U.S. National Survey on Drug Abuse Finds Cannabis Use Among Youth Below 2019 Levels 

The 2022 U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that just over 11% of 12- to 17-year-olds reported consuming a cannabis product within the last year. The figure is an uptick from 2020 and 2021 levels, according to the government data, but below 2019 levels.

Overall, the survey found that 23% of Americans 18 and older reported consuming cannabis in 2022, and over half said that they have consumed marijuana at least once during their lifetimes. From 2021 to 2022, the number of Americans who said they had consumed cannabis at least once in their life increased from about 133,939,000 to about 137,739,000, the survey found.

According to the survey, 61.9 million people aged 12 or older consumed cannabis within the previous 12 months, making it the most popular illicit drug used by Americans.

In all, 59.8% of individuals – or 168.7 million people – aged 12 or older used tobacco products, vaped nicotine, or consumed an illegal drug or alcohol in the past month, which is considered “current use” according to the survey.

In a statement, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the leader of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said the survey “provides an annual snapshot of behavioral health nationwide.”