Michigan

Please be sure to read the data notes & limitations page. This explains many aspects of these comments, including how only changes over time can be discussed as statistically significant, and why the comparisons with national rates discuss data for selected subgroups.

Overview of Findings

Findings for Michigan were largely positive. Overall mortality for younger and older adolescents and motor vehicle crash mortality decreased, as did rates of riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol, binge drinking and marijuana use. Safety belt use increased. Rates remained flat for suicide, homicide, physical fighting, weapon carrying, suicide attempts requiring medical attention, sexual experience, current sexual activity, condom use, and tobacco use. A discouraging finding was an increase in overall mortality among young adults.

For most objectives, Michigan rates were either favorable or comparable to national rates. Favorable comparisons include lower overall mortality among older adolescents and young adults and motor vehicle crash mortality and a slightly higher rate of safety belt use. Michigan rates were similar to national rates for overall mortality among younger adolescents, homicide, suicide, riding with a driver who had been drinking, physical fighting, weapon carrying, sexual experience, current sexual activity, condom use, and tobacco use. However, Michigan had a higher rate of suicide attempts requiring medical attention than nationally.

Highlights of Findings by Objective

Jump To: Mortality; Unintentional Injury; Violence; Substance Use and Mental Health; Reproductive Health; Chronic Disease Prevention

Mortality

The rate of overall mortality in Michigan decreased among younger and older adolescents. Mortality increased slightly among young adults, with a large increase among White females. The rate for Black young adult males decreased substantially.  In 2007, males had higher rates than females; this gender difference was more than two-fold among older adolescents and young adults. Among younger adolescents, Blacks had a higher rate than Whites. Among older adolescents, Hispanics had the highest rate, followed by Blacks, then Whites. Among young adults, Blacks had the highest rate, followed by Hispanics, then Whites.

Comparison with national data. As in Michigan, national mortality rates decreased for younger and older adolescents, and increased among young adults. Also similar to Michigan, rates among Black young adults decreased. In 2007, the rate for younger adolescents roughly matched the national rate. The mortality rates for older adolescents and young adults in Michigan were slightly lower than national rates for those age groups, overall. However, rates among Hispanics and Blacks in Michigan were generally higher than national rates for these groups, especially among males. The national gender pattern roughly matched the pattern noted for Michigan. The national racial/ethnic patterns also matched the pattern in Michigan for younger adolescent and young adults. Among older adolescents, however, Blacks had the highest rate nationally, with Whites and Hispanics having roughly matching rates; in Michigan, by contrast, Hispanics had the highest rate, followed by Blacks then Whites.

Unintentional Injury

(motor vehicle crashes, safety belt use, & riding with a driver who has been drinking alcohol)

Please note the data for safety belt use are presented as “not wearing safety belt,” the inverse of the objective. This text describes safety belt use.

Adolescent mortality in Michigan due to motor vehicle crashes (MVC) decreased slightly from baseline. In 2007, males had twice the rate of females. Hispanics had by far the highest rate, followed by Whites, and then Blacks.

Comparison with national data. National adolescent MVC mortality overall was essentially flat from baseline compared to a small decrease in Michigan. In 2007, Michigan rates were lower than national rates overall. However, the rate for Hispanics was much higher in Michigan than nationally. The national gender pattern matched the pattern noted for Michigan. Also similar to Michigan, Blacks had the lowest rates of MVC mortality nationally. However, the national rates for Whites and Hispanics were roughly matching, in contrast to much higher rates for Hispanics in Michigan.

Rates of safety belt use in Michigan increased from baseline. In 2009, females had higher rates of safety belt use than males. Asians had the highest rate, followed by Whites. Adolescents of multiple races and Blacks had the next highest rates, followed by Hispanics; differences among these three groups were quite small.

Comparison with national data. National rates of safety belt use also decreased from baseline. In 2009, Michigan’s rate was slightly lower than the national rate. The national gender pattern matched the pattern in Michigan. Also similar to Michigan, Asians had the lowest rates and racial/ethnic differences were fairly small; Hispanics had the second highest rate nationally, in contrast to Michigan where Hispanics had the lowest rate.

Rates of adolescents in Michigan who report riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol decreased from baseline, with an especially large significant decrease among Whites males. In 2009, the rate among females and males was equal. Blacks had the highest rate, followed closely by Hispanics; adolescent of multiple races had the next highest rate, followed by Whites, and then Asians.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol also decreased from baseline. In 2009, the Michigan rate matched the national rate. The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns mostly matched the state pattern; one exception is that Blacks had a lower rate nationally relative to other groups, whereas this group had the highest rate in Michigan.

Violence

(homicide, physical fighting, weapon carrying)

The Michigan homicide rate among older adolescents was essentially flat from baseline; rates increased among Blacks in this age group.  Rates for other groups were based on fewer than 20 deaths, and thus were unsuitable for analyses.

Comparison with national data. The national homicide rate among older adolescents was also flat from baseline; the national rate among Blacks was also flat, in contrast to a small increase for that group in Michigan. In 2007, the Michigan homicide rate roughly matched the national rate overall; however, the Michigan rate for Blacks overall was higher than the national rate for this group, with a larger difference among Black males.

The Michigan rate of physical fighting did not change significantly from baseline; there was a significant decrease among Whites males. In 2009, males had a much higher rate than females. Blacks, adolescent of multiple races and Hispanics had the highest rates, with very small differences between these groups. Whites had the next highest rate, followed by Asians with a slightly lower rate.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of physical fighting decreased slightly from baseline, compared to no significant change in Michigan. In 2009, the Michigan rate matched the national rate. The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns roughly matched the patterns noted for Michigan.

The overall rate of weapon carrying among adolescents in Michigan was flat from baseline. In 2009, males had nearly four times the rate of females. Hispanics had the highest rates followed by Blacks and Whites, who had similar rates. Asians had the lowest rate.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of weapon carrying was also flat from baseline. In 2009, the Michigan rate roughly matched the national rate. The national gender pattern matched the pattern noted for Michigan. Also similar to Michigan, Asians had the lowest rate nationally. Whites had the highest rate nationally, followed by Blacks, then Hispanics, roughly the reverse of the pattern in Michigan.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

(binge drinking, marijuana use, suicide, suicide attempts requiring medical attention)

Rates of binge drinking in Michigan decreased from baseline overall, with a particularly large decrease among White males. In 2009, females and males had roughly matching rates. Hispanics had by far the highest rate, followed by Whites and adolescents of multiple races, who had matching rates. Blacks and Asians had similar rates, the lowest among racial/ethnic groups.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of adolescent binge drinking changed little from baseline compared to a decrease in Michigan. The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns mostly matched the patterns noted for Michigan. One exception is a lower national rate for Hispanics relative to other groups, in contrast to the very high rate for this group relative to others in Michigan.

Rates of marijuana use in Michigan declined from baseline. In 2009, males had a slightly higher rate than females. Hispanics had by far the highest rate, followed by Blacks and Whites, who had similar rates. Adolescents of multiple races had the next highest rate followed by Asians, who had the lowest rate among racial/ethnic groups.

Comparison with national data. Rates of marijuana use also declined slightly nationally. The national gender pattern matched the pattern noted in Michigan. Also similar to Michigan, Asians had the lowest rate. In contrast to Michigan, Whites had the highest rate nationally, followed by adolescents of multiple races, Blacks, and then Hispanics.

The Michigan suicide rate for older adolescents was essentially flat from baseline. Rates for most subgroups were based on fewer than 20 deaths and were thus unsuitable for analyses.

Comparison with national data. The national suicide rate was also flat from baseline. In 2007, the Michigan rate for older adolescents matched the national rate for that group.

The rate of adolescent suicide attempts in Michigan requiring medical attention was flat from baseline. In 2009 females had a higher rate than males. Hispanics had the highest rates followed by Blacks, Asians and then Whites.

Comparison with national data. The overall national rate of adolescent suicide attempts requiring medical attention decreased slightly from baseline, in contrast to a flat rate in Michigan. In 2009, the Michigan rate was higher than the national rate. The national gender pattern matched the pattern in Michigan. The national racial/ethnic pattern, however, was different. Nationally, Blacks had the highest rate, followed by Hispanics, Whites and then Asians. In Michigan, the differences in rates among racial/ethnic groups were larger than national differences.

Reproductive Health

(sexual inexperience, no current sexual activity, condom use)

Please note, for the first two objectives, the text and tables present findings about adolescents who are sexually experienced and currently sexually active, the inverse of the actual objective. For the third objective, the table presents findings for lack of condom use, the inverse of the objective. The text describes condom use. (See Data Notes & Limitations).

Michigan rates of adolescents having engaged in sexual intercourse were flat from baseline. In 2009, males had a slightly higher rate than females. Blacks had by far the highest rates among racial/ethnic groups, followed by Hispanics and then Whites.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of adolescents who were sexually experienced was also flat from baseline. In 2009, the overall Michigan rate matched the national rate. The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns matched the patterns noted for Michigan.

The rate of sexually experienced adolescents in Michigan reporting current sexual activity was flat from baseline. In 2009, females had a higher rate than males. Blacks had by far the highest rate, followed by Hispanics and then Whites.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of adolescents reporting being currently sexually active was also flat from baseline. In 2009, the Michigan rate matched the national rate. The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns matched the patterns noted for Michigan.

The rate of adolescent condom use in Michigan was flat from baseline. In 2009, males had a higher rate of condom use than females, and Blacks had a higher rate than Whites.

Comparison with national data. National rates of condom use were also flat from baseline. In 2009, the Michigan rate of condom use roughly matched the national rate. The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns were similar to those noted for Michigan.

Chronic Disease Prevention

(tobacco use)

Tobacco use in Michigan decreased substantially from baseline, overall and for most subgroups. In 2009, males had higher rates than females. Hispanics had by far the highest rate of tobacco use, followed by Whites, then Blacks and then Asians.

Comparison with national data. National rates of tobacco use also declined substantially from baseline. In 2009, the Michigan rate roughly matched the national rate; however, the Michigan rate for Hispanics was much higher than the national rate for that group. The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns were mostly similar to the patterns noted for Michigan. A notable exception was the higher rate for Hispanics relative to other groups in Michigan; nationally, by contrast, Hispanics had a lower rate than Whites.

Additional data may be available at: MI Department of Community Health