PCSS-MOUD Clinical Roundtable: Substance Use Disorder in Adolescence-MTF Report

MTF Report

Pdf Summary

The "Monitoring the Future (MTF)" study is a comprehensive U.S. national survey, ongoing since 1975, tracking drug use trends, attitudes, and related social contexts among secondary school students in grades 8, 10, and 12. Supported by the NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse, the study uses a stratified sampling method yearly to produce nationally representative data on hundreds of substances, including illicit and prescription drugs, alcohol, nicotine, and emerging products like vaping and delta-8 THC.<br /><br />Key 2024 findings highlight historically high levels of abstention among students—67% in 12th grade, 80% in 10th, and 90% in 8th—continuing declines precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicotine pouch use has doubled among 12th graders to 6%, signaling a growing trend despite lower overall nicotine and other drug use. Marijuana, alcohol, and vaping show sustained decreases in lifetime, annual, and 30-day use across all grades.<br /><br />Demographic analyses reveal nuanced differences. Marijuana use is now slightly higher among females than males, reversing prior trends, while males report higher usage of most other drugs. Racial/ethnic groups show varied prevalence, with White students generally reporting higher use of many substances. Students planning college generally report less drug use than non-college bound peers. Regional and population density differences are modest but notable, with rural areas showing higher vaping and cigarette use.<br /><br />MTF emphasizes the importance of attitudes such as perceived risk and disapproval, finding that increases in risk perception often precede declines in drug use. For marijuana, risk perception dropped substantially after 2000 but rose again post-pandemic. Cigarette smoking risks are widely acknowledged, yet youth vaping risk perception remains comparatively lower. Social context data show parents and peers influence youth attitudes and usage patterns, with parental disapproval high but peer attitudes more variable and closely aligned with individual use.<br /><br />Methodological rigor ensures valid self-report data, with corrections for absenteeism and school dropouts showing minimal impact on prevalence estimates. Extensive appendices provide detailed trend tables and analyses from 1975 to 2024.<br /><br />Recent publications based on MTF data report on reasons for drinking and vaping, mental health trends, and substance use patterns among young adults, highlighting ongoing shifts and informing prevention efforts.

Keywords

Monitoring the Future

MTF study

drug use trends

secondary school students

nicotine pouch use

marijuana use

vaping trends

risk perception

demographic differences

substance use prevention