Data Dive: ±á²¹·É²¹¾±Ê»¾± Teens Less Likely To Drink Alcohol — Or Use Sunscreen
High school students in the islands reported lower rates of bullying and drug abuse than peers on the mainland, but fell behind them in other health measures.
±á²¹·É²¹¾±Ê»¾± teens were less likely to be depressed, smoke marijuana and use e-cigarettes than their peers nationally, according to the results of a biennial survey that tracks teen health trends.
But they were also less likely to use sunscreen, attend a physical education class or regularly eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
Roughly 17% of teens in the islands reported drinking, down from more than 37% in 2009. More than 22% of teens nationally reported that they'd had at least one drink in the month before filling out the anonymous survey.
The number of ±á²¹·É²¹¾±Ê»¾± teens who said they used sunscreen has actually increased in recent years, but it's still dramatically lower than the national average. Only 1 in 5 high schoolers in the state said they used sunscreen in 2023 — a figure that plummets to roughly 1 in 10 for boys. By comparison, more than 80% of teens nationally reported slathering up in 2019.
Fewer than 10% of ±á²¹·É²¹¾±Ê»¾± teens attended a daily physical education class in 2023, according to the results released late last year. Nationally about 27% of students exercise daily at school.
±á²¹·É²¹¾±Ê»¾± teens fared better than their peers on numerous mental health-related measures though. Just over 15% of high school students said they had experienced bullying in 2023, compared to 19% of teens nationally. The number of ±á²¹·É²¹¾±Ê»¾± teens reporting suicidal thoughts — a nearly identical percentage as those experiencing bullying — was similarly below the national average.
