CNN (12/15, McPhillips) reports, “Substance use among teens – including alcohol, marijuana, vaping and illicit drugs – dropped significantly in 2021, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s latest Monitoring the Future survey, published Wednesday.” Study researchers “found the largest single-year decline in illicit drug use since the survey began in 1975, with drops of about 5% from 2020 among eighth- and 12th-graders and nearly 12% among 10th-graders.”
TIME (12/15, Ducharme) reports, “Even with the declines, alcohol remains the most commonly used illegal substance among U.S. teenagers. About 47% of 12th graders and 29% of 10th graders said they consumed alcohol in the past year, compared to 55% and 41% in 2020.”
According to The Hill (12/15, Guzman), “The survey also asked students about their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students reported moderate increases in feelings of boredom, anxiety, depression, loneliness, worry and difficulty sleeping.”
Related Links:
— “Substance use among teens dropped significantly in 2021, survey finds ” Deidre McPhillips, CNN, December 15, 2021