Reduce the proportion of adolescents who drank alcohol in the past month — SU‑04 Healthy People in Action

This blog post is part of a series highlighting the work of Healthy People State and Territorial Coordinators (Coordinators). Coordinators make Healthy People happen every day across the United States. ODPHP works with Coordinators to identify areas of alignment with their work and Healthy People 2030 goals and objectives. Colorado has positioned itself to holistically address social determinants of health (SDOH) with a focus on the needs of local communities.

Legal and policy approaches can be important tools for achieving healthier communities. A new report—The Role of Law and Policy in Reducing Deaths Attributable to Alcohol to Reach Healthy People’s Substance Abuse Goals in the United States—provides evidence-based information and identifies priority areas that can help communities achieve Healthy People objectives.

Teen substance use can harm brain development and increase the risk of addiction later in life. Nationally, over 14% of U.S. teens use alcohol or drugs. In Washington State, the 2016 Healthy Youth Survey found that 20% of 10th grade students drink alcohol and 17% use marijuana—and these students report lower grades in school than students who don’t use those substances.