Record Highs in Cannabis and Hallucinogen Use Among Americans

Cannabis and Hallucinogen Use Remain at ‘Historically High Levels’ Among Young and Middle-Age Adults, Survey Finds

The use of cannabis and hallucinogens in the United States has remained at “historically high levels” among both younger and middle-age adults in 2023, according to the latest survey from Monitoring the Future. Conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan since 1975 and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this survey tracks substance use trends among American adults.

“The survey is an important source of information about substance use trends among the adult population in the US,” said Dr. Wilson Compton, deputy director of the NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Cannabis Use Trends: High Levels of Consumption Among Adults

The 2023 survey revealed that approximately 42% of adults aged 19 to 30 reported using cannabis in the previous year, with about 10% of that group saying they used cannabis nearly every day. For the first time, more women in this age group reported cannabis use than men. However, the survey showed a higher prevalence of cannabis use among men in the older age group of 35 to 50.

About 29% of midlife adults, aged 35 to 50, reported using cannabis at least once in the past year, with 8% reporting daily use. These numbers were consistent with the previous year’s findings but represented notable increases over the past five to ten years.

“I’m kind of struck at how frequent daily cannabis use is,” Compton said. “About 10% of the 19- to 30-year-olds; that’s 1 in 10. These levels are at a historical high. Although they didn’t increase this year compared to the previous year, they’re still at quite high levels.”

Vaping and Hallucinogen Use on the Rise

Cannabis vaping showed a slight increase among younger adults, with approximately 1 in 5 reporting they had vaped cannabis at least once in the past year. For middle-age adults, cannabis vaping remained stable, with about 9% saying they had vaped in the past year. Nicotine vaping also remained high across both groups, according to the report.

The use of hallucinogens – including LSD, mescaline, peyote, PCP, and psilocybin mushrooms – remained steady, with about 9% of adults aged 19 to 30 and 4% of those aged 35 to 50 reporting use in 2023. These percentages were similar to those recorded in 2022.

“We have seen that people at different stages of adulthood are trending toward the use of drugs like cannabis and psychedelics and away from tobacco cigarettes,” said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “These findings underscore the urgent need for rigorous research on the potential risks and benefits of cannabis and hallucinogens – especially as new products continue to emerge.”

Alcohol Still Dominates, But Shifts in Other Substances Noted

Despite these trends, alcohol remains the most commonly used substance among adults. More than 84% of younger adults reported drinking in the past year. However, frequent drinking — whether monthly, daily, or binge drinking — has decreased among adults aged 19 to 30 compared to a decade ago.

Other substance use also showed signs of decline. Cigarette smoking and the use of opioid medications and prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons maintained their five- and ten-year downward trends for both age groups.

“I think we’ve had very good news now for a number of years about declines in cigarette smoking,” Compton noted. “That’s been particularly true for the younger cohorts, and so our concern has been with the rise in vaping — and much higher rates of nicotine vaping in the last few years — which might represent a new entry into nicotine addiction and eventual transition to smoked products, which are so strongly associated with cancer and lung damage.”

Drug Overdose Deaths Show First Decline Since 2018

In a related positive trend, preliminary data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics revealed a decrease in drug overdose deaths for the first time since 2018. About 107,500 people died from a drug overdose in 2023, primarily driven by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

While the changes observed in the latest Monitoring the Future survey were modest compared to the previous year, the researchers emphasize the importance of long-term data in understanding substance use trends.

“The data from 2023 did not show us many significant changes from the year before, but the power of surveys such as Monitoring the Future is to see the ebb and flow of various substance use trends over the longer term,” said Megan Patrick, a research professor at the University of Michigan and principal investigator of the Monitoring the Future panel study.

Tracking Long-Term Trends and Implications

The Monitoring the Future survey has been following cohorts since they were teens, providing valuable data as these individuals progress through different life stages. “As more and more of our original cohorts — first recruited as teens — now enter later adulthood, we will be able to examine the patterns and effects of drug use throughout the life course,” Patrick added. “In the coming years, this study will provide crucial data on substance use trends and health consequences among older populations, when people may be entering retirement and other new chapters of their lives.”

The survey’s findings highlight both progress and ongoing challenges in public health, signaling the need for continued research, monitoring, and intervention strategies to address substance use trends in the United States.