Fewer Teens Are Using Drugs—but Experts Warn of a New Risk
Experts note that today’s teenagers, particularly Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024), show a noticeable shift in behavior compared to previous generations. While earlier teens might have experimented with alcohol or cigarettes as a form of rebellion, that trend is diminishing.
Decline in Substance Use
Recent findings from the consumer research platform Attest reveal a significant decline in teen substance use. Only 20% of 15- to 16-year-olds have tried alcohol, compared to 71% of 10th graders back in 2000. Parental reports also indicate lower use of cigarettes (14%) and drugs (6%). In contrast, 44% of 10th graders had tried marijuana in 2000.
“It’s reflective of an overall decrease in trends of substance use,” says Joel Stoddard, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
A New Kind of Rebellion
Although substance use is dropping, experts caution that it does not necessarily reflect overall healthier habits. Today’s rebellion has simply changed form—it’s now digital.
“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
Teen substance use is declining, but experts warn that digital behavior may have become the new form of teenage rebellion, hidden from adult supervision.
Author’s summary: Teen drug use is dropping, yet experts caution that the next frontier of risky behavior may be shifting to the digital world.