The latest data from the National Institutes of Health's Monitoring the Future survey reveals that substance use among American adolescents has remained at historically low levels in 2024, continuing a trend that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual survey, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), collected responses from 24,257 students across 272 public and private schools nationwide between February and June 2024.
"This trend in the reduction of substance use among teenagers is unprecedented," said Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of NIDA. "We must continue to investigate factors that have contributed to this lowered risk of substance use to tailor interventions to support the continuation of this trend."
Key Findings Across Substances
The survey results show that alcohol, nicotine vaping, and cannabis continue to be the most commonly reported substances used by adolescents, though usage rates have either declined or remained stable compared to previous years.
Alcohol Use
Alcohol consumption remained stable among eighth graders at 12.9% reporting use in the past 12 months. However, rates declined significantly among older students:
- 10th graders: 26.1% reported alcohol use (down from 30.6% in 2023)
- 12th graders: 41.7% reported alcohol use (down from 45.7% in 2023)
Nicotine Products
Nicotine vaping rates held steady for eighth and 12th graders at 9.6% and 21.0% respectively, while declining among 10th graders to 15.4% (from 17.6% in 2023).
Interestingly, the survey documented an increase in nicotine pouch use among older students:
- 10th graders: 3.4% reported use (up from 1.9% in 2023)
- 12th graders: 5.9% reported use (up from 2.9% in 2023)
Cannabis and Related Products
Cannabis use remained stable among younger students, with 7.2% of eighth graders and 15.9% of 10th graders reporting use in the past year. Among 12th graders, cannabis use declined to 25.8% (from 29.0% in 2023).
Cannabis vaping specifically showed stable trends across all three grade levels, with 5.6% of eighth graders, 11.6% of 10th graders, and 17.6% of 12th graders reporting use in the past year.
The survey measured Delta-8-THC use for the first time among younger students, finding that 2.9% of eighth graders and 7.9% of 10th graders reported use within the past 12 months. Among 12th graders, Delta-8-THC use remained stable at 12.3%.
Declining Illicit Drug Use
One of the most significant findings was the continued decline in illicit drug use beyond marijuana. Eighth graders showed a notable decrease, with only 3.4% reporting use in the past 12 months (down from 4.6% in 2023). Rates remained stable for 10th graders (4.4%) and 12th graders (6.5%).
Particularly noteworthy was the decline in prescription narcotic misuse among 12th graders. Use of narcotics other than heroin (including Vicodin, OxyContin, and Percocet) reached an all-time low of 0.6% in 2024, representing a dramatic decrease from the peak of 9.5% recorded in 2004.
Rising Abstinence Rates
The survey also tracked complete abstinence from marijuana, alcohol, and nicotine in the 30 days prior to the survey:
- 89.5% of eighth graders reported abstaining (stable from 2023)
- 80.2% of 10th graders reported abstaining (up from 76.9% in 2023)
- 67.1% of 12th graders reported abstaining (up from 62.6% in 2023)
"Kids who were in eighth grade at the start of the pandemic will be graduating from high school this year, and this unique cohort has ushered in the lowest rates of substance use we've seen in decades," noted Richard A. Miech, Ph.D., team lead of the Monitoring the Future survey at the University of Michigan.
Demographic Representation
The 2024 survey included a diverse sample of American adolescents. Among participants, 35% identified as Hispanic. Of non-Hispanic respondents, 14% identified as Black or African American, 1% as American Indian or Alaska Native, 4% as Asian, 1% as Middle Eastern, 37% as white, and 7% as multiracial.
Gender distribution was nearly even, with 47% identifying as male, 49% as female, 1% as other, and 3% preferring not to answer.
Implications for Public Health
The sustained low levels of substance use among adolescents represent a significant public health achievement. Researchers are now focused on understanding the factors that have contributed to this trend to develop targeted interventions that can maintain and further reduce substance use among young people.
The pandemic appears to have created a unique cohort effect, with students who were in middle school during COVID-19 continuing to show lower substance use patterns as they progress through high school. This suggests that disruptions to social environments and activities during the pandemic may have had lasting effects on substance use behaviors.
Public health officials emphasize the importance of continued monitoring and prevention efforts, even as the overall trends remain positive. The shifting landscape of substance availability, including the emergence of products like nicotine pouches and Delta-8-THC, highlights the need for ongoing surveillance and education.
As Dr. Miech noted, the Monitoring the Future survey will "continue to nimbly adapt to measure and report on these trends – just as it has done for the past 50 years," ensuring that researchers and policymakers have the data needed to address emerging substance use challenges among American youth.
