We will see the impacts of the pandemic on kids for years to come, but according to researchers from the University of Michigan, the pandemic did positively impact drug use among teens. According to their survey, the percentage of youth who used an illicit drug other than marijuana decreased by a quarter in 2021, the largest drop among eighth to 12th graders since 1975.

Breaking it down by grade, the drop was 27 percent among 12th graders, 31 percent among 10th graders, and 30 percent among eighth graders. The researchers credit these declines to restricted access to drugs and less time in peer groups that would encourage drug experimentation. Only time will tell if these declines will hold as students age and schools return to in-person classes.

The researchers note that while they did not look at marijuana use when considering illicit drug use, marijuana, alcohol, and nicotine use also declined during the pandemic. The proportion of 12th graders who have ever used alcohol decreased by 12 percent and the proportion who had vaped nicotine was 13 percent less than the previous year.

Pandemic shutdowns have spurred an increase in mental health issues among teens and children, but this research indicates that the pandemic may have had a silver lining when it comes to the use of drugs like cocaine, hallucinogens, amphetamines, and prescription opioids.

Source study: University of Michigan – Data Set