For decades, the United States has been engaged in a prolonged effort to combat drug-related issues. The former President Ronald Reagan emphasized the fight against narcotics as a crucial objective. Regrettably, after four decades and an expenditure exceeding $1 trillion, the country continues to grapple with a significant predicament, and this issue has now reached an unprecedented magnitude.
Recently, on August 17th, the Monitoring the Future (MTF) organization published its annual report on drug usage within the United States. Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), this comprehensive study concentrated on individuals aged 19 to 60 years old, aiming to gain deeper insights into drug-related behaviors and attitudes.
The survey findings indicate a rise in marijuana consumption among individuals aged 19 to 30. In the year 2022, around 44% of the respondents acknowledged using marijuana. Notably, the frequency of daily marijuana usage has reached 11%, marking the highest level since the inception of the survey. In comparison, in 2017, 35% of the surveyed individuals reported using the drug, which is now permitted in varying capacities in nearly all states.
Consumers of the substance are diversifying their consumption methods beyond conventional approaches. A notable 21% of participants indicated using marijuana through vaping, marking the highest point since this option was introduced in the survey. This represents an increase from the 19% reported in the previous year, 2021.
Over the course of ten years, there has been a consistent decline in alcohol consumption among Americans. This trend was particularly noticeable among individuals aged 19 to 30, until the preceding year. In 2022, there was a slight uptick in daily and past-month usage of alcohol, as well as binge drinking. This increase amounted to 84%, up from 82% as reported in 2017.
In contrast to the initial demographic, there has been a rise in the count of individuals aged 35 to 50 over the past ten years. Binge drinking in this group reached an all-time peak of 29% in 2022, showing an increase from the 23% reported in 2012. Collectively, alcohol consumption reached 85% in 2022, marking a climb from 83% in 2012.
Back in 2012, a mere 3% of the surveyed individuals acknowledged using hallucinogenic substances. This figure rose to 5% in 2017 and surged to an all-time peak of 8% in 2022 among those aged 19 to 30. Within the same timeframe, about 4% of adults aged 35 to 50 reported using these substances in the past year, indicating an increase from 2% in 2021. The category of drugs encompassed shrooms, MDMA, peyote, mescaline, PCP, and similar substances.
Megan Patrick, Ph.D., a research professor at the University of Michigan, is among the experts comprising the MTF panel. According to her, the survey provides an excellent means to monitor drug utilization from adolescence to adulthood. She elucidated that public perspectives on drugs undergo alterations influenced by various factors, notably including their accessibility.
