The Marijuana Health Monitoring Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is tasked with collecting data to monitor marijuana related health effects and marijuana use/consumption trends per 25-1.5-110 C.R.S. The program has worked with our partners to explore data sources that contain information relevant to marijuana use/consumption and health effects surveillance. Marijuana use/consumption in Colorado is determined using data from population-based surveys and surveillance of health effects is determined using data from health incident databases. Below is a brief description of each data source we use by topic area. Scroll down and click on each data source to explore the data in detail.
► Marijuana Use/consumption
Adult Marijuana Use/consumption
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS)
CDPHE’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) is an annual telephone survey of Colorado adults ages 18 years and older. BRFSS asks survey participants questions about recent marijuana use, consumption patterns (frequency and methods of use), and perceptions of marijuana.
Youth Marijuana Use
Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS)
CDPHE’s Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) is a biennial survey administered in participating high school and middle schools in Colorado. HKCS asks students questions about recent marijuana use patterns (frequency and methods of use), and perceptions of marijuana.
Pregnancy, Young Children, & Marijuana
Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)
CDPHE’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a one-time survey delivered by mail or phone to women who recently had a live birth in Colorado. PRAMS asks questions to women about marijuana use/consumption before, during, and postpartum.
Child Health Survey (CHS)
CDPHE’s Child Health Survey (CHS) was an online (2018-2019) survey conducted among BRFSS participants to ask additional questions in households with children 1 to 14 years old. CHS asks questions about marijuana presence and use in these homes. Note: CHS was discontinued in 2019; please see Health eMoms.
► Health Effects
Emergency Department & Hospital Discharges
The Colorado Hospital Association
CDPHE conducts surveillance of marijuana-related health events through discharges containing at least one marijuana-related billing code. The Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) collects data on hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) discharges from participating hospitals in the state of Colorado.
CDPHE conducts surveillance of marijuana-related health events through calls voluntarily made to Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety (RMPDS). RMPDS serves as the regional poison center for Colorado and used by the general public and medical professionals seeking advice on exposures or to report adverse events.