Drug Abuse in Teens

Around 15% of high school students say they’ve used illicit drugs at least once, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that approximately 8.5% of teens aged 12 to 17 meet the criteria to be diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD). 

Teen drug abuse and addiction can put adolescents at greater risk of physical and emotional health issues and increase their chances of developing an addiction as adults. Understanding the realities of teen drug use can help you be proactive in addressing substance use with your children and recognize when a teen needs help.

While the number of teens who used alcohol and drugs dropped sharply in 2021 and has held steady or continued to decrease since, teen drug abuse is still more common than many people think. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 36.8% of teenagers have misused a substance at least once by the time they get to 12th grade. The most commonly misused substances for teenagers include alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs and hallucinogens.

Some of the teen substance use noted in these statistics is experimentation, with adolescents trying drugs once or twice. But there is also a real danger of developing a substance use disorder and/or overdose. Hundreds of adolescents die from drug overdose every year, with numbers reaching a high of 721 deaths in 2022 before dropping to a post-pandemic low of 441 in 2024, according to data from KFF. The majority of these deaths occur from opioid overdoses, including other substances that had been laced with fentanyl.

the teenage brain is still developing, teen drug abuse can have long-term cognitive and behavioral effects. Recognizing and preventing your teen’s drug use can end an emerging problem before it starts.

More than 90% of adults who have been diagnosed with substance use disorder first began experimenting with alcohol or drugs as teenagers, according to data from SAMHSA. Curiosity is one of the biggest reasons teenagers experiment with substances. In some cases, they’ve been told that it’s “bad” or “wrong,” and they’re trying to figure out what the big deal is or rebel. 

Other reasons teens may experiment with drugs or alcohol include:

• Peer pressure
• High stress levels, often due to pressure to perform academically or in sports
• Emotional or social struggles
• A desire to escape

Teens may also use drugs, especially prescription medications, because of how easy it is to get them, whether that’s taking them out of a parent’s medicine cabinet or buying them from a friend. Teens are also more likely to take excessive amounts of alcohol or drugs because they don’t fully understand the risks and dangers associated with them.

While it can be scary to find out that your child has been using alcohol or drugs, remember that just because a teen has used a substance doesn’t mean that they have, or will develop, a substance use disorder. The good news is that data from KFF shows that the rate of teenage drug abuse has been declining in recent years, and there are ways parents and supportive adults can reduce the risk. This often starts with recognizing the signs of substance use in teens.

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell the difference between normal adolescent behavior and potential signs of drug abuse. For example, mood swings and changes in sleeping and eating patterns are a normal part of the teenage years. Determining what’s normal and what’s not often comes down to how much these issues are affecting other areas of your teen’s life.

Potential warning signs to look out for include: 

• Avoiding eye contact
• Bloodshot eyes
• Decline in academic performance
• Depression or anxiety
• Diminished personal appearance
• Experiencing more accidents and injuries than usual
• Frequent hunger or “munchies”
• Laughing for no reason
• Loss of interest in activities
• Missing curfew
• Poor hygiene
• Secretive behavior
• The smell of smoke on breath or clothes
• Unusual tiredness

You may also notice specific physical signs and symptoms depending on the type of substance your teen is using. These can include:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent sickness
• Headaches
• Nosebleeds
• Queasy and nauseous
• Runny nose not caused by allergies or a cold
• Seizures
• Skin abrasion/bruises
• Sores or spots around the mouth
• Sudden or dramatic weight loss or gain
• Sweatiness
• Vomiting

Teen drug abuse can lead to serious problems, such as poor grades, loss of friends, problems at home and lasting legal problems. Substance abuse can also increase the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and can be a contributing factor in car crashes, suicide, violence and drowning. It’s important for teens to understand that even occasional alcohol or drug abuse can increase their risk of other problems.

Teenage substance use is often driven by convenience. Adolescents misuse substances that are easy to get or easy to hide. Some of the most common drugs teens abuse include alcohol, marijuana, prescription medications and over-the-counter substances.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance by teens, according to the Office of Population Affairs. Because drinking is largely considered socially acceptable once someone is of legal age, teens tend to view alcohol as relatively harmless. Nearly half of high school seniors in the United States reported drinking alcohol within the last year, according to the National Institutes of Health. 

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that teens are more likely to binge drink because their impulse control hasn’t fully developed. Binge drinking increases the risk of alcohol addiction in people of any age, but the teenage brain is even more susceptible to addiction.

Marijuana

As of 2026, 40 U.S. states have legalized marijuana for medicinal use, and 24 allow recreational use, according to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. The decriminalization of cannabis has led to an overall change in the social perception of marijuana use, which may make teens think that smoking weed doesn’t carry risks.

Around 25% of high school seniors reported using marijuana in the past year. Early marijuana use is linked to marijuana addiction in adulthood, and using marijuana may also increase the likelihood of a teen experimenting with other substances.

Prescription Medications

Misuse of prescription narcotics, such as OxyContin, and benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, is especially common among teens. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 14% of high school students have abused prescription opioids. Many teens take prescription drugs because they feel they’re a safer choice than using illicit drugs. But the truth is that these medications carry a significant risk of forming a prescription drug addiction and other health complications. 

Over-the-Counter Substances

Misuse of over-the-counter substances, such as cough syrup, is especially common in teens because these substances are cheap and easy to get legally. Teens may mix large amounts of cough syrup with soda or other drinks to get a high. Some students may abuse inhalants, which involves huffing aerosol cans, such as paint, hairspray and even whipped cream cans. 

While experimentation and testing boundaries may be normal teenage behavior, there are things you can do as a parent or supportive adult to reduce the chances of your child developing a substance use disorder. It starts with communication. 

Talking to your teen about the dangers of drugs and alcohol from an early age and being an active participant in their daily life can help you better understand what they’re experiencing. When communication is strong in other areas, such as about academics, social struggles or their hobbies and interests, it sets the stage for open dialogue on substance use.

One of the best ways to get teens to talk about potential substance use is by asking non-threatening questions, such as:

• What kind of substances do you hear people talking about?
• Why do you think teens choose to drink alcohol or use drugs?
• Has someone else’s substance use ever made you uncomfortable?

Keep in mind that the way you respond to these questions is just as important as asking them. Be open, honest and age-appropriate, and try to approach the conversation from a place of caring about their health and emotional safety. 

Other ways you can help prevent teen substance use include:

• Talking to your teen early on about what you expect in terms of behavior toward alcohol and drugs. If your teen thinks you will allow substance abuse, they may be more likely to try it.
• Ensuring they have opportunities to engage in meaningful activities, such as sports, church programs or other groups.
• Setting reasonable expectations for behavior and consistently carrying out the consequences if teens violate the household rules.
• Knowing what’s going on in their life and who they’re spending time with. Having friends who use cigarettes, alcohol or drugs may increase your teen’s risk of substance abuse.

If your teen tells you they’ve been using drugs or alcohol, try not to use harsh or judgmental words. Responding with kindness and being supportive may make them more likely to listen to you and be open to receiving help.