Arizona teenagers reported fewer instances of drug use, physical fighting, theft, and gun carrying in the most recent statewide assessment. The 2026 Arizona Youth Survey, conducted by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission alongside Arizona State University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, gathered data from more than 41,000 students across grades eight, ten, and twelve.
The biennial study found that risky behaviors declined across numerous measures compared to the previous survey in 2024. Thirty-day usage rates for alcohol, marijuana, and e-cigarettes fell in all three grade levels. Additionally, fewer students reported engaging in fighting, stealing, or selling illegal substances.
Reported gang membership also decreased, as did incidents of carrying a handgun, witnessing gun violence, and being the victim of physical violence.
Cyberbullying showed a substantial drop as well. However, the 78-page report highlighted persistent concerns. Nearly half of respondents indicated they had gambled at some point in the prior year, and almost one-third said they had communicated online with someone they had never met in person. Despite significant declines in other areas, nearly half of high school seniors still reported texting while driving.
The results are based on responses from 41,235 students attending 264 schools across all 15 counties. Researchers noted that the sample represents approximately 15% of the state’s eighth-, tenth-, and twelfth-graders and 19% of eligible schools. Participation varied widely among counties, and the survey included a disproportionate number of eighth-graders relative to the statewide student population.
Researchers cautioned against comparing pooled results across different years because behaviors change significantly with age and the proportion of students from each grade shifted between surveys. Grade-by-grade trends, however, showed widespread declines in many measured behaviors.
