Teens are smoking, drinking, and getting high way less than last year
The rates of alcohol and drug use among America's 8th, 10th, and 12th graders declined markedly in 2014 from the previous year, according to data released Tuesday by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Alcohol use declined by at least a full percentage point among every age group compared to last year's study. Daily cigarette smoking continued its long-running downward trend, with the percentage of daily smokers falling to half the level the NIDA measured just five years ago. And though marijuana is now legal in a couple of states, teens at every grade level tracked in the study reported lower usage rates than in 2013.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
