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News
Good news for youth health: substance use among adolescents and young adults has dropped significantly since 2021, according to SAMHSA's 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Marijuana use, illicit drug use, and even suicidal behaviors all trended downward in these age groups. The catch? Most young people with substance use disorders still aren't getting treatment.
The 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), conducted by SAMHSA across more than 60,000 respondents nationwide, brings encouraging news: substance use among teens and young adults has been on a steady decline. Past-year illicit drug use dropped from 14.6% to 11.2% among adolescents (ages 12–17) and from 39% to 36.3% among young adults (ages 18–25) between 2021 and 2025. Marijuana initiation among teens also fell sharply — a trend experts say could signal further declines ahead. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adolescents declined in parallel, a connection researchers say warrants deeper study.
The picture isn't entirely rosy, though. Among adults 26 and older, illicit drug use and marijuana use both increased — a trend that could trickle down to younger generations by shaping community norms around substance use. More urgently, the vast majority of young people who need treatment aren't getting it: only 22.8% of adolescents and 9.6% of young adults with substance use disorders received treatment in 2025.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: These trends show that prevention programs are working for younger populations — but the treatment gap is a critical failure point. Clinicians in both primary care and behavioral health have a key role to play in screening patients and connecting them to care before substance use escalates.
