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Youth in Crisis
In 2023, the CDC found that almost half of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless and 20% seriously considered suicide due to mental health conditions.
And these mental health concerns are increasingly being linked to substance misuse among teens and young adults. According to Rehab.com’s Drug Use Statistics Report for 2025, over 2 million college students have used illicit drugs within the previous month and 2 out of 5 admit to binge drinking.
Youth Mental Illness and Substance Misuse
Young people may turn to drugs or alcohol to help manage feelings of sadness, but their condition runs deeper than emotions alone. In 2023, the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) reported that 1 in 5 teens had a diagnosed mental health condition, a 35% increase since 2016.
These trends coincide with a surge in drug and alcohol addiction among young adults and teens.
According to Rehab.com, the group with the highest rate of drug and alcohol use is 18 to 25-year-olds, with nearly 8% of teens 11 to 17 reporting drug use in the last 12 months. Substance use during adolescence can lead to addiction in early adulthood, so campaigns like Free Mind are needed now more than ever before.
An Epidemic of Addiction and Overdose in Young People
Teens and young adults are considered high-risk populations. They’re more open to experimenting with different substances than other age demographics, but lack the maturity to understand the danger.
Consider the uptick in fentanyl use. Although the CDC reports a 36% decrease in fentanyl related deaths in 2024, the number of counterfeit pills and street drugs laced with fentanyl is on the rise.
Youth are especially susceptible to these drugs, often buying them online or through unvetted sources without fully realizing what they’re taking. According to another report from the CDC around five in 10 of the counterfeit pills tested in 2024 contained a potentially deadly level of fentanyl.
A Surge in Cannabis Use Disorders
It isn’t just fentanyl that’s cause for concern. Most young people would tell you cannabis is harmless, but research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says otherwise.
A recent SAMHSA report reveals that about 17% of teens who use cannabis before they turn 18 become addicted, yet individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 have the highest use rate.
The Deadly Influence of Social Media
Another example of teen vulnerability are the viral and dangerous social media challenges teens are participating in right now.
This includes chroming, a potentially deadly trend that encourages adolescents to inhale the fumes from chrome-based spray paint.
Recovery is Possible
Finding help for a young person in trouble shouldn’t be a challenge, yet many families are unaware of the specialized treatment available for adolescents and young adults.
The good news is that many treatment centers provide evidence-based, age-specific programs to help young people regain the healthy, happy, dependency-free future they deserve
On Rehab.com, you can find high-quality addiction treatment centers and programs designed to meet the unique needs of young people.
Search for your city to find the closest facility near you or call
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