A recent federal survey reveals encouraging trends in mental health and substance use among young people in the United States. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, recently released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shows continued improvements in several key metrics for adolescents and young adults.
The survey data, which allows for trend analysis from 2021 to 2025, found that fewer adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported using tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and engaging in binge drinking in the previous month. Furthermore, this age group showed a decrease in illicit drug and marijuana use, initiation of alcohol or marijuana use, and vaping in the past year. Declining trends were also observed for substance use disorders, alcohol use disorders, and drug use disorders among adolescents.
Additionally, adolescents reported fewer major depressive episodes and a reduction in serious thoughts of suicide, planning a suicide, and suicide attempts. Young adults aged 18 to 25 experienced similarly positive trends.
Despite these improvements, the survey highlights that a significant number of young people still face mental health challenges. Nearly 20% of adolescents reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms in the two weeks preceding the survey, a considerably higher rate than the approximately 7% of adults over 18 who reported similar symptoms.
Overall, the survey indicated that more than half of individuals over 12 years old used an illicit drug, drank alcohol, used tobacco, or vaped nicotine in the preceding month. Specific figures show 44% consumed alcohol, 16% used a tobacco product, 10% vaped nicotine, and 16% used an illicit drug.
Experts acknowledge the promising trends but emphasize that more work is needed. "There's still a lot of work to be done," said Robyn Oster, policy director for the Partnership to End Addiction. She noted that nearly 45 million people still have a substance use disorder and that a vast majority of those needing treatment do not receive it, with over 80% not getting substance use treatment in the past year, let alone quality care.