Youth Substance Use Trends: Highest Rates in History

Aug.24.2022
Youth Substance Use Trends: Highest Rates in History
Marijuana and nicotine e-cigarette usage among young people hit historic highs in 2021, according to a report.

According to a report released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in the United States, in 2021, the usage rates of cannabis and nicotine electronic cigarettes among young people reached an all-time high level.


Dr. Megan E. Patrick and her colleagues at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research in Ann Arbor studied drug use prevalence and trends among young people dating back to 1975 in a monitoring group study. Participants were initially sampled in 12th grade at the age of 18, and then surveyed annually until the age of 30.


Researchers have found that in 2021, the most commonly used substances among young people in the past 12 months were alcohol, marijuana, nicotine e-cigarettes, marijuana e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and other drugs (at 81.8%, 42.6%, 21.8%, 18.7%, and 18.3% respectively). The report showed a binge-drinking rate of 32.0% and a daily marijuana use rate of 10.8%. From 2020 to 2021, there was an increase in monthly marijuana e-cigarette use, a decrease in daily alcohol consumption but an increase in binge drinking, returning to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. There was also an increase in monthly nicotine e-cigarette use, a decrease in non-medical use of narcotics other than heroin, and a decrease in non-medical use of some stimulants, including amphetamines, Adderall, cocaine, and methamphetamine.


In 2021, there was a high prevalence of cannabis, nicotine e-cigarettes, high-intensity alcohol, and hallucinogens other than LSD within a month, while smoking, excessive drinking, and the use of anesthetics other than heroin, Vicodin, and Oxycodone were at historically low levels.


Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, stated in a press release that "understanding how drug use affects young adults' future choices is crucial in helping the next generation avoid harm.


This article contains excerpts or reposts from third-party sources, and their copyright belongs to the original media and authors. If there is any infringement, please contact us for deletion. Any individuals or organizations who wish to repost must contact the author and refrain from reposting directly.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

2Firsts Special Report|China’s Nicotine Pouch Manufacturing Goes Global: A Supply Chain Reshaped and Redirected
2Firsts Special Report|China’s Nicotine Pouch Manufacturing Goes Global: A Supply Chain Reshaped and Redirected
China’s nicotine pouch manufacturing expanded rapidly in 2024 but cooled sharply in 2025. Meanwhile, global demand continued to grow strongly, with multinational tobacco companies increasing investment, prompting some Chinese manufacturers to accelerate the shift of production to Southeast Asia and Europe.
Nov.21
FDA Rolls Out Online PMTA Platform, a Move That 2Firsts Analysts Say Could Pull Grey-Market Products Toward Formal Compliance
FDA Rolls Out Online PMTA Platform, a Move That 2Firsts Analysts Say Could Pull Grey-Market Products Toward Formal Compliance
FDA’s launch of a web-based PMTA system signals faster reviews and, 2Firsts experts say, a possible inflection point for the U.S. e-cigarette market’s shift out of the grey zone.
Dec.04
WHO MOP4 Focuses on Justice and Prosecution to Combat Illicit Tobacco Trade
WHO MOP4 Focuses on Justice and Prosecution to Combat Illicit Tobacco Trade
The Fourth Meeting of the Parties (MOP4) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products opened in Geneva on November 24, 2025. With 60 Parties participating, the meeting focuses on strengthening legal action and international cooperation to combat illicit trade, which accounts for about 11% of the global tobacco market and costs governments billions in lost tax revenue.
Nov.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai
SKE’s Parent Company Yinghe Technology Reports 80% Drop in Q3 Net Profit, Revenue Up 22.85% Year-on-Year
SKE’s Parent Company Yinghe Technology Reports 80% Drop in Q3 Net Profit, Revenue Up 22.85% Year-on-Year
Yinghe Technology (SZ: 300457), parent company of SKE, saw Q3 net profit plunge 80.3% to 31.06 million yuan, while revenue rose 22.85% to 2.52 billion yuan. The decline was mainly driven by higher costs and expenses.
Oct.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Juul Wins UK Court Injunction, Ending Five-Year Legal Battle Against Chinese Vape Infringers
Juul Wins UK Court Injunction, Ending Five-Year Legal Battle Against Chinese Vape Infringers
The UK High Court has granted U.S. e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs a permanent injunction against four Chinese companies, bringing an end to a five-year patent and trademark infringement case. The defendants — Greensun Technology, Ouch, Gaish, and Airsmo Tech — failed to respond to any court communications or legal filings.
Oct.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Pakistan Speeds Up Local Nicotine Pouch Production as PMI Unit Prepares to Launch ZYN
Pakistan Speeds Up Local Nicotine Pouch Production as PMI Unit Prepares to Launch ZYN
Pakistan’s smokeless, tobacco-free nicotine pouch market has expanded rapidly in recent years, prompting major tobacco companies to accelerate local investments, with Philip Morris Pakistan Ltd. (PMPKL) set to produce ZYN at its Sahiwal facility.
Dec.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai