substance use in Adolescence may set one up to face many different challenges and lifelong struggles. Current studies in adolescent substance use have focused on risk factors, national youth substance prevalence, and other correlates (such as demographic). Current researchers have used this data in an attempt to address youth substance use and to prevent and aid it. If proper interventions and preventative factors are implemented properly, the number of individuals seeking and/or needing substance use treatment lessens across all ages. Many current articles address the statistics of youth substance use, risk factors, and variables that correlate (i.e., depression and marijuana use). However, few studies have focused on state data broken down by county. This project utilizes data from the Maryland High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Specifically, this study looks at the prevalence of Cigarette, Marijuana, Alcohol, and E-cigarette use among high school students in each Maryland county. Implications of this study may help inform future Maryland prevention strategies.