this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2025
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Summary

Teen drug, alcohol, and tobacco use in the U.S. continues to decline, with record-low usage levels reported in 2023, according to the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future survey.

Among 12th graders, 66% reported no recent use of alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, while 80% of 10th graders and 90% of 8th graders avoided these substances entirely.

Experts attribute the decline partly to reduced peer pressure during the pandemic.

However, nicotine pouch use has doubled among 12th graders, raising concerns.

Despite pop culture's glamorization of smoking, teen cigarette use remains low.

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[–] [email protected] 35 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (10 children)

I’ll offer this as a possible reason: Kids don’t solo travel like they used to. Kids not wanting driver’s licenses as much is a thing.

I think I can speak for older generations a little - we couldn’t wait to get enough independence to have a bike or driver’s license to get out of the house. There was only the telephone to talk to people - as in no internet, no social media, not everyone had computer games or consoles. Eventually you had messaging services like AIM or IRC, but you didn’t really meet up with friends on them because not everyone had PCs, or cared to learn how to use one. There was cable TV if you were lucky, but you didn’t watch that all day. We went from one friend’s house to another, or friends of friend’s homes. You got exposed to a lot more living conditions, often while completely unsupervised. Bored kids or kids with home problems didn’t mind pilfering the alcohol from the parents, or got whatever drug they could. Usually pot. Nothing else to do. Plus some peer pressure.

Now? Kids text. They meet up online on discord or whatever VoIP or messaging service is cool right now. Group chats. Play online games. They don’t need to leave the house to hang out, and in-person hangouts seem way less important to my kids than it ever was to me when I was younger. That’s a lot less opportunity to be introduced to alcohol or other drugs and have the access to them.

So maybe less peer pressure isn’t necessarily a Covid result, it’s the result of social interaction moving to online spaces and not physical spaces where access to alcohol or other drugs are present.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

This is a big part of it for sure. I have a 21 year old nephew who refuses to get his license. He just says yeah I've got lots of friends that drive me where I need to go. It's not always going to be like that, kid.

I got my learner's permit the day I turned 15 and my license the day I turned 16. Couldn't wait to get away from my family.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

nowadays insurance and vehicles are also significantly more expensive for younger people. In several states drivers with learners permits are automatically covered by their parents insurance reducing cost.

[–] ToyDork 2 points 1 week ago

Even then, cars are simply unattainable. Houses and apartments more so. A computer is the most expensive thing many 30-somethings own, they can't afford to not live with their parents when there is literally a housing shortage in Canada, and the United States doesn't offer health care insurance if you get an inconvenient tumor or have terrible genetics.

We are 30 year olds with a college degree but no job experience competing with 20 year olds who have a college degree and can work an extra 10 years before they get paid pension.

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