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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce the proportion of lesbian, gay, or bisexual high school students who have used illicit drugs — LGBT‑07 Data Methodology and Measurement

On this page:  About the National Data  |  Methodology  |  History

About the National Data

Data

Data Source:  Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC/NCCDPHP

Baseline: 23.2 percent of sexual minority students in grades 9 through 12 reported that they had ever used illicit drugs in their lifetime in 2021

Target: 18.4 percent

Numerator
Number of sexual minority (lesbian, gay, or bisexual) students in grades 9 through 12 who reported that they have ever used illicit drugs.
Denominator
Number of sexual minority (lesbian, gay, or bisexual) students in grades 9 through 12.
Target-setting method
Minimal statistical significance
Target-setting method details
Minimal statistical significance, assuming the same standard error for the target as for the baseline.
Target-setting method justification
Trend data were not available for this objective. The standard error was used to calculate a target based on minimal statistical significance, assuming the same standard error for the target as for the baseline. This method was used because it was a statistically significant improvement from the baseline.

Methodology

Questions used to obtain the national baseline data

(For additional information, please visit the data source page linked above.)

From the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System

Numerator:
This measure combines the following variables into one: During your life, how many times have you used any form of cocaine, including powder, crack, or freebase? During your life, how many times have you sniffed glue, breathed the contents of aerosol spray cans, or inhaled any paints or sprays to get high? During your life, how many times have you used heroin (also called smack, junk, or China White)? During your life, how many times have you used methamphetamines (also called speed, crystal, crank, or ice)? During your life, how many times have you used ecstasy (also called MDMA)? During your life, how many times have you used hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD, acid, PCP, angel dust, mescaline, or mushrooms?

Methodology notes

YRBS uses the term sexual minority to include those who identify as lesbian, gay, and bisexual; and those whose sexual behavior includes same-sex contacts. However, for statistical reporting, sexual identity and sexual behavior are reported separately. This objective only tracks lesbian, gay, and bisexual identity.

History

Revision History
Revised. 

In 2024, the baseline was revised from 23.1 percent in 2017 to 23.2 percent in 2021, due to a change in the response options for the sexual orientation question on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The target was revised from 16.1 percent to 18.4 percent using the original target-setting method, minimal statistical significance.