For the fifth consecutive year, use of most substances among US teenagers remains close to the low levels seen in 2021. Researchers say the large drop between 2020 and 2021 was largely linked to pandemic-related disruptions in drug availability and to changes in teens' social lives. "Teen use of the most common drugs has not rebounded after the large decline during the pandemic," says Richard Miech, the study lead.
The Monitoring the Future survey asks students to report use over the past 30 days, the past 12 months, and lifetime. In 2025 investigators collected 23,726 surveys from students in 270 public and private schools from February through June, and they weighted the data to produce national estimates.
Key findings include high abstention rates in the past 30 days — 91% of eighth graders, 82% of tenth graders and 66% of twelfth graders — and low but rising use for some drugs. Alcohol and cannabis use in the past year rise by grade, nicotine vaping and some hemp-based product use appear at low levels, and small increases in heroin and cocaine compared with 2024 warrant close monitoring.
Difficult words
- consecutive — Following one after another in order
- substance — A chemical or drug used by peoplesubstances
- link — To show a connection between two thingslinked
- disruption — Something that interrupts normal activity or processdisruptions
- availability — The state of being available or ready to use
- abstention — Not taking part in something, here not using drugs
- weight — To adjust data so it represents a populationweighted
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you think changes in teens' social lives could reduce drug use?
- What actions should schools or communities take when they see small increases in drugs like heroin and cocaine?
- Why might alcohol and cannabis use rise by grade among students?
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