US Teen Substance Use in 2021: By the Numbers

Substance use during adolescence is associated with sexual risk behaviors, experiencing violence, poor mental health, and suicidality, making prevention crucial in this population, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011–2021. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) monitors priority health risks and experiences among high school students across the US including sexual risk behaviors, mental health, substance use, and more. Findings from the section on substance use show that substance use among high school students decreased for some substances between 2011 and 2021, but many teenagers still used substances and the lack of progress is concerning, according to the report. Below, find key takeaways from the YRBS section on substance use that are of interest to primary care.