Protective strength
267,379
Valid student surveys included statewide
Key Findings
Six headlines from PAYS 2025
The shifts most likely to shape prevention priorities, school policy, and funding decisions over the next two years.
267,379 students · official baseline
Featured findings from PAYS 2025
Nine numbers most likely to shape coalition conversations this year. Expand any card for discussion questions and prevention implications.
Strong concern
32.8%
Felt depressed or sad most days in the past 12 months
Strong concern
13.9%
Seriously considered attempting suicide
Watch
36.3%
Reported 4+ hours of non-school screen time on a normal school day
Watch
24.0%
Reported 4+ hours of social media use on a normal school day
Watch
23.3%
Reported lifetime alcohol use
Watch
11.5%
Reported lifetime vaping
Strong concern
54.7%
At risk for low commitment toward school
Protective strength
70.4%
Protected through family attachment
Six headlines, in plain language
Alcohol use is at a new statewide low
Past-30-day alcohol use fell to 9.1% in 2025 (from 11.5% in 2023). Among 12th graders, it dropped from 23.8% to 18.1% — a 5.7 point decline in two years.
See the dataNicotine vaping continues to retreat
Past-30-day vaping is 6.3% overall and 11.4% among 12th graders, down from a 2021 peak of 13.0% and 23.7% respectively.
See the dataCannabis use ticks down again
Past-30-day cannabis use is now 4.3% statewide. 12th-grade use fell from 14.6% in 2023 to 10.0% in 2025.
See the dataPersistent sadness eased — but stayed high
32.8% of students felt sad or depressed most days in the past year, down from 37.3% in 2023. 13.9% seriously considered suicide and 4.5% attempted.
See the dataHeavy daily screen time is widespread
36.3% of students report 4+ hours of non-school screen time per day; 24.0% spend 4+ hours daily on social media, and only 28.2% have parental rules around screens 'often' or 'always.'
See the dataYouth gambling exposure narrows
Lifetime gambling fell to 18.4% (from 21.7% in 2023). But 22.0% of 12th graders still report any lifetime gambling, and 10.4% report past-30-day gambling.
See the dataWhat it means for action
Keep investing in what's working
Sustained multi-year declines in alcohol, cannabis, and vaping track with multi-strategy environmental prevention. Don't defund.
Brace mental-health systems
Roughly 1 in 3 students still report persistent sadness, and bullied students are 2–3× more likely to plan or attempt suicide. Plan staffing and referral pathways.
Add screens and gambling to the menu
Most coalitions don't yet name these in their action plans. PAYS 2025 added new items so you have local data to do so.
Bring these findings to your next meeting
Download the 1-page brief, slide deck, and discussion guide tuned for coalition, school board, or funder audiences.
Subgroup spotlight
Headline numbers shift sharply when you look at students who carry multiple risks.
Multi-risk students
3.1×
Higher past-30-day substance use vs. low-risk peers
LGBQ+ students
47.6%
Felt sad or hopeless 2+ weeks vs. 28.4% of peers
Rural districts
+2.1 pts
Higher 12th-grade vaping vs. statewide average
Subgroup cells with n < 30 are suppressed. See methodology.