美国政府发布的《国家药物使用和健康调查》揭示了2021至2025年间青少年健康状况的改善迹象[1]。在12至17岁人群中，过去一个月内烟草、酒精、大麻的使用率以及暴饮行为均呈下降趋势[1]。同一年龄段在过去一年内报告的非法药物使用、大麻使用、新近开始饮酒或使用电子烟的情况也都有所减少[1]。心理健康方面，青少年重度抑郁发作的比例下降，自杀念头、计划和尝试的情况也随之减少[1]。18至25岁的年轻人同样表现出类似的积极趋势[1]。
然而，调查结果也反映出仍存在的重大挑战[1]。近20%的青少年在过去两周内经历了中度或重度焦虑症状，这一比例远高于18岁以上成年人的7%[1]。根据调查，超过4500万人仍有物质使用障碍，其中超过80%在过去一年内未获得物质使用治疗[1]。
A new report from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows encouraging developments for American youth over the 2021-to-2025 period.[1] Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, usage rates for tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and binge drinking all declined during this timeframe.[1] The same age group also reported decreases in past-year illegal drug use, cannabis use, initiation of alcohol or e-cigarette or cannabis use, and substance, alcohol, or drug use disorders.[1] Young adults aged 18 to 25 demonstrated similar positive trends.[1]
Mental health indicators improved alongside substance use metrics.[1] Severe depressive episodes trended downward among youth, with decreases reported in suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempts.[1] However, significant challenges persist. Approximately 20 percent of adolescents experienced moderate or severe anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks, substantially higher than the approximately 7 percent rate among adults aged 18 and older.[1] Additionally, among individuals over age 12, more than half reported past-month use of illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or e-cigarettes—including 44 percent who drank alcohol, 16 percent who used tobacco, 10 percent who used e-cigarettes, and 16 percent who used illegal drugs.[1]
Despite these improvements, treatment gaps remain pronounced. According to Robyn Oster, nearly 4.5 million people still have substance use disorders, with more than 80 percent of those requiring treatment having gone without substance use treatment in the past year.[1]