Marijuana Use Among Young Adults Increases, While Tobacco Use is Down

Marijuana use among young adults ages 18 to 22 is on the rise, while tobacco use is down, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The findings are based on the results of the 2002-2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The survey found in 2016, 51.6% of young adults not in college and 46.8% of young adults in college said they used either marijuana or tobacco in the past year, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Exclusive marijuana use was higher among young adults in college than their peers not in college, both for past 30-day (11.5% vs. 8.6%) and past 12-month use (14.6% vs. 10.8%).

Exclusive tobacco smoking was higher among young adults not in college compared with those in college, both for past 30-day (17.7% vs. 10.4%) and past 12-month (17.4% vs. 12.2%) use.