Health Behaviors
From pre-pandemic to during the pandemic, heavy alcohol use among Americans rose nearly 20%. This increase in drinking was sustained through 2022. Excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to adverse health outcomes, such as increased risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and mental… Read more
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Alcohol has long been one of the few legal mind-altering substances in the United States. While legal, messaging around its use – and misuse – has often been mixed. Moderate levels of drinking, such as a glass of wine or beer with dinner, were… Read more
As of 2023, Minnesota legalized cannabis for non-medical use by adults, becoming one of the now 24 states with such policies. Minnesota’s cannabis legislation limits legal cannabis use to adults aged 21 and older, similar to other states’ legislation for cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol use as well.… Read more
Most 9th and 11th graders report never having tried cannabis, but rates of recent use vary by demographic groupsIn 2023, Minnesota became one of a growing number of states that have legalized cannabis for non-medical use by adults. When lawmakers crafted Minnesota’s legislation, they established a… Read more
Cancer screening for adults plays a pivotal role in early detection, increasing the chances of successful treatment and preventing thousands of cancer deaths. Despite their life-saving potential, many adults may choose to delay or skip these screenings due to various barriers, such as limited… Read more
Using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this brief explores people’s perceptions and opinions related to cannabis and cannabis use prior to its 2023 legalization in Minnesota. The brief begins with an overview of the context of cannabis policy and use in the United… Read more
Even before legalization, most Minnesotans reported that cannabis was easy to obtain; only one-third disapproved of use by adultsDuring the past decade, the United States’ cannabis policy landscape has changed dramatically. By the end of 2023, 24 states had legalized cannabis for non-medical use by… Read more
This brief uses data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to understand issues related to public health implications of Minnesota cannabis use prior to its 2023 legalization. Along with providing key background information and context on cannabis policy in the United States… Read more
Even before legalization, cannabis use was rising in Minnesota Cannabis policy in the United States has evolved during the past decade. After voters in Colorado and Washington approved ballot measures to legalize cannabis in 2012, other states began to follow suit. In 2023,… Read more
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During 2020 and 2021, the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, data show that drug overdose deaths did not subside or plateau, but unfortunately surged alongside the rise of the coronavirus. Growing death rates were driven by a substantive… Read more