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U.S. Teen Substance Use Stays Near Record Lows for Fifth Year, With Small Upticks in Heroin and Cocaine

Researchers attribute the sustained drop to pandemic-era shifts in teen routines.

Overview

  • The 2025 Monitoring the Future survey found that 91% of 8th-graders, 82% of 10th-graders and 66% of 12th-graders reported no alcohol, marijuana or nicotine use in the prior month.
  • Researchers detected statistically significant but sub–1 percentage point increases in reported heroin and cocaine use in some grades.
  • Students were surveyed online in classrooms between February and June 2025, with 23,726 respondents across 270 public and private schools.
  • Use of newer products such as nicotine pouches and hemp-derived Delta-8 remained stable, though investigators are keeping them under close watch.
  • Daily energy drink consumption persisted at notable levels, with more than 20% of high school students and about 18% of tweens reporting daily use.