Stress is driving teens’ drug use, new federal study suggests

This post was written by Ojas Gupta,

Based on article by Erin Blakemore, The Washington Post

Article last edited on February 17, 2024

A Center for Disease Control (CDC) analysis suggests that most teens who use drugs are seeking calm and stress relief. Various studies suggest that mental health challenges are the key driver of drug misuse and recommend educating teens on harm reduction and expanding mental health treatment to reduce overdose deaths.

Using data from 15,963 health assessments of 13 to 18 year-olds from 2014 to 2022, the study found that 73% of teens used drugs and alcohol to feel calm, 50% for fun or experimentation, 44% to forget problems, and 40% to help with depression or anxiety. Participants were allowed to select more than one option, which is why the percentages don't add up to 100%.

The study recommends increasing access to substance use treatment and mental health resources, and developing harm reduction education programs for teens. Between 2019 and 2021, adolescent overdose deaths increased by 109%, with counterfeit pills involved in nearly 25% of these deaths. Despite having a bystander present in two-thirds of these cases, most provided no response.