The latest results from the Monitoring the Future survey, conducted by the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, reveal that the percentage of adolescents using illicit substances in 2023 remains consistent with pre-pandemic levels reported in 2020.
Notably, 10.9% of eighth graders, 19.8% of 10th graders, and 31.2% of 12th graders reported any illicit drug use in the past year. While reported substance use remained stable, a concerning rise in overdose deaths among teens from 2010 to 2021, attributed to illicit fentanyl, highlights the increasing dangers associated with drug use among young people.
The findings emphasize the importance of addressing not only the prevalence but also the escalating risks associated with adolescent drug use.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
