Survey: Adolescent Drug Use Dropped Significantly in 2021

The percentage of adolescents who report using drugs dropped in 2021, according to the latest Monitoring the Future survey. 

This survey, given each year to eighth, 10th and 12th graders nationwide, is conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Students are asked about their substance misuse and attitudes towards drugs. 

“We have never seen such dramatic decreases in drug use among teens in just a one-year period. These data are unprecedented and highlight one unexpected potential consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused seismic shifts in the day-to-day lives of adolescents,” said NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow.  

“Moving forward, it will be crucial to identify the pivotal elements of this past year that contributed to decreased drug use – whether related to drug availability, family involvement, differences in peer pressure, or other factors – and harness them to inform future prevention efforts.” Read more on NIDA’s site.