The Monitoring the Future (MTF) study's annual report, National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975–2024: Overview and Key Findings for Secondary School Students, offers a comprehensive analysis of substance use trends among U.S. adolescents over nearly five decades.
- Journal Name:
- American Journal of Public Health
- Publication Date:
- December 2024
Conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the 2024 report reveals significant declines in the use of various substances among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders.
For instance, past-year alcohol use among 12th graders decreased from 61% in 1994 to 42% in 2024, and daily cigarette smoking dropped from 25% to 2% over the same period.
Additionally, the report highlights a decrease in marijuana use among 10th graders, from 20% in 2014 to 15% in 2024.
These findings suggest that public health initiatives and changing social attitudes have contributed to a sustained reduction in adolescent substance use.
In conclusion, the 2024 MTF report underscores a positive and continuing trend of declining substance use among U.S. secondary school students, reflecting the effectiveness of prevention efforts and evolving societal norms.
National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975–2024: Overview and key findings
Drug use continues to decline giving credit to prevention efforts and evolving societal norms.