While alarming statistics reveal that nearly one in six 12th graders used an illicit drug in the past year, the full picture of teen substance use is far more complex and extends far beyond just marijuana and alcohol.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 15.6% of 12th graders reported using any illicit drug in the past year, according to the Monitoring the Future survey
- Among 10th graders in 2022, past-year marijuana use was reported by 29.6%, per Monitoring the Future data
- 8th graders showed a past-month vaping nicotine rate of 5.5% in 2022, from Monitoring the Future
- Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among teens, with 15.5% past-year use ages 12-17 in 2021 per NSDUH
- Nicotine vaping past 30 days: 10% high school students 2021 CDC YRBS
- Alcohol past month use 18% among 12-17 year olds NSDUH 2021
- Girls aged 12-17 have higher prescription drug misuse rates than boys at 14% vs 12% NSDUH 2021
- Non-Hispanic white teens have highest marijuana use at 17% past year ages 12-17 NSDUH 2021
- Urban teens 12-17 show 12% illicit drug use past year vs 9% rural NSDUH 2021
- Among teens using marijuana daily, 25% also use nicotine products MTF 2022
- Teen marijuana users 2x more likely to develop cannabis use disorder by adulthood NIDA
- Vaping nicotine linked to 30% higher depression rates in high schoolers YRBS 2021
- Past-year illicit drug use among 12th graders dropped from 25% in 2012 to 20% in 2022 MTF
- Teen marijuana past 30-day use declined 40% from 2012 peak MTF 2022
- Nicotine vaping peaked 2020 at 19% high school then fell to 10% 2021 YRBS
Teen drug use includes significant marijuana, vaping, and alcohol consumption despite some declines.
Demographics
1Girls aged 12-17 have higher prescription drug misuse rates than boys at 14% vs 12% NSDUH 2021
Verified2Non-Hispanic white teens have highest marijuana use at 17% past year ages 12-17 NSDUH 2021
Verified3Urban teens 12-17 show 12% illicit drug use past year vs 9% rural NSDUH 2021
Verified4High school males report 7% cocaine use lifetime vs 4% females YRBS 2021
Directional516-17 year olds have 25% past-year marijuana use vs 10% for 12-13 NSDUH 2021
Single source6Hispanic teens vaping nicotine 12% past 30 days vs 9% white CDC 2021
Verified7Teens from low-income families (<$25k) 18% alcohol past month vs 14% high-income NSDUH 2021
Verified8LGBTQ+ high school students 35% marijuana use vs 22% straight YRBS 2021
Verified9Black teens lowest illicit drug use excluding marijuana at 8% past year 12-17 NSDUH 2021
Directional1012th grade females vaping marijuana 8.5% past month vs 6% males MTF 2022
Single source11Asian American teens lowest alcohol use 12% past year vs 30% white NSDUH 2021
Verified12Suburban teens 11% prescription misuse vs 9% urban MTF data avg
Verified13Teens with mental health issues 2x more likely to use drugs, 25% vs 12% NSDUH 2021
Verified14Male 12th graders 12% binge drinking past 2 weeks vs 9% females MTF 2022
Directional15Native American teens highest inhalant use 5% lifetime 12-17 NSDUH
Single source1610th grade boys 3% amphetamine misuse vs 2% girls MTF 2022
Verified17Obese teens less likely to use alcohol 15% vs 20% normal weight YRBS 2021
Verified18Teens in Northeast US highest ecstasy use 3.5% past year MTF 2022
Verified19Female 8th graders higher tranquilizer misuse 2.5% vs 1.8% boys MTF 2022
Directional20Pacific Islander teens vaping 15% past 30 days highest YRBS 2021
Single source21Single-parent household teens 16% drug use vs 11% two-parent NSDUH 2021
Verified2212th graders in West region 35% alcohol past month highest MTF 2022
Verified23Disabled teens 20% higher marijuana use YRBS 2021 data
Verified24College-bound 12th graders lower illicit drug use 12% vs non 18% MTF 2022
Directional25Immigrant teens lower drug use 9% vs US-born 14% NSDUH 2021
Single source26Frequent video gamers 18% nicotine vaping vs 8% non-gamers YRBS 2021
VerifiedDemographics Interpretation
These statistics paint a stark, nuanced portrait of a generation in which risk follows the fault lines of identity, geography, and circumstance, revealing that a teenager’s relationship with substances is less a simple choice and more a complex reflection of their access, pressures, and pain.
Drug Types
1Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among teens, with 15.5% past-year use ages 12-17 in 2021 per NSDUH
Verified2Nicotine vaping past 30 days: 10% high school students 2021 CDC YRBS
Verified3Alcohol past month use 18% among 12-17 year olds NSDUH 2021
Verified4Prescription opioids misused by 7% of 12th graders lifetime MTF 2022
Directional5MDMA/ecstasy past year 2.7% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Single source6Cocaine (powder) lifetime use 5.2% 12th graders 2022, MTF
Verified7Inhalants past year 2.8% 8th graders 2022 MTF
Verified8LSD past year 3.5% 12th graders 2022, MTF
Verified9Methamphetamine lifetime 1.3% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Directional10Heroin lifetime use 1.9% 12th graders 2022, MTF
Single source11Synthetic cannabinoids past year 1.0% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Verified12Benzodiazepines misused past year 4.3% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Verified13Cough medicine misuse for high past year 3.1% 12th graders 2022, MTF
Verified14Salvia lifetime 4.4% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Directional15Amphetamines misused past year 5.6% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Single source16Crack cocaine lifetime 2.4% 12th graders 2022, MTF
Verified17Mushrooms/psilocybin past year 4.1% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Verified18Bath salts/cathinones lifetime <1% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Verified19Steroids lifetime 1.2% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Directional20Nicotine pouches past year 8.1% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Single source21Fentanyl-laced pills awareness but use low, 1.5% suspected 12th graders 2022 MTF
Verified22Delta-8 THC past year 11.5% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Verified23Ketamine lifetime 2.0% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Verified24PCP lifetime <0.5% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Directional25Xanax/Alprazolam misused past year 5.2% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Single source26OxyContin misused lifetime 3.8% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Verified27Vicodin lifetime misuse 5.7% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Verified28Adderall misused past year 10.3% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Verified29Ritalin misused lifetime 4.1% 12th graders 2022 MTF
DirectionalDrug Types Interpretation
If your idea of extracurricular activities includes a statistically significant menu of risk, then the portrait of modern adolescence is painted in concerning shades of self-medication, experimental curiosity, and a perilous gamble with substances that range from the unfortunately familiar to the terrifyingly potent.
Health Impacts
1Among teens using marijuana daily, 25% also use nicotine products MTF 2022
Verified2Teen marijuana users 2x more likely to develop cannabis use disorder by adulthood NIDA
Verified3Vaping nicotine linked to 30% higher depression rates in high schoolers YRBS 2021
Verified4Binge drinking teens 4x risk of alcohol dependence later CDC
Directional5Opioid misuse in teens leads to 1 in 5 developing OUD within 2 years NIH
Single source6Cocaine use associated with 40% increased heart issues in young users AHA
Verified7LSD use correlates with 15% higher psychosis risk in vulnerable teens NIDA
Verified8Inhalant abuse causes sudden death in 1/5 first-time teen users CDC
Verified9Methamphetamine use in teens doubles stroke risk NIH
Directional10Heroin overdose death rate among 15-24 rose 500% 1999-2020 CDC
Single source11Daily cannabis vaping impairs lung function by 20% in teens study JAMA
Verified12Prescription stimulant misuse raises heart attack risk 3x in adolescents AHA
Verified13Teen ecstasy users 3x more likely to have serotonin syndrome NIH
Verified14BZD misuse leads to overdose in 10% of teen ER visits SAMHSA
Directional15Synthetic cannabis causes kidney failure in 25% hospitalized teens CDC
Single source16Alcohol use before 15 triples addiction risk by 25 JAMA Pediatrics
Verified17Nicotine addiction develops in 25% teen vapers within weeks NIDA
Verified18Fentanyl in fake pills caused 70% teen opioid deaths 2021 CDC
Verified19Chronic teen marijuana use shrinks brain volume 8% MRI study NIH
Directional20Teen inhalant use linked to 50% higher cognitive deficits NIDA
Single source21Delta-8 THC hospitalizations up 82% in teens 2021 Poison Control
Verified22Cocaine teens 5x ER visits for chest pain CDC
Verified23Meth psychosis persists 20% teen users long-term NIH
VerifiedHealth Impacts Interpretation
The teenage brain appears to be running a terrifying experiment where trying everything once might literally mean trying everything once.
Trends
1Past-year illicit drug use among 12th graders dropped from 25% in 2012 to 20% in 2022 MTF
Verified2Teen marijuana past 30-day use declined 40% from 2012 peak MTF 2022
Verified3Nicotine vaping peaked 2020 at 19% high school then fell to 10% 2021 YRBS
Verified4Alcohol use past month 12th graders down 10% since 2010 MTF 2022
Directional5Prescription opioid misuse halved from 10% to 4% 12th graders 2012-2022 MTF
Single source6Cocaine use stable low 2% teens past decade NSDUH
Verified7LSD use up 50% since 2017 among 12th graders MTF 2022
Verified8Inhalant use down 60% since 1990s among 8th graders MTF
Verified9Heroin use dropped 80% post-2016 MTF 12th graders
Directional10Vaping any substance peaked 2019 then declined 25% YRBS
Single source11Amphetamine misuse stable 5% decade MTF 2022
Verified12Binge drinking down 25% 12th graders 2005-2022 MTF
Verified13Synthetic marijuana use crashed from 10% to 1% 2011-2022 MTF
Verified14Ecstasy/MDMA up from 1.5% to 3% 12th graders 2016-2022 MTF
Directional15Cigarette smoking lifetime down 70% since 1991 MTF 12th graders
Single source16Delta-8 THC emerged new 10% use 2022 MTF
Verified17Tranquilizer misuse down 50% since 2002 MTF
Verified18Overall illicit drug use lowest since 1991 for 8th graders MTF 2022
Verified19Nicotine pouch use new up to 8% 12th graders 2022 MTF
Directional20Teen overdose deaths up 94% 2019-2021 CDC NVSS
Single source21Marijuana initiation age stable 17.5 years past decade NSDUH
Verified22Fentanyl driving teen opioid deaths 80% increase 2019-2022 CDC
Verified23Hallucinogen use rising post-COVID 12th graders MTF 2022
Verified24Alcohol decline continues 15 years straight MTF
DirectionalTrends Interpretation
While most teen substance use trends are promising, the alarming rise in overdose deaths and potent synthetics like fentanyl starkly reminds us that progress in one area can mask a deadly shift to more dangerous substances.
Usage Prevalence
1In 2022, 15.6% of 12th graders reported using any illicit drug in the past year, according to the Monitoring the Future survey
Verified2Among 10th graders in 2022, past-year marijuana use was reported by 29.6%, per Monitoring the Future data
Verified38th graders showed a past-month vaping nicotine rate of 5.5% in 2022, from Monitoring the Future
Verified4Past-year hallucinogen use among 12th graders was 3.6% in 2022, Monitoring the Future survey
Directional510th grade past-year cocaine use stood at 1.6% in 2022, per Monitoring the Future
Single source6NSDUH 2021 data indicates 29.2% of youth aged 12-17 used alcohol in the past year
Verified7Lifetime cigarette smoking among high school students was 11.3% in 2021, CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Verified8Past-30-day binge drinking among 12-17 year olds was 5.6% in 2021 NSDUH
Verified94.0% of 8th graders used marijuana in the past month in 2022, Monitoring the Future
Directional10Past-year prescription opioid misuse among 12th graders was 4.3% in 2022, MTF
Single source1121.3% of high school students used marijuana ever in their lifetime per 2021 YRBS
Verified12NSDUH reports 3.5% past-year heroin use initiation among 12-17 year olds in 2021
Verified132.1% of 10th graders reported past-year methamphetamine use in 2022, MTF
Verified14Past-month alcohol use among 12th graders was 29.1% in 2022, Monitoring the Future
Directional151.8% lifetime inhalant use among 8th graders in 2022, MTF
Single source16CDC 2021 YRBS: 5.9% of high schoolers used cocaine
Verified17NSDUH 2021: 10.2% past-year illicit drug use excluding marijuana for 12-17
Verified187.4% of 12th graders vaped marijuana in past month 2022, MTF
Verified19Past-year synthetic marijuana use 1.0% among 12th graders 2022, MTF
Directional203.2% of high school students injected drugs lifetime, 2021 YRBS
Single source21NIDA reports 4% teen past-year ecstasy use average 2019-2022
Verified2214.7% of 12th graders used Adderall nonmedically past year 2022, MTF
Verified23CDC: 29% high schoolers ever used marijuana 2021
Verified24NSDUH: 1.4% past-year hallucinogen use 12-17 yo 2021
Directional256.1% 10th graders past-month alcohol 2022, MTF
Single source260.8% 12th graders past-year heroin use 2022, MTF
Verified27Lifetime vaping any substance 39.1% high school 2021 YRBS
Verified28Past-year tranquilizer misuse 2.6% 12th graders 2022, MTF
Verified29NSDUH 2021: 2.3% cocaine use past year 12-17
DirectionalUsage Prevalence Interpretation
While these statistics reveal a troubling landscape of teen experimentation, the true concern lies not just in the percentages but in the reality that behind each number is a young person navigating a minefield of poor choices, where a single misstep with substances like opioids or cocaine can rewrite their future far more dramatically than their algebra final.
Sources & References
- Reference 1MONITORINGTHEFUTUREmonitoringthefuture.orgVisit source
- Reference 2SAMHSAsamhsa.govVisit source
- Reference 3CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 4NIDAnida.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 5HEARTheart.orgVisit source
- Reference 6JAMANETWORKjamanetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 7NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source