Drug Use Rates Decline; Depression Rates Increase Among Teens

The latest survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that certain substance use is lower, specifically amongst adolescents. While mental illness levels have remained constant over the past few years, depression levels in teenagers have seen an increase recently. Marijuana continues to be the most commonly used illicit drug; however, tobacco use has declined by roughly half between the years of 2002 and 2014. The report also shows that about 43.6 million adults aged 18 or older experienced some form of mental illness in the past year. 11.4 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2.8 million adolescents) experienced major depressive episodes in the past year. Youth suffering from depressive episodes within the past year were more likely to use illicit drugs than non-sufferers.

http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/201509100930-0