Gen Z’s Positive Trend

Did you know your generation is breaking negative cycles? A recent survey shows most teens are avoiding drinking, smoking and drugs. This is good news!

A national survey from December 2024 found that teen drug use in the United States teens remains low. It dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not rebounded since.

The data from Monitoring the Future, which tracks trends and behaviors among American youth, found that two-thirds of 12th graders said they had not used alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes or e-cigarettes in the previous 30 days. That is the largest proportion recorded since the annual survey began in 2017.

Among 10th graders, 80 percent said they had not used any of those substances recently—another record. Among 8th graders, 90 percent did not use any of them, the same as was reported in the previous year’s survey.

This trend is significant. Why is it happening, and what can we learn from it? Let’s look at this shift through a biblical lens.

What Is Happening?

The change in teen behavior reflects an important biblical principle about avoiding bad influences. Proverbs 16:17 states, “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keeps his way preserves his soul.”

We all know the bad effects that can come from drug and alcohol addiction. Avoiding these substances helps preserve a young person’s life. Many Gen Z teens, even unknowingly, are following God’s wisdom by avoiding harmful behaviors.

What led to the change? During the pandemic, schools shut down and teens stayed home with their families, avoiding parties and gatherings. Because of this, drug and alcohol use dropped since teens usually try them with friends due to peer pressure.

Even before COVID, teen smoking, drinking and drug use were already decreasing. Experts think this was because teens spent more time online instead of hanging out in groups where they might experiment. However, marijuana use and vaping were still rising until the pandemic hit.

Some experts believe lockdowns had a lasting effect. Many teens start experimenting with alcohol and drugs in 9th grade, often influenced by older students. But those who were in 9th grade during lockdowns never got the chance to start, meaning they did not pass the habit down to younger kids. They missed a gateway period for them to start using illicit substances. Teens also got used to socializing online and staying out of risky situations.

While the lockdowns had many downsides, this was a positive. Young people were kept away from peer pressure and closer to family, reducing early drug use.

The Proverbs also talk about who we should spend time with: “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble” (13:20, New Living Translation).

Being around “wise” people helps you make better choices and succeed in life. Wise people could be your parents, siblings, church members, friends from camp or good friends at school. Sometimes you will need to step out of your comfort zone to be around them. These are people who can help you live the right way and do not put you in situations where you could compromise your values.

On the other hand, spending too much time with the wrong crowd can lead to bad decisions. Stepping away from negative peer pressure is a chance to grow.

Why Is It Happening?

While this trend shows that Gen Z is making progress by avoiding harmful behaviors, challenges remain.

Substance use has declined, but mental health struggles like depression and anxiety have increased. At the same time, many teens are spending more time online, leading to an over-reliance on technology. Excessive smartphone use can create unhealthy habits—such as constant gaming and social media scrolling—that may not cause immediate harm but can lead to dependency and distract from important goals.

Simply avoiding the bad behaviors of drinking, using drugs and smoking is not enough. It is important to replace them with positive actions that align with God’s Way.

Jesus taught this principle in Matthew 12:43-45. He used a story to explain that when something bad is eliminated from a person’s life, it can quickly return if something positive is not put in its place. Avoiding substances is good, but what replaces them?

When we shun negative habits or behavior, we should fill the gap with positive activities. These could include building strong friendships, improving our health through exercise, engaging in meaningful hobbies, spending time in nature and studying the Bible. Fill the void with something beneficial.

Jesus also reassured us in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Our God is eager to help us with any challenge we face, including burdensome mental health issues. Following His Way produces real joy and peace, even in a challenging world.

What Can We Learn?

Gen Z’s positive trend is a tiny glimpse of what life can be like when people make better choices. But imagine a world where everyone follows God’s Way completely. It would be a world where no one struggles with addiction, where anxiety and depression are replaced by confidence and happiness, and where friendships are built on kindness and wisdom. No one would be tempted to harm themselves through drug or alcohol abuse.

This is exactly what God’s Kingdom will bring.

When God sets up His government on Earth, there will be no harmful behaviors, no worries and no peer pressure to sin. Isaiah 11:9 describes this future: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

You can reflect this future now by making conscious choices to stay away from negative influences, seeking out positive activities that strengthen faith, and living a life rooted in wisdom, integrity and kindness.

One of the best ways to do this is to study the Bible to learn more about God’s Kingdom—what it will be like and how you can be a part of it. II Timothy 3:15 says, “From a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

This statement shows Timothy was benefiting and growing wise “from a child.” It does not say “from adulthood” or “from baptism.” No matter how old you are, studying Bible characters, stories and doctrines allows you to understand what God wants from you and apply what you have learned to your life.

Also, Mr. Pack’s book Tomorrow’s Wonderful World – An Inside View! is a great resource to help you understand more about what life will be like during the Kingdom.

Your actions can positively influence those around you and encourage them to make right choices, too. Here is how: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (I Tim. 4:12, New American Standard Bible).

Let Gen Z’s trend show you that real change is possible and remind you of how the world will one day be transformed when God’s Kingdom comes. But you do not have to wait for that future to start making a difference. You and other young people like you can make choices today that align with God’s way of life—not just avoiding bad habits but actively pursuing what is good.

This article contains information from The Associated Press.