Cannabis and Hallucinogen Use among Adults Remained at Historic Highs in 2023
Photo: PROSTOCK-STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK
Past-year use of cannabis and hallucinogens stayed at historically high levels in 2023 among adults aged 19 to 30 and 35 to 50, according to the latest findings from the Monitoring the Future survey. In contrast, past-year cigarette usage remained historically low.
Past-month and daily alcohol use continued a decade-long decline among those 19-30 years old, with binge drinking reaching all-time lows. However, among 35-50-year-olds, the prevalence of binge drinking in 2023 increased.
Reports of vaping nicotine or cannabis in the past year among adults 19-30 rose over five years, and both trends remained at record highs in 2023. Among adults 35-50, the prevalence of nicotine and cannabis vaping stayed steady from the year before.
For the first time in 2023, 19-30-year-old female respondents reported a higher prevalence of past-year cannabis use than their male counterparts, reflecting a reversal of the gap between sexes. Conversely, male respondents 35-50 years old maintained a higher prevalence of past-year cannabis use than female respondents of the same age group, consistent with observations from the past decade.
Since 1975, the Monitoring the Future study has annually surveyed substance use behaviors and attitudes among a nationally representative sample of teens. Participants self-report their drug use behaviors across various time periods. Key 2023 survey findings include:
Cannabis use in the past year and past month remained at historically high levels for both adult age groups in 2023. Nicotine vaping among adults 19-30 maintained historic highs in 2023 and remained steady in adults 35-50.
Hallucinogen use in the past year continued a five-year steep incline for both adult groups, reaching 9% for adults 19-30 and 4% for adults 35-50 in 2023.
Alcohol remains the most used substance in the study. Past-year alcohol use among adults 19-30 has showed a slight upward trend over the last five years; however, past month, daily and binge drinking all remained at study lows in 2023. These numbers have decreased from 10 years ago.
Around 84% of adults 35-50 reported past-year alcohol use in 2023, not a significant change from the year before or the past five or 10 years.