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Charted: Substance Use Among Young Adults in the U.S.
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Key Takeaways
- Alcohol remains the most commonly used substance among young adults, with 81% reporting use in the past year.
- Cannabis use continues to rise, with 41% of young adults using it in some form.
- Nicotine pouch use doubled year-over-year, from 5% in 2023 to 10% in 2024.
Substance use among young Americans has shifted significantly over the past decade, with cannabis and nicotine vaping emerging as major trends.
This infographic shows what substances young adults (ages 19–30) used in 2024, using the latest data from research by the University of Michigan.
What Substances Are Young Adults Using in America?
While alcohol use remains prevalent among young adults, substances like nicotine, cannabis, and vaping products have seen sharp increases in recent years.
The table below shows the share of 19- to 30-year-olds who reported using each substance in 2024:
| Substance | Share of young adults reporting use in 2024 |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 81% |
| Cannabis (any mode) | 41% |
| Vaping Cannabis | 22% |
| Nicotine (any mode) | 37% |
| Vaping nicotine | 26% |
| Nicotine pouches | 10% |
| CBD | 19% |
| Cigarettes | 18% |
| Other drugs* | 18% |
*Other drugs include hallucinogens, amphetamines, cocaine, sedatives, tranquilizers, and narcotics/opioids.
According to the study, nearly 81% of young adults used alcohol in the last 12 months, making it the most widely used substance by far.
Meanwhile, cannabis continues to trend upward, with 41% of young adults reporting use, double the rate from the early 2010s. Vaping is also widespread with 26% of young adults vaping nicotine, and 22% vaping cannabis, up from 14% in 2023.
Furthermore, nearly 37% of young adults used nicotine in some form, making it one of the most widely-used substances. Nicotine pouches saw the biggest year-over-year shift, with their use doubling to around 10% in 2024, reflecting their growing popularity as an alternative to smoking and vaping.
In terms of daily usage, 25% of young adults reported binge drinking, where they consumed five or more drinks in a row in the past two weeks. Among cannabis users, 11% reported daily cannabis use (>20 occasions in the last 30 days).
What’s Driving Substance Use?
Several factors influence the shifting substance habits of young Americans:
- Legalization of cannabis across many states has normalized its use.
- Vaping products are often perceived as less harmful than traditional smoking.
- Nicotine pouches are marketed as “smoke-free,” making them appealing to younger users.
At the same time, traditional cigarette use continues its decades-long decline, although 18% of young adults still report smoking in the past year.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about this topic, see this infographic on alcohol use in U.S. teenagers on Voronoi.