Alcohol and Other Substance Use Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among High School Students 2009-2021

Based on data from the 2009-2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 

  • 30% reported current use of alcohol or marijuana or prescription opioid misuse 
  • Current alcohol use - 22.7%
  • Current marijuana use - 15.8%
  • Current binge drinking - 10.5%
  • Current prescription opioid misuse - 6%
  • Lifetime alcohol use - 47.4%
  • Lifetime marijuana use - 27.8% 
  • Lifetime prescription opioid misuse - 12.2%
  • Lifetime inhalant use - 8.1% 
  • Lifetime synthetic marijuana use - 6.5% 
  • Lifetime ecstasy use - 2.9%
  • Lifetime cocaine use - 2.5%
  • Lifetime methamphetamine use - 1.8%
  • Lifetime injection drug use - 1.4% 
  • Lifetime heroin use - 1.3%

Hoots, B.E., et al. (2023). Alcohol and Other Substance Use Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among High School Students - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Supplemental, 72(1): 84-92. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/su/su7201a10.htm?s_cid=su7201a10_w