Sign in Subscribe
Youth

Teen Perceptions of Substance Availability Plummet During Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Teenagers' perceived availability of marijuana, alcohol, and vaping devices declined sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the largest recorded drops in 46 years, according to a new study. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, assessed changes in adolescent substance use and perceived availability of substances during the pandemic. Despite the significant decline in perceived availability, prevalence levels for marijuana use and binge drinking did not significantly decrease.

Key Takeaways:

  • Perceived availability of marijuana declined by 17 percent, the largest level ever recorded in the 46-year history of the Monitoring the Future project.
  • Perceived availability of alcohol declined by 24 percent, also the largest level ever recorded.
  • Perceived availability of vaping devices and nicotine vaping prevalence in the previous 30 days significantly declined, from 73 to 63 percent and from 24 to 17 percent, respectively.
  • Prevalence levels for marijuana use in the previous 30 days and binge drinking in the previous two weeks did not significantly change despite the decline in perceived availability.
  • The study highlights the challenges facing a supply-side approach to reducing adolescent use of substances.

Statistics:

  • Perceived availability of marijuana declined by 17 percent at a level not seen in 46 years of the Monitoring the Future project.
  • Perceived availability of alcohol declined by 24 percent, the largest level ever recorded.
  • 73 percent of participants reported perceiving vaping devices as available in early 2020, compared to 63 percent in the summer of 2020.
  • Nicotine vaping prevalence in the previous 30 days declined from 24 to 17 percent.

Sources:

  • Miech, R. et al. (2021). "Monitoring the Future national survey on drug use, 1975-2020: 1. 2020 survey methodology." Drug and alcohol dependence, 223, 112651. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.112651.
  • Miech, R. et al. (2021). "Monitoring the Future national survey on drug use, 1975-2020: 2. Total response rates and trends in response rates for 2020." Drug and alcohol dependence, 223, 112652. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.112652.

Read more