What is the number one drug used by teens?

According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse, the most commonly used substances by teens are alcohol and tobacco, though the most commonly used illicit substance is marijuana.

SAMHSA reports that in 2019, 7.4% of teens (aged 12 to 17) say they used marijuana in the past 30 days. Additionally, 2.8% of teens say they have a marijuana use disorder. Marijuana use among adolescents is linked to a decline in IQ and is associated with an increase in educational drop-out rates.

Why do teens do drugs?

Teens experiment with drugs—or continue using them—for multiple reasons, according to The National Institute on Drug Abuse.

• Social Inclusion or Perceived Peer Pressure: Most teens believe the majority of teens use drugs and want to avoid social exclusion. (This is a common misconception, especially in the town of Ossining, where most teens don’t drink alcohol or use marijuana. See more statistics about Ossining substance use here.
• “Feel Good” Effects: Prescription and illicit drugs interact with the neurochemistry of teen brains to produce temporary feelings of pleasure.
• Psychological & Physiological Self-Medication: Teens suffering from mental health issues (depression, social anxiety, stress-related disorders, etc.) or physical pain may use drugs in an attempt to alleviate the negative symptoms and side effects they’re experiencing.
• Social, Educational & Cultural Pressures: Society has become increasingly competitive in recent years—especially for younger generations. Adolescents and teens may turn to illegal or prescription stimulants hoping to enhance or improve their performance.
• Experimenting: Teens and adolescents are inclined to seek out new experiences and may see experimenting with illicit or prescription substance use as a compelling prospect, no matter how dangerous or high-risk it may be.

How many teens drink alcohol?

Teen alcohol use is a serious public health issue in the United States.The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholismreports that alcohol is the most widely used substance abused by teens despite the significant health and safety risks it poses.

More teens use alcohol than nicotine or marijuana, but in 2019, reports show that teen alcohol use has decreased across the board. The following figures are based on teens who reported using alcohol within the last 30 days in 2019:

• 12th Grade: 29.3% (down 0.9% from 2018)
• 10th Grade: 18.4% (down 0.2% from 2018)
• 8th Grade: 7.9% (down 0.2% from 2018)

How many teens die from alcohol each year?

Underage drinking poses a number of serious risks to teens and adolescents—and can prove fatal in a number of situations. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that on average, alcohol is a factor in the deaths of nearly 2,500 acute teen deaths.

What percent of teens smoke marijuana?

According to the Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, past month, past year, and lifetime marijuana use remained steady among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders between 2018 and 2019.

This year, teens reported that they used marijuana in the following time periods:

PAST MONTH

• 12th Grade: 22.3%
• 10th Grade: 18.4%
• 8th Grade: 6.6%

PAST YEAR

• 12th Grade: 35.7%
• 10th Grade: 28.8%
• 8th Grade: 11.8%

How does weed affect teens?

The teen brain is still actively developing—and will often not be fully developed until the mid-20s. Marijuana is especially harmful during this time and can have long-lasting effects on teens’ health and wellbeing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the negative physical and mental effects of teen marijuana use include:

• Difficulty Thinking & Problem Solving
• Problems with Memory & Learning
• Impaired Coordination
• Difficulty Maintaining Attention

In addition to the negative physiological and psychological effects, teen marijuana use also reaps significant consequences on school and social life:

• Decline in School Performance
• Increased Risk of Mental Health Issues
• Impaired Driving
• Potential for Addiction
• Introduction to Other Licit & Illicit Substances

How many teens vape?

A survey from SAMHSA shows that in 2019, 28% of high school students and 11% of middle school students reported vaping in the past 30 days. That same survey shows that over 5 million youth reported actively vaping nicotine, cannabis, and/or flavorings without active substances:

• 4.1 million high school students report vaping in the last 30 days
• 1.2 million middle school students report vaping in the last 30 days
• 1.6 million students report frequent or daily vape use

Is vaping bad for you?

Yes, vaping is bad for you—especially for teens. Yes, vaping is bad for you—especially for your teen. You can learn more about the dangers of teen vaping here.

E-cigarettes and vaping products contain nicotine, an addictive, harmful substance no matter how you consume it, that are known to cause significant health damage.

Emerging data suggests that vaping is associated with the following negative health and mental effects:

• Chronic Lung Disease
• Asthma
• Popcorn Lung
• Vaping-Related Lipoid Pneumonia
• Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung)

As of 2020, the CDC, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and clinical and public health partners are investigating a national outbreak of e-cigarettes, or vaping, product-use associated lung injury (EVALI).

Is vaping better than smoking?

Many teens incorrectly believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking. E-cigarettes may not contain as many contaminants as tobacco smoke, but vaping is still incredibly dangerous—especially for teens and young people.

• E-cigarettes contain nicotine.This highly addictive substance can harm developing brains of teens and young people. Some e-cigarettes and vaping devices actually contain more nicotine than traditional tobacco cigarettes.
• E-cigarettes contain a range of other harmful substances. These include diacetyl (a chemical linked to serious lung disease), carcinogenic chemicals, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead.
• The liquid used in e-cigarettes and vaping devices is dangerous no matter how it’s ingested. There have been a number of cases of people being poisoned by swallowing, breathing, or absorbing the liquid through their skin or eyes.
• E-cigarettes and vaping products have been linked to serious—and sometimes deadly—lung injury. The American Heart Association reports that thousands of cases of serious lung injury have been linked to both nicotine and THC vaping.

What percent of teens smoke?

While vaping and e-cigarettes use has spiked in recent years, teens and young people are smoking less. According to the CDC, roughly 2.3% of middle school students and 5.8% of high school students smoke traditional tobacco cigarettes.

The number of teen smokers may have dropped dramatically over the last decade, but there’s been a significant and alarming rise in the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products. E-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among youth since 2014.