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Drug use in teenagers has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to findings from a recent survey.
This year, nearly two-thirds of high school seniors reported abstaining from e-cigarettes, cannabis, alcohol, or cigarettes over the past month. This marks the highest abstinence rate since the annual nationwide survey began tracking this data in 2017.
Additionally, 80% of students in grade 10 said they had not used any of these substances recently, setting another record. Ninety percent of those in grade 8 said they did not use any of the substances, which is the same percentage as in the prior study.
The only notable rise in substance use was in nicotine pouch consumption, with approximately six percent of high school seniors using them in the past year, up from about three percent in 2023. However, it’s uncertain if this indicates the start of a larger trend. Richard Miech, the lead researcher for the survey conducted by the University of Michigan, commented, “It’s difficult to determine whether this is the beginning of a broader issue or not.”
The Monitoring the Future, funded by the federal government, has been collecting data since 1975. This year’s results are based on responses from roughly 24,000 students in grades 12, 10, and 8 across the U.S.
During the pandemic, schools shifted to remote learning, and gatherings like parties were discouraged. With teens staying home under parental oversight, experimentation with substances dropped significantly. Experts suggest that peer pressure, often experienced in group settings, plays a key role in initiating substance use.
When restrictions were lifted, many anticipated a partial return to previous levels of use. However, even before COVID-19, rates of drinking, smoking, and the use of certain drugs had been declining. Analysts attributed this trend to teenagers spending more time at home and connecting with peers through smartphones rather than in social gatherings, where substance use might occur.
Interestingly, cannabis and vaping, which had been increasing before the pandemic, also saw declines during this period—declines that have persisted since. Some analysts speculate that the lockdowns disrupted a cycle where older students introduce substances to younger ones. Teens who were in grade 9 during the pandemic may have missed opportunities to experiment, which also limited their influence on younger peers, according to Miech.
Mental health might also have contributed. Reports of anxiety and depression surged among teens during the pandemic. While depression can sometimes lead to substance use, some anxious teens avoid drugs, fearing their effects.
This survey dampens prohibitionists’ argument that legalizing marijuana and licensing companies like Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) would result in a spike in underage users of this substance.
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