The main point: The 2025 Monitoring the Future survey, an annual national survey of 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grade students conducted by the University of Michigan with support from NIDA, found that for the fifth year in a row, teen use of most substances continues to hover around the low mark reached in 2021.

There was a sharp decline in teens’ reported use of most drugs 2020-2021, largely due to the pandemic. But teen use has not since rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, instead remaining steady at the low levels.
Reported use of most drugs in most grades held steady 2024-2025.

The trends:

The good news: Drug abstention was at record levels in 2025. Use of the three most common substances (alcohol, marijuana, nicotine) continue to trend downward.
Things to watch: Use of nicotine pouches continued an upward trend, but increases were not significant, and use remains fairly low.
Potential areas of concern: While prevalence remains very low, use of heroin and cocaine increased in 2025, warranting close monitoring. Nicotine use increased among 12th-graders, an abrupt departure from the decline since 2019, though it is not yet clear if this will be the start of a sustained increase or just a blip.

The details:

Abstaining: The percentage of teens abstaining from marijuana, alcohol, and nicotine held steady at or near historically high levels, with 91% of 8th-graders, 82% of 10th-graders, and 66% of 12th-graders reporting abstaining in the past 30 days. 73% of 8th-graders, 61% of 10th-graders, and 41% of 12th-graders report never having used these substances.
Alcohol: Alcohol use remained stable among all three grades 2024-2025, continuing on its downward trajectory, with 11% of 8th-, 24% of 10th-, and 41% of 12th-graders reporting use in the past 12 months. Binge drinking also held steady, reported by 1%, 2%, and 9% of students.
Marijuana and Hemp: Marijuana use remained stable among all grades, with 8%, 16%, and 26% of students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade, respectively, reporting past-year use. 2%, 6%, and 9% reported past-year use of cannabis products made from hemp, a decrease from 2024.
Tobacco/Nicotine: Past-month nicotine use among 12th-graders rose in 2025 (to 22%), reflecting small increases across multiple tobacco products, rather than a dominant change in any single product. Prevalence in 8th (6%) and 10th (12%) grades was stable. Nicotine vaping remained stable among all grades, with 9%, 14%, and 20% of students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade, respectively, reporting use in the past 12 months. Nicotine pouch use was also stable, with 1%, 3%, and 7% reporting past-year use.
Energy Drinks: Daily use of energy drinks or energy shots is at or near record highs among all three grades, with 18% of 8th-, 20% of 10th-, and 23% of 12th-graders reporting use at least once per day in the last 30 days.
Opioids: Heroin use among all three grades remains low, with less than 1% of students in each of the grades reporting past-year use, though values increased significantly from 2024. Past-month misuse of prescription opioids also remains low, at 1% of 12th-graders, but also increased in 2025.
Cocaine: Cocaine use also remained low, but past-year use increased among 8th- and 12th-graders compared to 2024. 0.6% of 8th-, 0.7% of 10th-, and 1.4% of 12th-graders reported past-year use.