Indiana Youth Survey Finds Record Lows in Teen Substance Use

A recurring study finds that substance use among Indiana’s youth has reached its lowest level in more than 30 years.

The 2024 Indiana Youth Survey is being conducted by Prevention Insights, part of the Applied Health Science department at Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington. This year, the survey shows a significant decrease in substance use over the past two years.

“The results of this survey are both encouraging and a reflection of the hard work being done across the state to promote healthier lifestyles among our youth,” said Ruth Gassman, director of Prevention Insights. “Seeing these historic lows in substance use among Indiana’s youth is a testament to the effectiveness of our prevention strategies and the dedication of our communities.”

The 2024 survey, which collected responses from more than 60,000 Hoosier students from 223 schools across the state, shows a marked decline in substance use compared to 2022, a year that also saw historic lows. The findings represent some of the most substantial declines since the survey began in 1991, mirroring similar trends observed nationwide.

Among the substances with the lowest prevalence rates in three decades were cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. Alcohol use among 12th graders in the 30 days prior to completing the survey dropped 44.1 percentage points since 1991, when it peaked at 59.7 percent.

Similarly, cigarette use among 11th graders declined 37.9 percentage points from a peak of 40.1% in 1996, while marijuana use among 10th graders declined 18.5 percentage points from a peak of 24.9% in 1996. Vaping, which has been tracked since 2015, also saw the lowest prevalence rates.

“The data is clear: Our youth are making healthier choices,” Gassman said. “These declines in substance use are significant. It suggests that our efforts to educate and support these youth are paying off.”

Key findings include:

• Alcohol: While it remains the most commonly used substance among Indiana youth, the percentage of 12th graders reporting drinking alcohol in the 30 days prior to the survey dropped from 19.9% ​​in 2022 to 15.6% in 2024.
• Vaping: Electronic vapor products, the second most commonly used substance among teens in Indiana, saw a decline among 12th graders from 14.8% in 2022 to 9.6% in 2024.
• Broader trends: Students in grades 7 through 12 reported decreases in the use of alcohol, cigarettes, vaping products, marijuana, and non-prescription drugs compared to 2022.
• Younger students: Cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use also decreased among sixth graders last month compared to 2022.

The study also sheds light on mental health trends among Indiana youth. Students across all grade levels were less likely to report feelings of depression and other negative mental health indicators compared to 2022. For example, the percentage of 10th graders who reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more dropped from 37.8% in 2022 to 30.2% in 2024.

“This decline in reported mental health problems is promising,” Gassman said. “While there is still work to be done, it is encouraging to see these positive shifts in both substance use and mental health among our youth.”

For the first time, the 2024 survey reported results based on whether a county is rural or urban. Notably, there were no instances where youth in urban counties reported higher rates of past-month substance use, including binge drinking, compared to their rural counterparts.

However, students in rural districts were more likely to report higher prevalence rates for several substances. For example, cigarette and electronic vapor product use was higher among students in sixth, seventh, ninth, and tenth grades, while binge drinking was more common among students in eighth through eleventh grades in rural districts than in urban areas.

“Understanding the differences in substance use patterns between rural and urban areas can help identify what types of student supports are needed, and where,” said Jon Agley, an associate professor in the School of Public Health-Bloomington and director of research at Prevention Insights. “The data will help Hoosiers better address the unique challenges facing different communities.”