Last year, Summit County students in 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade were asked to take the Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey, which is administered every two years. This survey contains questions related to alcohol and marijuana usage, mental health, screen time, and vaping.
When we compare Summit County’s 2025 SHARP results to both Utah statewide data and previous survey years, we see many encouraging trends, especially in substance use and several mental health indicators. The data also helps us identify emerging concerns and areas where prevention, family engagement, and school-based supports should focus next.
Alcohol Use
Alcohol use among youth in Summit County has decreased from 25.5% in 2023 to 20.6% in 2025.
Compared to earlier SHARP surveys, alcohol use continues to trend downward both in Summit County and across Utah, reinforcing that prevention strategies are having an impact.
Marijuana Use
One of the clearest improvements we see is in marijuana use. In Summit County, lifetime marijuana use dropped from 16.6% in 2023 to 9.7% in 2025. Past-30-day marijuana use also declined from 8.6% to 4.7%.
This tells us fewer students are experimenting with marijuana than we saw in earlier surveys.
Vaping Use
Traditional vaping continues to decline. In Summit County, vaping dropped from 15.2% in 2023 to 9.6% in 2025, a 37% decrease, aligning closely with statewide trends. Past-30-day vaping fell by 52%, which is a significant improvement compared to previous survey years. However, the data also shows a sharp increase in nicotine pouch use, rising from 3.7% to 8.2%. This is a concern we are seeing both locally and statewide and highlights how youth substance use evolves over time.
Mental Health
When we compare 2025 SHARP results to 2023, we see a meaningful improvement in student mental health. In 2023, 27.5% of students reported no symptoms of depression; in 2025, that number rose to 44.8%. That’s an improvement of 17.3 percentage points. Summit County’s results closely align with Utah statewide improvements, suggesting broader progress in youth emotional well-being.
Suicide
Suicide-related indicators are moving in the right direction compared to previous surveys. Students who seriously considered suicide decreased by 36%, while suicide planning dropped 34%, and reported attempts declined 32%. While these declines are encouraging both in Summit County and statewide, even lower percentages still represent real youth who need support.
Screen Time
Screen time remains a challenge across Utah and Summit County. About 78% of students report having parental rules around screen use, but only about 41% say those rules are consistently enforced. Compared to earlier surveys, device use continues to be linked with sleep issues and mental health concerns, making this an essential focus for families and prevention efforts.
Takeaways
Overall, when we compare Summit County to Utah and look at trends over time, the data shows progress. The biggest takeaway is that prevention works, progress is possible, and community engagement matters. It also reminds us that prevention is ongoing. The choices we make as a community today shape outcomes for the next generation. Summit County’s improvements reflect what happens when families, schools, and community partners work together.