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Indicator Gauge Icon Legend

Legend Colors

Red is bad, green is good, blue is not statistically different/neutral.

Compared to Distribution

an indicator guage with the arrow in the green the value is in the best half of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the yellow the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the red the value is in the worst quarter of communities.

Compared to Target

green circle with white tick inside it meets target; red circle with white cross inside it does not meet target.

Compared to a Single Value

green diamond with downward arrow inside it lower than the comparison value; red diamond with downward arrow inside it higher than the comparison value; blue diamond with downward arrow inside it not statistically different from comparison value.

Trend

green square outline with upward trending arrow inside it green square outline with downward trending arrow inside it non-significant change over time; green square with upward trending arrow inside it green square with downward trending arrow inside it significant change over time; blue square with equals sign no change over time.

Compared to Prior Value

green triangle with upward trending arrow inside it higher than the previous measurement period; green triangle with downward trending arrow inside it lower than the previous measurement period; blue equals sign no statistically different change  from previous measurement period.

dark blue chart bars Significantly different than the overall value

light blue chart bars No significant difference with the overall value

gray chart bars No data on significance available

More information about the gauges and icons

High School Students who Ever Used Heroin

This indicator shows the number of high school students who have ever used heroin one or more times during their life.

Why is this important?

Drug abuse and addiction comprise a public health problem that affects many people and has wide-ranging social consequences. These consequences can include poor health outcomes, increased crime and accidents, and increased unemployment and homelessness. Heroin is a very addictive stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system and has a high potential for abuse. Heroin abuse significantly changes how the brain functions. Overdoses often result in hypoxia, where there is a lack of oxygen reaching the brain. Chronic heroin use results in many damaging effects including physical dependence, tolerance, and deterioration of the brain's white matter. Furthermore, heroin use during pregnancy can result in poor birth outcomes or spontaneous abortions.

Due to the nature of drug addiction, effective treatment programs typically incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of their lives.

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1.4%
Source: Virginia Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Measurement period: 2017
Maintained by: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute
Last update: September 2018
Filter(s) for this location: State: Virginia

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light blue chart bars No significant difference with the overall value

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Data Source

Filed under: Health / Alcohol & Drug Use, Health Behaviors, Teens