As a substance abuse treatment program specializing in working with teens and young adults who struggle with substance use disorders, we are often asked questions about commonly used drugs. Though the data is clear that marijuana is the number one drug used by teens, in this article we’ll discuss the other most popular drugs that teens are using.
The data used in this article was gathered from 281 drug treatment charts between 2020 and 2022 that outline the top five drugs used by teens, and make observations regarding the data that will help with understanding these trends.
Out of the 281 charts from young people admitted into our Arizona Substance Abuse Program, we found that the top 5 drugs that were used overall between 2020-2022 were:
- Cannabis – 100%
- Alcohol – 90%
- LSD – 63%
- Xanax – 59%
- Cocaine – 44%
Many of the young people were also using other drugs among these top five, but these were the most common.
What are the Top 5 Drugs Used by Teens
Below is a graph of the top 5 drugs that were commonly used by teens. Among the top five were some unsurprising results, but there were also some unexpected appearances mixed in with the usual suspects.
#1: Cannabis
Cannabis ranks as the number one drug used by teens. Out of the 281 people admitted into the program, 100% of the teens we worked with used cannabis.
Though the number isn’t a surprise, we found it interesting that the number was a clean 100%. Additionally, almost every teen we worked with (74%) used cannabis first before they tried any other drugs.
This makes sense as most of the teens we work with report that cannabis is easier for them to obtain than alcohol, and the perception of risk for cannabis use has dropped significantly among teenagers.
#2: Alcohol
Alcohol is the second most widely used substance among teens and young adults. Between 2020 and 2022, 90% of teens admitted into the program were using alcohol.
We also noticed a drop in alcohol use year-to-year. In 2020, 92% of young people admitted were using alcohol; compared to 85% in 2022.
As a substance abuse counselor, I have made a few thoughts as to why this may have occurred:
- As more teens label THC as their drug of choice, fewer people have claimed alcohol to be.
- As Cannabis becomes more accessible and more potent, decreases in other substances such as alcohol occur, as those substances are less accessible, despite the potency of other substances.
#3: LSD
The third most common drug used by teens currently is LSD, edging out Xanax as the teens’ most preferred drug aside from alcohol and THC.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen teens’ interest in hallucinogens rise; the most common hallucinogen used by teens currently is LSD.
LSD is a hallucinogenic drug that comes in the form of paper tabs, gels, or liquids and has major effects on the function of the teen brain. LSD was one of the most widely used substances in the 60’s and 70’s, as a result of the counterculture hippie movement.
#4: Xanax
Benzodiazepines are a type of prescription drug and the most common of these is Xanax. Xanax is a depressant that suppresses central nervous system activity and helps users to calm down. Individuals who abuse Xanax will often feel a high similar to being drunk.
Between 2020 and 2022, 59% of teens we worked with had used Xanax.
We did note that Xanax abuse dropped from 2020-2022 by 9%.
In our experience, out of all the top five drugs used by teens, Xanax is most widely paired with cannabis. However, it is commonly also paired with Alcohol, a particularly dangerous combination that is infamous for leading to overdoses.
Also, it is important to note that the withdrawal from Xanax is also very similar to the withdrawal from alcohol. It is one of the only drugs of abuse that can lead to seizures and death upon withdrawal.
#5: Cocaine
One drug that has made a comeback in recent years is cocaine. According to our data, cocaine use amongst teens and young adults ranks fifth on the list with 43% having used cocaine.
Teenagers are drawn to cocaine’s ability to provide a euphoric high and increase energy and confidence. Its popularity among this age group is a cause for concern due to its addictive nature and detrimental effects on physical and mental health.
Teen drug abuse overview
The top five commonly used illegal drugs among teenage and young adult populations include marijuana, alcohol, LSD, Xanax, and cocaine.
Runner-ups included cough syrups, synthetic marijuana, psylocybin (mushrooms), and the ever-popular stimulant adderall.
We will continue to update this post year-to-year as new data becomes available to us.