What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Addiction.

Where was this research published?

Published in MMWR supplements on October 15, 2026.

National student survey finds rural differences in tobacco and vaping, not a…

Q: What did this research study find?

In this national survey, **25.5%** of high school students reported lifetime *marijuana* use; the abstract does not specify an urban-rural difference for marijuana.

Urban-Rural and Demographic Differences in Substance Use Among High School Students - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2025.

MMWR supplements • October 15, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This abstract-based summary describes a national, observational analysis of 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, examining substance use among high school students by demographics and, for public-school students with available information, urban-rural school location. The survey measured current and lifetime use of several substances, including marijuana; it does not test an intervention or establish causes. The most commonly reported behaviors were lifetime electronic vapor product use (30.2%), lifetime marijuana use (25.5%), current alcohol use (20.3%), and current electronic vapor product use (16.0%).

Patterns varied by sex, race and ethnicity, and grade, with many grade-related differences showing higher prevalence in higher grades. After adjustment for sex, race and ethnicity, and grade, rural public-school students had higher prevalence of current smokeless tobacco and electronic vapor product use, and lifetime electronic vapor product use, than students in city and suburb or town schools. Rural students also had higher current cigarette and cigar use than students in suburb or town schools. The abstract does not report a specific urban-rural difference in marijuana use. Because this is a descriptive survey analysis, it cannot establish why use differed or whether the findings apply beyond the populations and measures described; this summary is based on the abstract, not a review of the full text.

💡 Key Findings

In this national survey, 25.5% of high school students reported lifetime marijuana use; the abstract does not specify an urban-rural difference for marijuana.

High

95%

Lifetime electronic vapor product use (30.2%) was the most commonly reported behavior, followed by current alcohol use (20.3%) and current electronic vapor product use (16.0%).

High

95%

After adjustment for sex, race and ethnicity, and grade, rural public-school students had higher prevalence of several tobacco and vaping measures than students in city or suburb/town schools; these are descriptive associations, not evidence of causation.

High

95%

📄 Original Abstract

Adolescent substance use remains a critical public health concern. Understanding patterns of substance use might guide prevention strategies and identify populations in need of focused, tailored interventions. This report links nationally representative 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data with school characteristics data to describe substance use behaviors and differences by demographic characteristics and among students in public schools for whom locale information was available, by urban-rural classification. Current (i.e., past 30-day) measures included prescription opioid misuse and use of cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, electronic vapor products, alcohol, and marijuana. Lifetime measures included prescription opioid misuse and use of electronic vapor products, marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, ecstasy, hallucinogenic drugs, a composite of selected illicit drugs, and injection of an illegal drug. Differences by sex, race and ethnicity, grade, and school urban-rural classification were analyzed. Adjusted prevalence ratios were used to assess urban-rural differences after controlling for sex, race and ethnicity, and grade. The most commonly reported substance use behaviors were lifetime use of electronic vapor products (30.2%), followed by marijuana (25.5%) and current use of alcohol (20.3%) and electronic vapor products (16.0%). Substance use varied by sex and race and ethnicity, with differences observed in patterns across behaviors. Most observed grade-related differences reflected higher prevalence among students in higher grade levels. After adjustment, students in rural public schools had a higher prevalence of current smokeless tobacco and electronic vapor product use, as well as lifetime electronic vapor product use, than students in city and suburb or town public schools. In addition, students in rural public schools had a higher prevalence of current cigarette and cigar use than students in suburb or town public schools. These descriptive findings might guide comprehensive and multicomponent youth substance use prevention programs that engage schools, families, and communities, including tobacco and nicotine prevention strategies tailored to rural schools and communities.