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Young Adults’ Marijuana, Hallucinogen Use Reach All-Time Record
Marijuana and hallucinogen use among young adults between the ages of 19 and 30 saw a significant increase in 2021 compared to 5 and 10 years ago, according to data from the Monitoring the Future panel study recently released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
After leveling off in 2020 during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, past-month nicotine vaping rates resumed its general upward trend from recent years, and past-month marijuana vaping, which significantly decreased in 2020, rebounded back to its pre-pandemic levels in 2021. Alcohol retained its position as the most commonly used substance among young adults, although rates of past-year, past-month, and daily alcohol consumption have declined over the past 10 years.
Binge drinking—defined by NIDA as consuming 5 or more drinks in a row in the past 2 weeks—rebounded in 2021 after sinking to a historic low early in the pandemic. However, high-intensity drinking—consumption of at least 10 drinks in a row within the past 2 weeks—has steadily increased in recent years, hitting its highest mark on record since the category was first measured in 2005.
“As the drug landscape shifts over time, this data provides a window into the substances and patterns of use favored by young adults,” NIDA Director Nora Volkow, MD, said in a news release. “We need to know more about how young adults are using drugs like marijuana and hallucinogens, and the health effects that result from consuming different potencies and forms of these substances.
“Young adults are in a critical life stage and honing their ability to make informed choices. Understanding how substance use can impact the formative choices in young adulthood is critical to help position the new generations for success.”
Other findings from the Monitoring the Future survey included:
- Past-year (43% of young adults), past-month (29%), and daily marijuana (11%) use reached all-time highs dating back to when such use was first measured in 1988.
- In 2021, 8% of young adults reported past-year hallucinogen use, setting a new record high. Types of hallucinogens young adults reported using included LSD, MDMA, mescaline, peyote, psilocybin, and PCP. Only MDMA was found to have a statistically significant decrease in usage.
- Nicotine vaping increased to 16% in 2021, a nearly threefold increase since the 6% reported in 2017. Past-month marijuana vaping reached 12% in 2021.
- Binge drinking was reported by 32% of young adults in 2021, up from the 28% who reported binge drinking in 2020, but matching the figure recorded in 2019. High-intensity drinking was reported by 13% of survey participants.
Still, overall past-month, past-year, and daily alcohol consumption by young adults continued a decade-long downward trend, and past-month cigarette smoking and past-year non-medical use of opioid medications also saw lower reported figures compared to 10 years ago.
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