U.S. Survey Shows Decline in Teen Drug Use and Mental‑Health Issues
A recent report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) covering 2021‑2025 finds notable improvements among adolescents and young adults. Fewer 12‑ to 17‑year‑olds reported using tobacco, alcohol, marijuana or binge‑drinking in the past month, and declines were also seen in illicit‑drug use, initiation of drinking, vaping and substance‑use disorders over the preceding year. The survey recorded lower rates of major depressive episodes and fewer serious thoughts of suicide, plans and attempts among teens. Among 18‑ to 25‑year‑olds, similar positive trends were observed.
However, challenges remain: about one‑fifth of adolescents reported moderate or severe anxiety symptoms in the prior two weeks, and more than half of individuals aged 12 and older used at least one substance (44% drank alcohol, 16% used tobacco, 10% vaped nicotine and 16% used an illicit drug) in the past month. Robyn Oster, policy director of the Partnership to End Addiction, highlighted that roughly 45 million Americans still have a substance‑use disorder and that over 80% of those needing treatment did not receive it last year.
Entities: National Survey on Drug Use and Health · Partnership to End Addiction · Robyn Oster · Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Adolescents reported fewer serious thoughts of suicide, suicide plans and attempts. (SAMHSA survey)
- [● 3 SOURCES] More than half of people aged 12 and older used at least one substance (alcohol, tobacco, nicotine vaping or illicit drugs) in the past month. (SAMHSA survey)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Adolescents showed declines in illicit‑drug use, initiation of drinking, vaping and substance‑use disorders over the past year. (SAMHSA survey)
- [● 3 SOURCES] SAMHSA released a report covering trends from 2021 to 2025. (SAMHSA)
- [● 3 SOURCES] About 20% of surveyed adolescents had moderate or severe anxiety symptoms in the previous two weeks. (SAMHSA survey)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Adolescents reported lower rates of major depressive episodes. (SAMHSA survey)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Fewer adolescents aged 12‑17 reported using tobacco, alcohol, marijuana or binge‑drinking in the past month. (SAMHSA survey)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 45 million Americans still have a substance‑use disorder and over 80% of those needing treatment did not receive it last year. (Robyn Oster, Partnership to End Addiction)