Adults in the United States reported cannabis use at or near record highs in 2025, reflecting a years-long climb.
Nicotine vaping also remained high among young adults, according to the latest data from the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future Longitudinal Panel study, an annual examination of self-reported drug use in the U.S. among adults ages 19 to 65 supported by the National Institutes of Health.
“We have seen consistent trends in recent years with high levels of cannabis use, vaping and nicotine pouch use,” said Megan Patrick, research professor at U-M’s Institute for Social Research and principal investigator of the MTF Longitudinal Panel Study. “This year, we also saw increases in nonmedical use of prescription drugs, particularly sleeping medications, among young adults.”
The panel study showed that increased levels of cannabis, nicotine vaping and nicotine pouch use coincided with historically low rates of cigarette smoking and a decline in alcohol consumption, patterns seen in recent years.
“By far, alcohol remains the most commonly used substance among all adult age groups,” Patrick said. “However, changing patterns of cannabis and nicotine use illustrate the shifting landscape of substance use in the U.S. These are important behaviors to watch and priorities for public health.”
The study asked adults about their use of more than two dozen substances over different time periods, including the past 12 months and the past 30 days.
View the full release on the Michigan News website
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