The Washington Young Adult Health Survey (WYAHS) is a statewide online survey that measures cannabis and other substance use, perceptions of harm, risk factors, and consequences among young adults (18 to 25 years old) living in Washington state. Motivated by the passage of Initiative 502 in 2012, the survey was first implemented in 2014, before recreational cannabis stores opened their doors.

Survey data are used for:

• Implementing rules for cannabis statutes located in RCW 69.50
• Monitoring trends in cannabis use patterns and consequences among young adults
• Assessing the impact of Initiative 502
• Surveillance, and to guide strategic planning of prevention and intervention programs

The survey is administered annually in the summer/fall by the University of Washington (UW) in partnership with the Washington State Health Care Authority. 

For more information, please visit UW's WYAHS page.

Results

2023

2023 WYAHS frequency report (coming soon) Videos:

• Actual and perceived norms around cannabis use
• Driving after cannabis use 
• Simultaneous use of cannabis and alcohol
• Where and how young adults access cannabis in Washington
• 10 years of findings

2022

• 2022 WYAHS frequency report

2021

• 2021 WYAHS frequency report (results from 2014-2021)
• Research briefs:
  • Where young adults get cannabis 
  • Rates of cannabis use 
  • Cannabis impaired driving 
  • Rates of alcohol use 
  • Cigarette, vape, and Juul use 
  • COVID impacts

Publications using WYAHS data

Fleming CB, Delawalla MLM, Rhew IC, Kilmer JR, Larimer M, Guttmannova K. Cross-Substance Associations With Transitions in Cannabis and Nicotine Use in a Statewide Sample of Young Adults in Washington State. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2024 Mar;85(2):272-282. 

Fleming CB, Ramirez JJ, Rhew IC, Hultgren BA, Hanson KG, Larimer ME, Dilley JA, Kilmer JR, Guttmannova K. Trends in Alcohol, Cigarette, E-Cigarette, and Nonprescribed Pain Reliever Use Among Young Adults in Washington State After Legalization of Nonmedical Cannabis. J Adolesc Health. 2022 Jul;71(1):47-54.

Gilson MS, Kilmer JR, Fleming CB, Rhew IC, Calhoun BH, Guttmannova K. Substance-Specific Risk Factors for Cannabis and Alcohol Use Among Young Adults Following Implementation of Nonmedical Cannabis Legalization. Prev Sci. 2023 Aug;24(6):1047-1057. 

Guttmannova K, Fleming CB, Rhew IC, Delawalla MLM, Fairlie AM, Larimer ME, Kilmer JR. Changes in Cannabis Use From 2014 to 2019 Among Young Adults in Washington State. Am J Prev Med. 2024 Feb;66(2):252-259. 

Hultgren BA, Calhoun BH, Fleming CB, Lyons VH, Rhew IC, Larimer ME, Kilmer JR, Guttmannova K. Young Adult Alcohol and Cannabis Impaired Driving After the Opening of Cannabis Retail Stores in Washington State. Prev Sci. 2024 Apr 25.

Kilmer JR, Rhew IC, Guttmannova K, Fleming CB, Hultgren BA, Gilson MS, Cooper RL, Dilley J, Larimer ME. Cannabis Use Among Young Adults in Washington State After Legalization of Nonmedical Cannabis. Am J Public Health. 2022 Apr;112(4):638-645.

Rhew IC, Guttmannova K, Kilmer JR, Fleming CB, Hultgren BA, Hurvitz PM, Dilley JA, Larimer ME. Associations of cannabis retail outlet availability and neighborhood disadvantage with cannabis use and related risk factors among young adults in Washington State. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022 Mar 1;232:109332.

Rhew IC, Le VT, Ramirez JJ, Fleming CB, Kilmer JR, Delawalla MLM, Hultgren BA, Lee CM, Larimer ME, Guttmannova K. The association between cannabis use and risk of non-medical pain reliever misuse onset among young adults in a legal cannabis context. Addict Behav. 2023 Aug;143:107711

Who can I contact for more information about WYAHS?

Sandy Salivaras 
Prevention Research and Evaluation Manager
Sandy.Salivaras@hca.wa.gov