Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Show Positive Signs, Survey Finds

WHO:

ABC News - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released the report.

ABC News - Robyn Oster is the policy director for the Partnership to End Addiction.

WHAT:

ABC News - The report shows continued improvements in youth mental health and substance use metrics.

ABC News - Fewer adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported using tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and binge drinking in the previous month.

ABC News - In the past year, fewer adolescents reported illicit drug and marijuana use, starting to drink alcohol, vaping, or marijuana, and substance, alcohol, or drug use disorders.

ABC News - Adolescents saw declining trends for major depressive episodes and fewer reported serious thoughts of suicide, making a suicide plan, and attempting suicide.

ABC News - Nearly 20% of adolescents surveyed had moderate or severe anxiety symptoms in the previous two weeks.

ABC News - More than half of people over 12 used an illicit drug, drank alcohol, used tobacco, or vaped nicotine in the previous month, including 44% who drank alcohol, 16% who used a tobacco product, 10% who vaped nicotine, and 16% who used an illicit drug.

ABC News - "Nearly 45 million people still have substance use disorder and still not nearly enough people are getting treatment," said Robyn Oster.

WHY:

ABC News - There was uncertainty about the future of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health last year when the entire 17-member team responsible for it was laid off by the Trump administration.

HOW:

ABC News - The report allows researchers to look at trends from 2021 to 2025.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 06:48 UTC)

A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reveals positive trends in youth mental health and substance use, showing that fewer adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported using tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana in the past month. The report also highlights a decline in major depressive episodes and serious thoughts of suicide among adolescents, although nearly 20% still experienced moderate or severe anxiety symptoms recently. Robyn Oster, policy director for the Partnership to End Addiction, emphasized the ongoing challenge, noting that nearly 45 million people still struggle with substance use disorder and many are not receiving the necessary treatment.