Drug use also more common among teenage girls than boys
FILE – Marijuana buds ready for harvest are seen at AT-CPC of Ohio, Jan. 28, 2019, in Akron, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File) (Tony Dejak, Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) A recent study highlighted the prevalence of recreational drug use among American teenagers, revealing that an estimated 2.9 million Americans under 18 have used marijuana in recent years.
The research, conducted by Wellbrook Recovery, analyzed data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The study focused on Americans aged 12 to 17 who reported using drugs in 2022 and 2023.
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According to the findings, over 3.7 million teens under 18 have reported using any type of drug in recent years.
Drug use is more common among girls, with 2 million users, compared to 1.7 million boys.
Marijuana is the most common drug among America’s youth, with over 2.9 million users. The drug is popular among both girls and boys, with over 1.6 million and 1.3 million users, respectively. As the US moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, could more states legalize it?
Meir Kasnett, the CEO of Wellbrook Recovery where the research was conducted, suggested that societal changes toward marijuana legalization and the perception that the substance is less harmful than other drugs have contributed to its popularity among teenagers.
Just behind marijuana, opioids rank second, with around 1.09 million users under 18. This category includes illicit substances like heroin and prescription pain relievers, which are misused by youths. Opioids are the second most popular drug among girls, with 650,000 users, while among boys, opioids rank third, with 508,500 users.“Considering the current opioid crisis in America, the high number of young users is particularly alarming, especially given the potent addictive properties and high overdose risks associated with these substances,” Kasnett said. SEE ALSO: Texas City officials discover more than $400K worth of illegal substances in large drug bust Central nervous system stimulants (CNSS) are the third most used drugs among youths, with over 1.07 million users […]
Marijuana, opioids top list of most used drugs by American teens, study finds
