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.
I lied on those “anonymous” drug use surveys in highschool even when they were hand written because I was worried they would match the way I full in bubbles with a test I had my name on or something. (Maybe I was a little nuts back then…) I’m sure those surveys are now done via an email link on your own devices or some shit. Why wouldn’t they lie?