The National Institutes of Health has released data showing that cannabis use and nicotine vaping among U.S. adults remained at near-record levels in 2025. This shift occurs as traditional cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption continue to fall, redrawing the landscape of adult substance use in America.
The findings stem from the latest Monitoring the Future Panel Study, an ongoing University of Michigan study supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The project tracks substance-use patterns among approximately 20,000 adults aged 19 to 65.
Adult Cannabis Use Reaches Historic Highs
Adult cannabis use remained at or near its highest recorded levels in 2025, continuing a long-term upward trajectory. The increase was particularly visible among mid-life adults. Among those aged 35 to 50, daily cannabis use rose to 8.5% in 2025, compared to 6.6% in 2024.
Cannabis vaping also remained near historically high levels. While the researchers noted that not every age group experienced increases, the overall data shows that cannabis consumption remains elevated across the adult population.
Nicotine Vaping and Pouches Replace Combustible Cigarettes
Nicotine consumption patterns show a clear transition away from traditional smoking. Nicotine vaping remained near record levels in 2025. Among young adults, past-30-day nicotine vaping has tripled since 2017, while past-year vaping has nearly doubled over the same period.
Nicotine pouches have also emerged as a common alternative. Past-year use of these pouches among adults has more than doubled since researchers first began tracking the product category in 2023.
These increases contrast sharply with the decline of conventional cigarettes. In 2025, only 8.3% of adults aged 19 to 30 reported smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days. For older adults aged 55 to 65, the rate stood at 10.6%.
| Substance & Use Type | Age Group | Key Metric / Trend (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Cannabis Use | Ages 35–50 | Increased to 8.5% (up from 6.6% in 2024) |
| Nicotine Vaping (Past 30 Days) | Young Adults | Tripled since 2017 |
| Nicotine Pouches (Past Year) | Adults (General) | More than doubled since 2023 |
| Cigarette Smoking (Past 30 Days) | Ages 19–30 | Remained low at 8.3% |
| Alcohol Consumption | Ages 19–30 | Near historic lows (including high-intensity drinking) |
Alcohol Consumption Falls as Other Substance Trends Diverge
Alcohol use among younger adults remained low by historical standards. Among adults aged 19 to 30, measures including past-year drinking, past-30-day drinking, and high-intensity drinking (defined as consuming 10 or more drinks in a row) were at or near historic lows.
The study also identified shifting patterns for other substances among adults aged 19 to 30:
- Heroin: Reported past-year use rose from 0.2% in 2024 to 0.6% in 2025, though this remains below the historical high of 0.7% in 2013.
- Sleeping Medications: Past-year nonmedical use increased from 2.0% in 2024 to 3.0% in 2025.
- Psychedelics: Reported past-year use declined from 8.9% in 2024 to 7.2% in 2025.
Public Health Implications and Monitoring
Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, emphasized the importance of tracking these diverging behavioral trends to protect public health.
"It is reassuring to continue to see relatively low smoking rates and a continuing decline in alcohol use among adults. At the same time, rising rates of cannabis, nicotine, and certain other drug use warrant attention. Continued monitoring is vital for understanding the changing drug landscape so that we can develop effective interventions to support public health."
The 2025 data confirms that while traditional smoking and drinking continue to lose popularity, cannabis, vaping, and nicotine pouches have secured a prominent role in the substance-use habits of American adults.
