SAMHSA recently released the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and there’s some encouraging news we want to share with you.
While there is always work to be done, the latest data show positive trends in mental health and substance use, reminding us that engaging, educating, and empowering our communities is, in fact, building resilience.
*Note: Because of changes to the NSDUH survey methods, 2025 results are compared with 2021 as the baseline for most measures and 2022 for nicotine product use, nicotine vaping, and illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) use.
Some Positive Highlights in the Data:
- The number of youth 12-17 who had major depressive episodes decreased overall.
- The percentage of individuals who reported binge drinking recently decreased.
- Overall, fewer individuals reported misusing prescription opioids in the past year than last year.
- The number of individuals over the age of 12 who had substance use disorder decreased by 2 MILLION.
This data helps prevention organizations and communities better understand where to increase awareness and how to address issues more effectively. The positive changes highlighted here show that prevention efforts are making a difference and give us hope that these trends will continue to improve over time.
So, What Does This Mean for You?
It means you should get involved with prevention in any way you can! Take a suicide prevention course, support those around you, learn more about substance misuse and addiction, and make a positive impact in your community. It all makes a difference!
How can Makin’ It Happen Help?
Makin’ It Happen is here to help you get involved. Whether you’re looking for engagement, education, or empowerment, we’ve got you covered. We offer a variety of evidence-based programs and curricula for youth, families, and communities to help build resilience.
Learn more at makinithappen.org. If you’re looking for prevention tools and information, visit makinithappen.org/resources.
Your health is our hope. Thank you for taking care of yourselves and your communities.
Written by Anne Bonner | Marketing and Communications Lead | 8/6/2026.
