Record numbers of teens now abstain, a trend starting during the Covid pandemic and continuing to the present

Summary

Teen drug, alcohol, and tobacco use in the U.S. continues to decline, with record-low usage levels reported in 2023, according to the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future survey.

Among 12th graders, 66% reported no recent use of alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, while 80% of 10th graders and 90% of 8th graders avoided these substances entirely.

Experts attribute the decline partly to reduced peer pressure during the pandemic.

However, nicotine pouch use has doubled among 12th graders, raising concerns.

Despite pop culture’s glamorization of smoking, teen cigarette use remains low.

  • @SmokeydopeEnglish
    14•2 days ago

    They don’t want to admit that its because legal recreational pot usage is on the rise as a safer alternative to nicotine and alcohol

    • @[email protected]English
      7•2 days ago

      Who’s “they”? This is a university study, not one sponsored by Budweiser/Marlboro.

      Also, they didn’t bother separating based on legality, but did research marijuana use and no, it’s not on the rise:

      The results show that a whopping 66% of 12th graders reported no use of alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes or e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. This is the highest abstinence rate recorded since the survey began tracking it in 2017.

      Also surprising is that marijuana usage among teens is declining – despite a notable upward trend for adults across the US.