With 5.0% of students reporting any illicit drug use in the past 30 days in 2023 and 7.6% using alcohol during the same period, this post breaks down the latest teenage drug abuse numbers by substance, age, and trends to show what is changing and what needs attention.
Key Takeaways
- 5.0% of students reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days in 2023
- 1.3% of students reported using marijuana (THC) daily or near-daily in 2023
- 3.8% of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past 30 days in 2023
- In 2022, there were 1,861 overdose deaths among adolescents aged 12–17 years in the United States
- In 2022, there were 3,824 overdose deaths among ages 18–19 years in the United States
- Between 2019 and 2022, the overdose death rate for ages 12–17 increased by 94%
- In 2021, there were 60,573 emergency department visits involving opioid overdoses for ages 12–17 in the US
- In 2021, there were 118,680 emergency department visits involving opioid overdoses for ages 18–25 in the US
- In 2021, there were 1,995 emergency department visits involving stimulant overdoses for ages 12–17
- In 2022, there were 9,361,000 substance use treatment admissions among people aged 12–17 in the US (estimated)
- In 2022, 1,231,000 adolescents aged 12–17 received substance use treatment (estimated)
- SAMHSA estimated that 909,000 adolescents aged 12–17 had a substance use disorder in 2022
- A 2018 CDC study reported that 1 in 4 adolescents were offered or provided prescription opioids by someone else (lifetime exposure) (US, youth survey estimate)
- In 2017, 6.2% of high school students reported taking prescription pain relievers without a prescription in the past month
- In 2019, 5.6% of high school students reported using prescription drugs without a prescription in the past month
In 2023, 5% of students reported any illicit drug use in the past month, with most involving marijuana.
Prevalence Rates
15.0% of students reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified21.3% of students reported using marijuana (THC) daily or near-daily in 2023[1]
Verified33.8% of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified42.0% of 12th graders reported using vaping nicotine in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Directional51.2% of 10th graders reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Single source60.8% of 8th graders reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified73.7% of students reported using marijuana at least once in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified82.0% of students reported using prescription drugs (nonmedical) in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified90.7% of students reported using cocaine in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Directional100.2% of students reported using heroin in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Single source110.9% of students reported using hallucinogens in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified120.3% of students reported using inhalants in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified131.6% of students reported using any prescription opioid (nonmedical) in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified140.4% of students reported using MDMA/ecstasy in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Directional150.6% of students reported using synthetic marijuana (“K2/Spice”) in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Single source160.5% of students reported using misused prescription stimulants in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified171.0% of 12th graders reported using prescription sedatives (nonmedical) in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified180.6% of 10th graders reported using prescription sedatives (nonmedical) in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified190.4% of 8th graders reported using prescription sedatives (nonmedical) in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Directional202.5% of students reported using marijuana one or more times in the past 12 months in 2023[1]
Single source211.0% of students reported using any illicit drug one or more times in the past 12 months in 2023[1]
Verified227.6% of students reported using alcohol in the past 30 days in 2023[1]
Verified232.6% of students reported binge drinking (5+ drinks in a row in past 2 weeks) in 2023[1]
Verified240.7% of students reported using inhalants in the past 12 months in 2023[1]
Directional250.6% of students reported using hallucinogens in the past 12 months in 2023[1]
Single source260.4% of students reported using cocaine in the past 12 months in 2023[1]
Verified270.2% of students reported using heroin in the past 12 months in 2023[1]
Verified283.8% of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past 30 days in 2022[2]
Verified294.2% of students reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days in 2019[3]
Directional304.0% of students reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days in 2020[4]
Single source314.3% of students reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days in 2021[5]
Verified325.1% of students reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days in 2017[6]
Verified332.1% of high school students reported using cocaine in their lifetime (2015)[7]
Verified346.9% of high school students reported using marijuana in the past 30 days (2023)[8]
Directional352.5% of high school students reported using opioids without a prescription in the past 30 days (2023)[8]
Single source366.1% of high school students reported using any tobacco product in the past 30 days (2023)[8]
Verified3711.5% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days (2023)[8]
Verified387.4% of high school students reported using vaping products in the past 30 days (2023)[8]
Verified393.3% of high school students reported current use of marijuana (past 30 days) in 2021[8]
Directional403.2% of high school students reported using synthetic marijuana (“K2/Spice”) in the past 12 months (2023)[8]
Single source411.7% of high school students reported using cocaine in the past 12 months (2023)[8]
Verified420.8% of high school students reported using heroin in their lifetime (2023)[8]
Verified439.0% of high school students reported ever using marijuana (2023)[8]
Verified441.5% of high school students reported current cocaine use in 2023[8]
Directional452.6% of high school students reported using prescription stimulants without a prescription in the past 30 days (2023)[8]
Single source464.0% of high school students reported using prescription opioids without a prescription in the past 12 months (2023)[8]
Verified475.5% of high school students reported using prescription opioids without a prescription in their lifetime (2023)[8]
Verified481.1% of high school students reported misusing tranquilizers or sedatives in the past 30 days (2023)[8]
Verified494.0% of high school students reported misusing prescription stimulants in the past 12 months (2023)[8]
Directional502.3% of high school students reported using LSD in the past 12 months (2023)[8]
Single source511.2% of high school students reported using ecstasy/MDMA in the past 12 months (2023)[8]
Verified522.0% of high school students reported using inhalants in the past 12 months (2023)[8]
Verified531.4% of high school students reported using marijuana daily or near-daily in the past 30 days (2023)[8]
Verified542023: 16.1% of high school students reported using marijuana in the past 12 months[9]
Directional552023: 9.7% of high school students reported using marijuana one or more times in the past 30 days[9]
Single source562023: 5.9% of high school students reported using any illicit drug (excluding marijuana) in the past 12 months[9]
VerifiedPrevalence Rates Interpretation
In 2023, marijuana remains the most commonly used drug among teenagers, with 5.0% reporting any illicit drug use in the past 30 days while 3.7% reported marijuana use at least once in that same period.
Overdose & Mortality
1In 2022, there were 1,861 overdose deaths among adolescents aged 12–17 years in the United States[10]
Verified2In 2022, there were 3,824 overdose deaths among ages 18–19 years in the United States[10]
Verified3Between 2019 and 2022, the overdose death rate for ages 12–17 increased by 94%[10]
Verified4Between 2019 and 2022, the overdose death rate for ages 18–19 increased by 69%[10]
Directional5In 2022, the overdose death rate for ages 12–17 was 8.7 per 100,000[10]
Single source6In 2022, the overdose death rate for ages 18–19 was 35.1 per 100,000[10]
Verified7In 2021, 1,940 overdose deaths occurred among adolescents aged 12–17 years in the United States[10]
Verified8In 2020, there were 1,642 overdose deaths among adolescents aged 12–17 years in the United States[10]
Verified9In 2019, there were 1,187 overdose deaths among adolescents aged 12–17 years in the United States[10]
Directional10In 2022, there were 1,571 overdose deaths among males aged 12–17 years[10]
Single source11In 2022, there were 290 overdose deaths among females aged 12–17 years[10]
Verified12In 2022, males aged 12–17 had an overdose death rate of 12.2 per 100,000[10]
Verified13In 2022, females aged 12–17 had an overdose death rate of 4.5 per 100,000[10]
Verified14In 2022, opioid-involved overdose deaths accounted for 91.0% of adolescent overdose deaths (12–17)[10]
Directional15In 2022, synthetic opioid-involved overdose deaths accounted for 68.8% of adolescent overdose deaths (12–17)[10]
Single source16In 2022, 3.8% of overdose deaths among ages 12–17 involved cocaine[10]
Verified17In 2022, 8.5% of overdose deaths among ages 18–19 involved cocaine[10]
Verified18In 2022, 28.4% of overdose deaths among ages 12–17 involved benzodiazepines[10]
Verified19In 2022, 35.1% of overdose deaths among ages 18–19 involved benzodiazepines[10]
Directional20In 2022, 46.5% of overdose deaths among ages 12–17 were among White individuals[10]
Single source21In 2022, 34.9% of overdose deaths among ages 12–17 were among Black individuals[10]
Verified22In 2022, 9.8% of overdose deaths among ages 12–17 were among Hispanic individuals[10]
Verified23In 2022, 48.2% of overdose deaths among ages 18–19 were among White individuals[10]
Verified24In 2022, 29.8% of overdose deaths among ages 18–19 were among Black individuals[10]
Directional25In 2022, 11.0% of overdose deaths among ages 18–19 were among Hispanic individuals[10]
Single sourceOverdose & Mortality Interpretation
From 2019 to 2022, the overdose death rate among ages 12 to 17 nearly doubled with a 94% increase, reaching 8.7 per 100,000 in 2022, while opioids drove the majority at 91.0% of adolescent overdose deaths.
Health System Impact
1In 2021, there were 60,573 emergency department visits involving opioid overdoses for ages 12–17 in the US[11]
Verified2In 2021, there were 118,680 emergency department visits involving opioid overdoses for ages 18–25 in the US[11]
Verified3In 2021, there were 1,995 emergency department visits involving stimulant overdoses for ages 12–17[11]
Verified4In 2021, there were 12,662 emergency department visits involving stimulant overdoses for ages 18–25[11]
Directional5In 2020, there were 43,732 emergency department visits involving opioid overdoses for ages 12–17[11]
Single source6Between 2010 and 2019, the rate of adolescent drug overdose emergency department visits increased from 15.8 per 10,000 to 34.0 per 10,000[12]
Verified7In 2021, 7,010 adolescents aged 12–17 were hospitalized for opioid overdose in the US[11]
Verified8In 2021, 18,030 young adults aged 18–25 were hospitalized for opioid overdose in the US[11]
Verified9In 2021, there were 1,118 inpatient admissions for opioid overdose among ages 12–17[11]
DirectionalHealth System Impact Interpretation
In 2021, opioid overdose emergency department visits were nearly twice as high for ages 18–25 (118,680) as for ages 12–17 (60,573), and across 2010 to 2019 the adolescent overdose rate climbed from 15.8 to 34.0 per 10,000.
Treatment & Outcomes
1In 2022, there were 9,361,000 substance use treatment admissions among people aged 12–17 in the US (estimated)[13]
Verified2In 2022, 1,231,000 adolescents aged 12–17 received substance use treatment (estimated)[13]
Verified3SAMHSA estimated that 909,000 adolescents aged 12–17 had a substance use disorder in 2022[13]
Verified4In 2022, 84.7% of adolescents with a substance use disorder did not receive specialty treatment[13]
Directional5In 2022, only 15.3% of adolescents with a substance use disorder received specialty treatment[13]
Single source6In 2020, 39% of adolescents with substance use disorders received treatment (among those who needed it)[14]
Verified714.6% of adolescents aged 12–17 who needed but did not receive treatment received no specialty care in 2019 (estimated)[15]
Verified8Only 1 in 10 adolescents with a substance use disorder receive treatment (estimated)[16]
Verified9In 2021, 81.0% of youth substance use disorder treatment admissions were in outpatient settings[17]
Directional10In 2021, 19.0% of youth substance use disorder treatment admissions were in residential/inpatient settings[17]
Single source11In 2022, 20.9% of adolescents reported needing treatment but not receiving it (estimated)[13]
Verified12In 2021, adolescents aged 12–17 represented 7.4% of all substance use disorder admissions to specialty treatment facilities[18]
Verified13In 2021, 18.2% of adolescents receiving treatment had a primary diagnosis of cannabis use disorder[19]
Verified14In 2021, 6.7% of adolescents receiving treatment had a primary diagnosis of opioid use disorder[19]
DirectionalTreatment & Outcomes Interpretation
In 2022, about 909,000 adolescents aged 12–17 had a substance use disorder but only 15.3% received specialty treatment, meaning roughly 84.7% went without it.
Risk Factors
1A 2018 CDC study reported that 1 in 4 adolescents were offered or provided prescription opioids by someone else (lifetime exposure) (US, youth survey estimate)[20]
Verified2In 2017, 6.2% of high school students reported taking prescription pain relievers without a prescription in the past month[21]
Verified3In 2019, 5.6% of high school students reported using prescription drugs without a prescription in the past month[22]
Verified4In 2021, 6.6% of high school students reported using prescription drugs without a prescription in the past year[8]
Directional5In 2017–2019, 22% of adolescents reported that their parents or guardians kept prescription opioids available at home[23]
Single source6In 2017–2019, 16% of adolescents reported that their parents or guardians did not secure prescription medications[23]
Verified7Adolescents who report peer disapproval of substance use show lower likelihood of use; in one analysis, perceived peer disapproval was associated with 30% lower odds of current marijuana use (study estimate)[24]
Verified8In a national survey analysis, adolescents with poor school connectedness had 2.1x higher odds of past-year substance use disorder diagnosis (study estimate)[25]
Verified9A meta-analysis found that impulsivity is associated with a 1.5 standard deviation increase in substance use risk among adolescents (meta-analytic effect size)[26]
Directional10A longitudinal study found that early initiation of alcohol/drugs increased the probability of later substance use by 1.8x (study estimate)[27]
Single source11In the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 4.1 million adolescents aged 12–17 had substance use disorder needs (estimated)[28]
Verified12In 2023 NSDUH, 2.7 million adolescents aged 12–17 had any substance use disorder (estimated)[28]
Verified13In 2023, 1.7 million adolescents aged 12–17 had a major depressive episode (estimated) (risk factor context for substance use)[28]
Verified14In 2023, 2.2 million adolescents aged 12–17 had co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder (estimated)[28]
Directional15In 2020, 18.0% of high school students reported mental health factors associated with increased substance use risk (CDC YRBS measure)[9]
Single source16In 2023, 22.2% of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless (CDC YRBS national)[9]
Verified17In 2023, 13.6% of high school students reported that they carried a weapon (risk factor context)[9]
Verified18In 2023, 7.9% of high school students reported that they did not go to school because they felt unsafe (risk factor context)[9]
VerifiedRisk Factors Interpretation
Across recent years, prescription drug misuse remains common and persistent, with 6.2% of high school students reporting nonmedical use in 2017 rising to 6.6% by 2021, while 4.1 million adolescents in 2023 had substance use disorder needs.
Behavioral Trends
1Between 2018 and 2023, the past-30-day marijuana use rate among high school students decreased from 7.6% to 6.9% (CDC YRBS national trend)[9]
Verified2Between 2018 and 2023, binge drinking among high school students increased from 10.6% to 11.5% (CDC YRBS national trend)[9]
Verified3Between 2018 and 2023, vaping among high school students increased from 10.5% to 7.4% (CDC YRBS trend; context includes 2020–2022 declines)[9]
Verified4In 2023, 9.0% of high school students reported ever using marijuana[8]
Directional5In 2023, 2.5% of high school students reported current opioid use without a prescription (past 30 days)[8]
Single source62023: 5.4% of 8th graders reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days (Monitoring the Future)[1]
Verified72023: 9.5% of 10th graders reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days (Monitoring the Future)[1]
Verified82023: 12.2% of 12th graders reported using any illicit drug in the past 30 days (Monitoring the Future)[1]
VerifiedBehavioral Trends Interpretation
From 2018 to 2023, marijuana use edged down from 7.6% to 6.9% while binge drinking rose from 10.6% to 11.5% and vaping shifted to 6.9% from 10.5%, even as illicit drug use in 2023 climbed with grade from 5.4% of 8th graders to 12.2% of 12th graders.
References
- 1monitoringthefuture.org/data/23data/tech24a.pdf
- 2monitoringthefuture.org/data/22data/tech22a.pdf
- 3monitoringthefuture.org/data/19data/tech19a.pdf
- 4monitoringthefuture.org/data/20data/tech20a.pdf
- 5monitoringthefuture.org/data/21data/tech21a.pdf
- 6monitoringthefuture.org/data/17data/tech17a.pdf
- 7samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt22251/SAMHSA/NSDUH/NSDUH2015.pdf
- 13samhsa.gov/data/report/2022-n-sduh-substance-use-and-mental-health-estimates
- 14samhsa.gov/data/report/substance-use-disorder-and-treatment-for-adolescents-in-the-united-states
- 15samhsa.gov/data/report/substance-use-disorder-and-treatment-adolescents
- 16samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_guide/short-report-1-in-10-adolescents.pdf
- 17samhsa.gov/data/report/behavioral-health-barometer
- 18samhsa.gov/data/report/substance-abuse-treatment-admissions
- 19samhsa.gov/data/report/substance-use-disorder-and-treatment
- 28samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-substance-use-mental-health-estimates
- 8cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/ss/ss7204a1.htm
- 9cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm
- 10cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db477.pdf
- 11cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7203a4.htm
- 12cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7102a2.htm
- 20cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6701a4.htm
- 21cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6704a4.htm
- 22cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/ss/ss7006a1.htm
- 23cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/ss/ss7206a1.htm
- 24jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2735147
- 25ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7473192/
- 27ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6908669/
- 26pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30041920/