Teen Substance Use in the U.S. Hits Record Lows in 2024

A new study reveals a sustained decline in adolescent drug, alcohol, and nicotine use, defying expectations of a post-pandemic rebound.

The University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study found that 67% of high school seniors abstained from drugs, alcohol, and nicotine in 2024, up from 53% in 2017.
This decline is consistent across substances, including alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine vaping, with usage rates reaching their lowest levels since the 1990s.
Experts attribute the trend to factors such as pandemic-driven social isolation, increased reliance on social media for interaction, and growing health-consciousness among Gen Z teens.
Alcohol use among 12th graders dropped from 75% in 1997 to 42% in 2024, while marijuana use fell to 26%, the lowest in three decades.
Researchers emphasize the need to study these trends further to sustain the progress and address potential risks of rising technology and social media dependence.