News Articles

People with substance use disorders may be at higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections: Co-occurring health disorders appear to contribute to increased risk, NIH study suggests. An analysis of electronic health records of nearly 580,000 fully vaccinated people in the United States found that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection among vaccinated patients with substance use disorders was low overall, but higher than the risk among vaccinated people without substance use disorders. People with substance use disorders—such as alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, opioid, and tobacco use disorders— also had elevated rates of severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death, following breakthrough infections.

Percentage of adolescents reporting drug use decreased significantly in 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic endured: The percentage of adolescents reporting substance use decreased significantly in 2021, according to the latest results from the Monitoring the Future survey of substance use behaviors and related attitudes among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders in the United States. In line with continued long-term declines in the use of many illicit substances among adolescents previously reported by the Monitoring the Future survey, these findings represent the largest one-year decrease in overall illicit drug use reported since the survey began in 1975.

Marijuana use at historic high among college-aged adults in 2020: Annual NIH-supported study reports changing substance use trends among college students and college-aged adults. Marijuana use continued to rise among college students over the past five years and remained at historically high levels among same-aged peers who are not in college in 2020.This represents the highest levels of marijuana use recorded since the 1980s. The survey also found that marijuana vaping and nicotine vaping leveled off in 2020 after sharp increases reported every year since 2017 for both college students and same-aged respondents who are not in college.