A large majority of teens in the United States are now abstaining from drinking alcohol and using substances, according to the findings of an annual national survey.
The survey from Monitoring the Future, a federally funded study, polled 24,000 students in grades 8, 10, and 12 across the country to determine substance use in teens. The study has served as a vital resource for policymakers and health officials seeking to understand drug and alcohol use among the US youth since its inception in 1975.
Survey on Substance Use Among Teens
Conducted by researchers with the University of Michigan, the survey revealed that two-thirds of students in the 12th grade abstained from drinking alcohol and using marijuana, cigarettes, and e-cigarettes over the past year. That is the highest level of abstinence recorded among teens since 2016.
To be specific, only 41.7% of 12th graders said they drank alcohol in the past 12 months, dropping from 45.7% in 2023 and 55.6% in 2016. When it comes to marijuana, 25.8% of teens said they used cannabis this year, falling from 29% in 2023 and 35.6% in 2016.
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Vaping rates also fell to 21% among 12th graders this year, marking a 2.2% decrease from last year's 23.2%. That said, it is slightly higher than the 18.8% usage rate recorded in 2017---the first year the study tracked the use of e-cigarettes.
The decrease in substance use was also recorded among 9th and 10th graders. The percentage of students in the 10th grade who abstained from substance use rose from 69% to 80%. Among 8th graders, the rate of abstinence increased from 87% to 90%.
How About Nicotine Pouches?
Despite tracking a downward trajectory in the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana, there was a significant increase in the use of nicotine pouches. The use rose to 6% among 12th graders and 3% among 10th graders.
Nicotine pouches are small, tobacco-free products designed to deliver nicotine to users without the need for smoking. These pouches are usually placed between the user's lip and gum, making them less noticeable than cigarettes or vaping devices. Because these pouches contain nicotine, they could be highly addictive to teens.
Nicotine exposure during adolescents can negatively impact brain development, particularly learning, attention span, and memory. It could also lead to increased impulsivity, anxiety, and ADHD-type cognitive symptoms, per Yale Medicine.
