The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s latest survey indicates a notable decline in tobacco, alcohol, and drug use among U.S. adolescents and young adults, suggesting shifts in behavior influenced by public health messaging and changing social environments.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released new findings this week that reveal a significant reduction in tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use among U.S. adolescents and young adults. The annual national survey assessed the substance use patterns and mental health status of individuals aged 12 to 17 and those aged 18 to 25, covering data from 2025.
Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, the survey identified a decline in reports of tobacco, alcohol consumption, and binge drinking within the past month, as well as a reduction in the use of illicit drugs in the past year. Similarly, the 18 to 25 age group exhibited reductions in the use of nicotine products, tobacco, and binge drinking, alongside a decrease in the use of illicit drugs and prescription stimulants or opioids within the previous year.
Understanding the Decline
Public health specialists have offered insights into the decline in substance use among these populations, attributing it to several factors, including a decrease in risky behaviors and effective public health messaging campaigns. Daniel Kruger, a research associate professor at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, noted, “There is a long-term decline, and usually when we speak about the youth, people say, ‘You know kids these days and you know how terrible it is.’ But this is actually one of the things that we’re looking at and we’re saying, ‘Oh wow, this is interesting. They’re actually using less alcohol, less tobacco, less cannabis than previous cohorts.'”
Research indicates that American teenagers are engaging in less risky behavior compared to earlier generations, including activities such as crime, hazardous driving, and unprotected sexual behavior. This shift has correlated with reduced substance use and abuse. Kruger elaborated, stating, “There’s sort of like a delay in adulthood. In other words, they’re driving at older ages, moving out of the house at older ages. So, there’s just sort of like a longer period of adolescent development, a longer period where people are still in the orbit of their parents compared to previous generations.”
Impact of Social Dynamics
Changes in social dynamics among current generations may also contribute to decreased substance use. Kruger highlighted that today’s adolescents and young adults tend to spend more time online and engaged with screens than previous generations, leading to a shift in socialization patterns. He remarked, “There’s a lot more online time and a lot more supervised time and a lot less unstructured, unsupervised, free time for people to get together, and that’s typically where they would consume substances.”
Role of Public Health Messaging
Experts suggest that public health messaging regarding the dangers of alcohol and smoking may also play a role in the observed decline in substance use. Over decades, numerous studies have linked alcohol consumption to increased cancer risk, and extensive public health campaigns have highlighted the dangers of cigarette smoking. Kruger stated, “There’s just a lot more education in general about the likely harms of these substances, and it seems like the very basic informational education about the risks and harms… might be making progress.”
Denise Hien, a distinguished professor in the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University, noted that as adults become more informed about the dangers of substances, their behavior changes, which may influence younger generations. She remarked, “We’re seeing it in the youth, who of course have parents who are being influenced by the public health messaging and the science. So, I think there’s a number of reasons why we’re seeing those declines, but those kind of influences, familial and also public health, are probably filtering down into the youth.”
Emerging Trends in Substance Use
While overall declines in alcohol and cigarette use have been noted, there is a concerning rise in the use of other substances among young Americans. Hien warned, “The trends are starting to shift. What we’re seeing is higher vaping and higher cannabis use. So it’s almost like maybe there’s a replacement.” According to the survey, although adolescent marijuana use had previously declined, the percentage of individuals aged 12 and older who reported using marijuana in the past year increased from 19% in 2021 to 21.2% in 2026.
Additionally, while adolescent cigarette use has decreased, the use of nicotine vaping has surged. The survey indicated that the proportion of individuals aged 12 and older engaging in nicotine vaping in the past month rose from 8.3% in 2022 to 10.1% in 2025. Critics of vaping have pointed to the rise of e-cigarettes marketed in kid-friendly flavors as a factor in this trend.
Moreover, the legalization of recreational marijuana in more states has made the substance increasingly accessible to young people. Hien summarized the situation: “We’re seeing higher vaping and higher cannabis use, so it’s almost like maybe there’s a replacement. Teenagers and young adults may perceive alcohol and nicotine as dangerous, but cannabis and vaping is not. The perception is it’s not as harmful.”
