According to the results of a new survey, the percentage of adolescents in the United States who reported using illicit substances in 2023 remained below the levels reported in 2020. The survey was conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). They collected 22,318 surveys from students enrolled in 235 public and private schools in the United States between February and June 2023.
The study found that reported use for almost all substances decreased dramatically between 2020 and 2021, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and related changes such as school closures and social distancing. It was noted that in 2022, most reported substance use among adolescents held steady at these lowered levels, and the latest data showed that this trend continued into 2023.
The survey revealed that the most commonly reported substance uses among adolescents were alcohol, nicotine vaping, and cannabis in the past year. The levels generally declined from or held steady with the lowered use reported in 2022.
NIDA director Nora Volkow emphasized the importance of delaying the start of substance use among young people. She stated that research has shown that even delaying substance use by one year can decrease substance use for the rest of their lives. Volkow also stressed the need to continue educating young people about the risks and harms of substance use, particularly emphasizing the potential presence of deadly fentanyl in illicit pills and other substances.
