Drug use report details first-use of substances highest during summer and holiday months.

In a July 2 report, SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that first-time substance use by adolescents aged 12 to 17 peaks during the months of June, July, and December.  In an average day during each of these months, more than 11,000 adolescents say that they used alcohol for the first time, 5,000 say they smoked cigarettes for the first time, and 4,800 say that they used marijuana for the first time.

These rates of use are, on average, approximately 1.5 to 2 times higher during June, July, and December than first-use rates in the other months of the year. 

The report also details monthly statistics for first-use of other potentially addictive substances such as cocaine, prescription opiates, and hallucinogens.