Maryland’s latest youth health survey offers encouraging signs of progress while underscoring the continued need for strong behavioral health services and prevention efforts.
New survey data from the Maryland Department of Health show encouraging improvements in several key indicators of youth health, including declines in tobacco and cannabis use and fewer students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. However, the data points to continued concerns around bullying, dating violence, and the impact of social media on young people.
The findings come from the 2024-2025 Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Youth Tobacco Survey, which tracks health behaviors and experiences among middle and high school students statewide. State agencies, local health departments, schools, researchers, and community organizations use the data to guide policies, prevention programs, and resource allocation.
From the press release:
High school e-cigarette use dropped by nearly 45% since 2018. Still, students reported a slight uptick in smokeless tobacco use in middle and high school. These trends validate the effectiveness of targeted education initiatives such as the Vape Experiment and the Maryland Responsible Tobacco Retailer Program 21 or None campaign, but also highlight the need for sustained, agile prevention efforts to confront emerging risk behaviors, such as nicotine pouch use.
Cannabis use also declined among both middle and high school students. The Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland Cannabis Administration plan to launch a new youth-focused prevention campaign.
The survey also found some signs of improved youth mental health following the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 32 percent of both middle and high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, an improvement from 2021-2022. Despite that progress, the numbers remain high and underscore the need for continued investments in behavioral health services.
The survey demonstrates meaningful progress while providing a roadmap for future action. The data will continue to inform state and local efforts to improve youth health through prevention, education, and expanded access to services across communities.