Fewer Teens Are Using Drugs
Generation Alpha, children born between 2010 and 2024, along with older teens, show a shift in risky behavior according to experts. The days when teenagers rebelled by coming home smelling of cheap wine and cigarettes may be behind us.
New data from the consumer research platform Attest indicates that substance use among teens has decreased significantly. Only 20% of 15- to 16-year-olds have tried alcohol, compared to 71% of 10th graders in 2000. Cigarette and drug use have also dropped, with 14% and 6% of teens trying them, respectively. In contrast, 44% of 10th graders in 2000 had tried marijuana.
Research and Expert Insights
The survey, based on responses from 1,000 U.S. parents, may be conservative but aligns with other research showing a decline in adolescent substance use. Joel Stoddard, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, affirms this trend.
New Concerns Beyond Substance Use
Despite this positive trend, experts caution that the decrease in substance abuse doesn’t necessarily reflect healthier adolescent choices. Generation Alpha and older teens face new, less visible risks.
“The rebellion has moved online, and it's much harder for adults to see,” explains Saba Harouni Lurie, LMFT, ATR-BC, family therapist and founder of Take Root Therapy. “When I was younger, rebellion was visible.”
Summary
While fewer teens use substances today, the rise of hidden online rebellion poses fresh challenges for parents and professionals.