A recent study highlighted the prevalence of recreational drug use among American teenagers, revealing that an estimated 2.9 million Americans under 18 have used marijuana in recent years.
The research, conducted by Wellbrook Recovery, analyzed data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The study focused on Americans aged 12 to 17 who reported using drugs in 2022 and 2023.
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According to the findings, over 3.7 million teens under 18 have reported using any type of drug in recent years.
Drug use is more common among girls, with 2 million users, compared to 1.7 million boys.
Marijuana is the most common drug among America’s youth, with over 2.9 million users. The drug is popular among both girls and boys, with over 1.6 million and 1.3 million users, respectively.
Meir Kasnett, the CEO of Wellbrook Recovery where the research was conducted, suggested that societal changes toward marijuana legalization and the perception that the substance is less harmful than other drugs have contributed to its popularity among teenagers.
Just behind marijuana, opioids rank second, with around 1.09 million users under 18. This category includes illicit substances like heroin and prescription pain relievers, which are misused by youths. Opioids are the second most popular drug among girls, with 650,000 users, while among boys, opioids rank third, with 508,500 users.
“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,” Kasnett said.
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Central nervous system stimulants (CNSS) are the third most used drugs among youths, with over 1.07 million users under 18. This category includes illegal substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as prescription stimulants like ADHD medications. CNSS are the second most popular drugs among boys, with 571,500 users, while 499,000 girls reported using them.
Inhalants, which include household products like glue and aerosol sprays, were reported by about 559,000 youths. These substances rank fourth among both girls and boys, with nearly equal usage.
“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,” Kasnett said.
Hallucinogens rank fifth, with an average of 372,500 users under 18. This category includes substances like LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and ecstasy. More boys have reported using hallucinogens than girls, with 194,500 boys and 178,000 girls reporting usage.
“Teenagers tend to explore as part of the maturing process, it’s how they learn who they are and build their own individual personalities,” Kasnett said. “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.”
Kasnett also emphasized the need for early intervention and education regarding substance use among youth, as well as understanding and addressing the underlying factors contributing to this usage.
“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,” Kasnett added. “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.”
For more information, please refer to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which can be found here.
