Marijuana and opioids top the list of the most used drugs among America’s youth, a new study reveals
- An estimated 2.9 million Americans under 18 used marijuana in recent years.
- Opioids and central nervous system stimulants are the second and third most used drugs among youths, each with over one million young users.
- Drug use is more common among girls, but boys are more likely to abuse central nervous system stimulants.
Marijuana, opioids (which include heroin and prescription pain relievers), and central nervous system stimulants (which include cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants) are the most used illegal drugs among teenagers in America, according to a new study.
The research, conducted by substance abuse addiction experts at Wellbrook Recovery, analyzed data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, considering the answers from Americans between 12 and 17 years old who have reported using drugs in 2022 and 2023.
According to the findings, an average of over 3.7 million teens under 18 have reported using any type of drug in recent years. Drug use is more common among girls (2 million users) than boys (1.7 million users).
Marijuana is the most common drug among America’s youth, with an average of over 2.9 million users in recent years. The drug is the most popular among both girls and boys, with over 1.6 million and 1.3 million users in recent years, respectively.
Meir Kasnett, CEO of Wellbrook Recovery, suggests that societal changes toward marijuana legalization, combined with the overall perception that the substance is less harmful than other drugs, can explain why the drug is so popular among teenagers.
Most used illegal drugs among 12- to 17-year-olds in America
|
Rank |
Drug |
Total average number of users in recent years |
Average number of female users in recent years |
Average number of male users in recent years |
|
1 |
Marijuana |
2,920,500 |
1,615,500 |
1,305,000 |
|
2 |
Opioids |
1,094,500 |
650,000 |
508,500 |
|
of which: prescription pain relievers |
413,000 |
294,000 |
119,000 |
|
|
3 |
Central nervous system stimulants |
1,070,250 |
499,000 |
571,500 |
|
of which: prescription stimulants |
228,000 |
109,000 |
119,000 |
|
|
of which: cocaine |
51,500 |
34,000 |
17,500 |
|
|
of which: methamphetamine |
28,500 |
15,000 |
13,500 |
|
|
4 |
Inhalants |
559,000 |
280,000 |
279,500 |
|
5 |
Hallucinogens |
372,500 |
178,000 |
194,500 |
Opioids rank second with around 1.09 million users under 18 on average in recent years. This category includes both illicit substances like heroin and prescription pain relievers misused by youths.
Experts reveal that opioids are the second most popular drug among girls, with 650,000 using them in recent years (294,000 reported specifically the misuse of prescription pain relievers). Among boys, opioids are the third most used drugs, with 508,500 using them in recent years (119,000 reported misusing prescription pain relievers).
“Considering the current opioid crisis in America, the high number of young users is particularly alarming, especially given the potent addictive properties and high overdose risks associated with these substances,” observes Kasnett.
Central nervous system stimulants (CNSS) are the third most used drugs among youths in general, with an average of over 1.07 million users under 18. This category encompasses both illegal substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as prescription stimulants used improperly, including ADHD medications such as Adderall and Ritalin.
If opioids are the second most popular drugs among girls, CNSS are second for boys, with 571,500 reporting using the substances in recent years (17,500 and 13,500 reported using specifically cocaine and methamphetamine, respectively, while 119,000 misused prescription stimulants).
Among girls, 499,000 have reported using CNSS (34,000 and 15,000 reported using specifically cocaine and methamphetamine, respectively, while 109,000 misused prescription stimulants).
Inhalant use was reported by about 559,000 youths, on average, in recent years. Inhalants include household products like glue, aerosol sprays, and cleaning fluids. The substance ranks fourth among girls and boys, almost tying among both groups—280,000 and 279,500 users, respectively.
“Inhalants are accessible and low–cost substances, which can easily explain why they seem appealing and have a high incidence of use among 12- to 17-year-olds, but they can be extremely dangerous, posing severe health risks such as brain damage and sudden death,” warns Kasnett.
Hallucinogens, with an average of 372,500 users under 18, rank fifth among the most used drugs by America’s youth. This category includes substances like LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and ecstasy (MDMA).
Hallucinogens come in fifth for both girls and boys, though more boys have reported using these substances than girls—194,500 boys have used them in recent years, while 178,000 girls reported using them.
Meir Kasnett, CEO of Wellbrook Recovery, commented on the findings, “Teenagers tend to explore as part of the maturing process, it’s how they learn who they are and build their own individual personalities. So, it’s understandable that, during their experimentation, they eventually try drugs, even legal ones like alcohol and tobacco—even though any drug use at this stage can have lifelong negative impacts. That’s why, in the case of legal drugs, they are only sold to 21-year-olds.
“One thing we need to consider, nonetheless, is that even if experimentation is part of the process of growing up, we are still talking about teenagers, and even late tweens. Our research shows that an average of over 3.7 million people between the ages of 12 and 17 years old have used any type of drug in recent years—that’s 1.1% of America’s population. It may not seem high, but considering their ages, it’s incredibly alarming.
“These statistics highlight a critical need for early intervention and education regarding substance use among our youth. Even more important, it’s essential to understand and address the underlying factors contributing to this usage.”
Story credit: Wellbrook Recovery
Sources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-detailed-tables
Methodology
-
Data on drug use by age and demographic was sourced from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Detailed Tables.
-
The experts analyzed the volume of youths between 12 to 17 years old who said they used any type of drugs in 2022 and 2023.
-
Experts segmented the data by drug type and gender.
-
The total volume of drug users among youths under 18 per drug type was used to rank from highest to lowest rate.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
