Indiana
Indiana Youth Survey finds record lows in substance use among teens
Substance use among Indiana youth has reached its lowest levels in over 30 years, according to a recurring survey.
The 2024 Indiana Youth Survey is conducted by Prevention Insights, part of the Department of Applied Health Science at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington. This year, the survey reveals significant decreases in substance use over the past two years.
“The results of this survey are both encouraging and reflective of the hard work being done across the state to promote healthier lifestyles among our youth,” Prevention Insights Executive Director Ruth Gassman said. “Seeing these historic lows in substance use among Indiana’s young people is a testament to the effectiveness of our prevention strategies and the commitment of our communities.”
The 2024 survey, which gathered responses from over 60,000 Hoosier students from 223 schools across the state, shows a marked decline in substance use compared to 2022—a year that also recorded historic lows. These findings represent some of the most substantial decreases since the survey’s inception in 1991, aligning with similar trends observed nationwide.
Among the substances with the lowest prevalence rates in three decades were cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. Alcohol use among 12th-graders in the 30 days prior to taking the survey dropped by 44.1 percentage points since 1991, when it peaked at 59.7%.
Similarly, cigarette use among 11th-graders decreased by 37.9 percentage points from its 1996 high of 40.1%, while marijuana use among 10th-graders fell by 18.5 percentage points from a 1996 high of 24.9%. Vaping, tracked since 2015, also reached its lowest prevalence rates.
“The data is clear: Our youth are making healthier choices,” Gassman said. “This decline in substance use is significant. It suggests that our efforts to educate and support these young people are paying off.”
Key findings include:
- Alcohol: Although it remains the most common substance used by Indiana youth, the percentage of 12th-graders who reported drinking alcohol in the 30 days prior to the survey decreased from 19.9% in 2022 to 15.6% in 2024.
- Vaping: Electronic vapor products, the second-most-used substance among Indiana teens, saw a decrease among 12th-graders from 14.8% in 2022 to 9.6% in 2024.
- Broader trends: Students in Grades 7 to 12 reported decreased use of alcohol, cigarettes, vaping products, marijuana and non-prescribed prescription drugs compared to 2022.
- Younger students: Cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use during the past month also declined among sixth graders compared to 2022.
The survey sheds light on mental health trends among Indiana youth, as well. Students across all grade levels were less likely to report feelings of depression and other negative mental health indicators compared to 2022. For instance, the percentage of 10th-graders who reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more dropped from 37.8% in 2022 to 30.2% in 2024.
“This drop in reported mental health challenges is promising,” Gassman said. “While there’s still work to be done, it is encouraging to see these positive shifts in both substance use and mental health among our youth.”
For the first time, the 2024 survey reported results based on whether a county is rural or urban. Notably, there were no instances where youth in urban counties reported higher rates of past-month substance use, including binge drinking, compared to their rural counterparts.
However, students in rural counties were more likely to report higher prevalence rates for various substances. For example, use of cigarettes and electronic vapor product was higher among sixth-, seventh-, ninth- and 10th-grade students, while binge drinking was more prevalent among eighth- through 11th-grade students in rural counties than in urban areas.
“Understanding differences in substance use patterns across rural and urban areas can help identify what kinds of student support might be needed, and where,” said Jon Agley, an associate professor at the School of Public Health-Bloomington and director of research at Prevention Insights. “The data will help Hoosiers better address the unique challenges faced by different communities.”
More information:
Indiana Youth Survey: inys.indiana.edu/docs/survey/i … YouthSurvey_2024.pdf
Indiana University
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Catch everything that went on at day 1 of the Indiana Comic Convention
Day 1 of the 2025 Indiana Comic Convention is in the books. IndyStar reporter John Tufts gives you an inside look of everything that went on.
Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage is making his U.S. comic con scene debut, appearing at the Indiana Comic Convention this week.
Fans can meet Cage and get an autograph or photo with him during the June 5-7 event taking place at the Indiana Convention Center.
The appearance marks Cage’s first at a U.S. comic convention. The 62-year-old actor, who has starred in movies spanning romance, action and superhero genres over more than 40 years, appeared at the Osaka Comic Convention in 2025.
Cage’s Indiana visit comes after the May 27 release on Prime Video of “Spider-Noir,” the live-action superhero series he leads. He voiced the character in the 2018 animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and will reprise the role in 2027’s “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.”
Among his other superhero genre movie roles are Big Daddy in “Kick-Ass” and Johnny Blaze in Marvel’s Ghost Rider franchise. He was set to star in director Tim Burton’s scrapped Superman movie in the 1990s. Fans finally got to see him on the big screen as the Man of Steel when he cameoed in “The Flash” in 2024.
Cage, whose movies have grossed more than $6.4 billion, also starred in “National Treasure,” “The Rock,” “Face/Off,” “Con Air,” “Valley Girl,” “Raising Arizona,” “Adaptation” and “Leaving Las Vegas,” for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
“Nicolas Cage is one of the most accomplished and recognizable actors in the world, and to have him choose Indiana Comic Convention as his first fan convention is huge for fans and a tribute to the reputation they’ve built for treating celebrity attendees with so much love and respect,” show producer Dan Farr said in an announcement of the appearance.
Watch ‘Spider-Noir’ on Prime
How much is a Nicolas Cage photo op?
Indiana Comic Convention features celebrities, authors, comic creators and exhibitors that cater to a wide spectrum of interests and fandoms, including comic books, magazines, toys, games, anime, manga, cosplay, artwork, sketches and apparel.
In-person Nicolas Cage autographs will cost $400. Photo ops are $250. A pre-signed autograph is $225. A photo op/pre-signed autobiography bundle is $450.
Tickets and photo ops are available now at indianacomicconvention.com.
Contact reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cjackson@usatodayco.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky:@cherylvjackson.bsky.social.
Monday, June 1, 2026 3:34AM
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) — A northwest Indiana family is safe thanks to the heroic actions of a Hobart police officer.
Adam Zormier rescued a woman and four children from a burning home.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
ABC7 talked to Zormier, who told us he was on patrol in Hobart on Sunday when he noticed heavy black smoke in the air.
He discovered it was coming from the windows and roof of a house in nearby Merrillville.
A Good Samaritan helped him knock on doors. When there was no answer, he forced his way in.
Zormier was treated for smoke inhalation. No one was seriously hurt.
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Indiana
Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport
(WXIN/WTTV) — An EMT working for an Indiana ambulance service has been arrested after accusations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old while transporting them to the hospital.
Ronald D. Elliott Jr., 37, was officially charged Wednesday with a slew of child sex crimes. Online jail records show Elliott, who lives in Dunreith, was arrested Thursday and booked into Delaware County Jail without bond.
The arrest stems from accusations made by a 14-year-old who told police that Elliott sexually assaulted her in the back of an ambulance during a February transport from Muncie to Monroe County.
The alleged victim came forward on March 16 and told Indiana State Police investigators that an EMT had forced her into sexual contact while taking her to a medical facility in Bloomington.
The juvenile said that Elliott, who is listed as an EMT for Quest Ambulance Service, began showing her pictures and videos on his cell phone during the transport. The files reportedly included photos of Elliott’s genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activities.
Elliott is then alleged to have groped the teenager under her clothes and exposed himself to her. The girl said this led to Elliott sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance while en route to Bloomington.
The 14-year-old said that, after the assault, Elliott provided her with his “Mr. Fogger” nicotine vape as well as his phone. The girl told officers she signed into her Instagram account on Elliott’s phone, and court documents state she failed to log off after leaving the ambulance.
It was through the girl’s Instagram account that Elliott allegedly found a second juvenile victim. Identified as Victim 2 in court documents, Elliott reportedly began messaging the 13-year-old girl on Instagram. Throughout his conversations, the 37-year-old EMT is alleged to have:
- Called the juvenile a “young sl-t”
- Lied about his age, claiming he was 18 years old
- Sent a picture of himself only wearing a towel
- Made “sexually suggestive” comments about “good naughty girls”
- Told the 13-year-old girl she “looks cute”
During an interview with Elliott conducted on March 25, the EMT reportedly admitted to letting the 14-year-old use his phone and nicotine vape. However, he denied any sexual contact with the girl and said that any nude images she may have seen on his phone were an accident.
After uncovering “corroborating evidence” from both Elliott’s cell phone and the victim’s Instagram account, police requested that a warrant be filed for his arrest. Online court records show that the warrant was granted on Thursday.
Indiana State Police said that Elliott was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop. Delaware County Jail records show Elliott was booked around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He now faces the following several Level 4 felony charges including child seduction, child solicitation, and sexual conduct with a minor.
No other information was included in the probable cause affidavit filed against Elliott.
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