Teen drug use in US remains at record lows: Survey

What’s New

Teen substance use in the United States has stayed at record lows, according to findings from a federally funded survey released Tuesday.

Why It Matters

The Monitoring the Future survey is a key indicator of adolescent drug consumption trends in the U.S.

Since its inception in 1975, the data has served as a vital resource for policymakers, educators and health officials seeking to understand and address youth drug and alcohol use.

A stock image of a teenager with a joint, looking depressed. Teen marijuana use, which had been increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic, saw a notable decline during lockdowns and has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.

Tom Wichelow/PYMCA/Avalon/Getty Images

What To Know

Conducted by the University of Michigan, the survey revealed that two-thirds of 12th graders reported abstaining from alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the past 30 days—the highest level of abstinence since 2017, when the metric was first tracked.

Among younger students, the declines are even more pronounced.

Eighty percent of 10th graders said they had not used any of the aforementioned substances recently, marking another record low. Ninety percent of eighth graders reported the same result, consistent with the previous year’s findings.

While most substances saw no significant uptick, nicotine pouches emerged as a point of concern. About 6 percent of 12th graders reported using nicotine pouches in the past year, doubling from roughly 3 percent in 2023.

The survey’s findings are based on responses from approximately 24,000 students in eighth, 10th and 12th grades from schools across the U.S. It remains “one of the best, if not the best” data sources on teen drug use, said Noah Kreski, researcher at Columbia University who specializes in adolescent substance use.

The pandemic caused steep drops in teen substance use as lockdowns kept students at home and away from social settings where experimentation occurs. Experts expected a rebound post-pandemic, but rates remain low, suggesting lasting behavioral shifts.

What People Are Saying

Richard Miech, lead researcher, University of Michigan: “The pandemic stopped the cycle of new kids coming in and being recruited to drug use. Even before the pandemic, kids were spending more time at home and communicating via smartphones rather than hanging out in groups.”

Dr. Duncan Clark, psychiatrist at the University of Pittsburgh: “Some teens with anxiety are worried about the effects of substances. They may also be socially inhibited and have less opportunity to use drugs. It’s a complicated relationship.”

What Happens Next

While overall teen drug and alcohol use remains low, the increase in nicotine pouch use and the continued prevalence of alternative THC products like delta-8 warrant closer attention from researchers.

Health officials have called for further education on emerging substances, as well as sustained efforts to address adolescent mental health—another factor closely tied to substance use trends.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.