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.

Guam names retailers fined for selling tobacco to under-21 customers; penalties range from $2,000 to $4,000
Guam names retailers fined for selling tobacco to under-21 customers; penalties range from $2,000 to $4,000
Guam disclosed enforcement details for its 2025 tobacco retail compliance program, showing a 97.1% compliance rate among 277 inspected retailers. Nine violations were recorded, including eight underage sales cases and one signage violation, with fines ranging from $500 to $4,000.
Feb.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Canada: “I Want My Pouches” launches during National Non-Smoking Week to push easier adult access to nicotine pouches
Canada: “I Want My Pouches” launches during National Non-Smoking Week to push easier adult access to nicotine pouches
Canadian consumer advocacy group I Want My Pouches announced its launch during National Non-Smoking Week, calling for straightforward, consistent and practical adult access to nicotine pouches.
Jan.22 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Nicaragua’s Health Ministry reaffirms Resolution No. 334-2021, maintaining a total ban on vaping and e-cigarette sales
Nicaragua’s Health Ministry reaffirms Resolution No. 334-2021, maintaining a total ban on vaping and e-cigarette sales
Nicaragua’s Ministry of Health (MINSA) issued an official statement on January 2, 2026 reaffirming the validity of Ministerial Resolution No. 334-2021, which absolutely bans the use and commercialization of electronic nicotine delivery systems known as “vapeadores” or e-cigarettes.
Jan.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Australia: NSW police and ABF seize illicit tobacco and vapes worth over A$1.6 million in Sydney’s southwest
Australia: NSW police and ABF seize illicit tobacco and vapes worth over A$1.6 million in Sydney’s southwest
In Australia’s New South Wales, a joint operation in Sydney’s southwest led to the seizure of illicit tobacco and vape products valued at over A$1.6 million (about US$1.09 million) from a warehouse in Riverwood.
Jan.22 by 2FIRSTS.ai
BREAKING: China Brings Nicotine Pouches Under Tobacco Monopoly Regulation, Signaling Major Shift for Oral Products
BREAKING: China Brings Nicotine Pouches Under Tobacco Monopoly Regulation, Signaling Major Shift for Oral Products
China has for the first time issued clear regulatory rules for nicotine pouches and other oral nicotine products, formally classifying them under the tobacco monopoly alongside cigarettes and tobacco, ending a long-standing legal grey zone and laying the regulatory groundwork for their potential domestic launch.
Jan.09 by Alan Zhao | 2Firsts Perspectives
U.S. Fifth Circuit judges question FDA’s claim it has no de facto ban on flavored refillable e-cigarettes
U.S. Fifth Circuit judges question FDA’s claim it has no de facto ban on flavored refillable e-cigarettes
Law360 reports that a Fifth Circuit panel expressed skepticism about the FDA’s claim that it has no de facto ban on flavored refillable e-cigarette products, noting that only six applications had been approved out of hundreds of thousands and that near-100% denials look like a ban.
Jan.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai