To evaluate whether sustained availability of a dedicated health course in high schools is associated with lower prevalence of adolescent substance use behaviors.
Approach:
Study Design: An observational study using a difference-in-differences design to assess the impact of dedicated health course availability on substance use outcomes.
Data Sources: Utilized California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) data linked to annual University of California Office of the President (UCOP) high school course lists from 2017-2024.
Sample: Included responses from students in grades 9 and 11 across traditional public high schools, excluding nontraditional settings.
Key Findings:
Sustained availability of a dedicated health course was hypothesized to correlate with lower prevalence of alcohol use, binge drinking, marijuana use, and vaping among high school students.
The study utilized a cohort design following the STROBE reporting guideline.
Interpretation:
Limitations:
The study is observational and cannot establish causation.
Schools were not randomized, which may introduce bias from local policies and practices.
