2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Highlights Positive Trends in Youth Substance Use and Mental Health

SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher D. Carroll highlighted that this year marks the earliest public release of the NSDUH in its history, emphasizing SAMHSA's commitment to data-driven policy and program innovation. The survey indicates an encouraging trend, particularly among adolescents aged 12 to 17 and young adults aged 18 to 25, who have shown declining or stable levels in several behavioral health indicators over the past five years.

The 2025 NSDUH includes data from over 60,000 participants, focusing on trends from 2021 to 2025. Among adolescents, significant declines were observed in: past month use of tobacco, alcohol, binge drinking, and marijuana; past year use of illicit drugs; initiation of alcohol and nicotine vaping; various forms of substance use disorders; and severe mental health issues, including major depressive episodes and suicidal behavior.

Similarly, for young adults aged 18 to 25, trends showed reduced prevalence in past month use of various substances, including tobacco and alcohol, along with declines in substance use disorders and major depressive episodes.

The survey details additional findings regarding mental health. In 2025, about 18.0% of adolescents experienced moderate or severe anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks, while 6.6% of adults had similar anxiety symptoms. Among adults aged 18 and older, 20.6% reported any mental illness in the past year, with 6.9% experiencing serious mental illness.

As for substance use, the data showed that 56.0% of individuals aged 12 and older used substances—tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs—in the past month. Marijuana remained the most commonly used illicit drug, with a rise from 19.0% in 2021 to 21.2% in 2025.

The NSDUH also captured suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In 2025, 13.9 million adults reported serious thoughts of suicide, while 2.6 million adolescents did the same. New questions concerning non-suicidal self-harm were introduced, revealing that 11.2% of adolescents reported engaging in such behaviors.

Regarding treatment services, only 2.6% of people aged 12 or older received substance use treatment in the past year, with common barriers including self-reliance and readiness to seek help. Mental health treatment rates were slightly better, with 27.6% of adolescents and 21.6% of adults receiving treatment.

Finally, nearly 30.6 million adults acknowledged having a problem with substance use at some point, with 73.0% of them believing they are in recovery. The NSDUH has been conducted annually since 1971, providing vital statistics on mental health and substance use patterns in the U.S. For support during crises, resources include the 988 hotline and online chat services.