By Andrea Orest, CPP, HRS, Public Health Educator, Cook County Public Health and Human Services - January 21, 2025

The Minnesota Department of Education facilitates the Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) every 3 years to collect self-reported, anonymous data from youth in grades 5, 8, 9, and 11.  The survey asks questions about activities, demographics, family and relationships, physical and mental health, school, sexual health, and substance use.  This data can be used to show areas of need as well as areas where youth feel they are thriving in communities.  

At Cook County Public Health, we use the MSS data as one of the tools to help direct our work.  As the legalization of adult use recreational cannabis moves to the forefront, we are focusing on prevention – the later a person starts using cannabis, the lesser the implications on a developing brain.  

Based on the latest student survey taken in 2022, we can see that most Cook County Students have never used cannabis.  

The data shows that:

• 100% of 5th graders reported they have never used cannabis

• 100% of 8th graders reported they have never used cannabis

• 88% of 9th graders reported they have never used cannabis

• 55% of 11th graders reported they have never used cannabis

The next student survey will be conducted in early 2025, so we will have more up-to-date data available later next year.  While it’s important for us to understand how and why cannabis use among Cook County teens increases with age (and to watch changes over time), it’s equally important to celebrate the fact that most young people in our community choose not to use cannabis products in their daily lives. 

For more information, contact Andrea Orest, Public Health Educator, at [email protected] or 218-220-5536.