Psychoactive Drugs and Youth

Psychoactive Drugs and Consciousness Alteration

• Psychoactive drugs are used by individuals to alter consciousness.
• Global illicit drug use is a significant concern; 296 million users reported in 2021 (UNODC, 2023).

Impact of Drug Use on Youth

• Youth drug consumption linked to various negative outcomes:
  • Unsafe sexual practices
  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Unplanned pregnancies
  • Depression
  • Academic struggles
  • Increased mortality risk

Longitudinal Trends in Drug Use

• U.S. drug use tracked since 1975 for high school seniors and since 1991 for younger students through the Monitoring the Future survey (Miech et al., 2023).
• Trends observed:
  • Decline in drug use in the mid-1980s.
  • Increase in the 1990s.
  • Decline again around 2015.
• Post-COVID-19 pandemic effects:
  • Decrease in cannabis use and vaping during lockdowns; persisted after.
  • Increase in alcohol consumption post-pandemic.

Current Status

• Despite recent declines, the U.S. retains one of the highest adolescent drug use rates among industrialized nations.