According to the latest findings from the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, cannabis and hallucinogen consumption among U.S. adults remained at historically high levels in 2023. The survey, which tracks substance use behaviors and attitudes, indicated that the prevalence of these substances among adults aged 19 to 50 showed little change from previous years, suggesting sustained levels of use.
The MTF survey data highlighted that both cannabis and hallucinogen use continued to be prevalent among adults in 2023. Among young adults aged 19 to 30, approximately 42% reported using cannabis in the past year, with 29% indicating past-month use and 10% engaging in daily consumption. In the midlife group aged 35 to 50, 29% reported past-year cannabis use with 19% and 8% reporting past-month and daily use, respectively. Similarly, hallucinogen use continued its upward trajectory, with 9% of young adults and 4% of midlife adults reporting use within the past year.
In contrast to the rising trend in cannabis and hallucinogen consumption, the survey found that tobacco use remained at an all-time low across both age groups. Among adults aged 19 to 30, past-month and daily alcohol continued to decline, reaching levels not seen in over a decade. Some experts view this trade-off as positive due to the relatively lower harms associated with cannabis. Binge drinking among this age group also hit an all-time low, reflecting a broader shift away from alcohol consumption. However, among adults aged 35 to 50, binge drinking increased compared to five and ten years ago, highlighting a divergence in alcohol use patterns between younger and older adults.
Vaping, both nicotine and cannabis, continued to rise among young adults. The 2023 survey reported record-high levels with 25% of adults aged 19 to 30 reporting nicotine vaping, making it the most vaped substance among this group. Meanwhile, 22% reported cannabis vaping. For adults aged 35 to 50, the prevalence of vaping remained steady from the previous year, although long-term trends are still emerging due to the more recent addition of these questions to the survey.
One notable finding from the 2023 survey was the reversal of the gender gap in cannabis use among young adults. For the first time, women aged 19 to 30 reported a higher prevalence of past-year cannabis use than men in the same age group. This contrasts with the midlife group, where men aged 35 to 50 continued to report higher cannabis use than women, consistent with trends observed over the past decade.
Megan Patrick, a research professor at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research and the principal investigator of the MTF panel study, emphasized the importance of these findings for public health. “Alcohol continues to be the most commonly used substance across age groups, followed by cannabis and nicotine,” Patrick noted. “The longer-term trends indicate that cannabis and psychedelic use have been increasing for both young adults and midlife adults, and vaping of nicotine and cannabis have increased among young adults. Some indicators of alcohol use have increased among midlife adults but decreased among young adults. Understanding these population-level patterns should inform our research and public health priorities.”
