By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
According to newly released results from the 2025 Healthy Youth Survey, youth substance use is declining and mental health indicators are showing signs of improvement across Washington state, offering a detailed look at the well-being of young people statewide.
Conducted every two years since 2002, the survey is a collaborative effort of the Washington State Health Care Authority’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, the Department of Health, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Liquor and Cannabis Board. In 2025, more than 213,000 students in grades 6 through 12 participated in the voluntary and anonymous survey.
Overall, the findings point to stability, and in some cases improvement, across both substance use and mental health indicators among youth, continuing trends first observed during the pandemic.
Reported use of substances such as non-prescribed painkillers, stimulants, hemp-derived products, kratom, psilocybin, and fentanyl remains low. Among 10th-grade participants in 2025, about 1% reported using a painkiller to get high in the past 30 days, consistent with 2023 data, while less than 1% reported using an illegal drug, compared to about 2% in 2023.
“There was a sharp decline first observed during the pandemic in 2021, and at the time, many experts were skeptical about whether that was an outlier or if that would mark the beginning of a new downward trend,” said the HYS Committee. “The 2025 results are a promising indication that we are likely seeing a trend.”
Since that decline, substance use among 10th graders has remained low across alcohol, cannabis, cigarettes, and vaping. In 2025, about 6% reported cannabis use, compared to 8% in 2023, while 7% reported alcohol use, down from 9%. E-cigarette or vape use also declined to 6%, compared to nearly 8% in 2023.
“This is the result of multi-pronged strategies to limit youth access that include compliance and enforcement efforts in retail businesses as well as effective collaboration and education at the state and local levels,” said Will Lukela, agency director of the Liquor and Cannabis Board. “These programs help prevent youth from ever starting to use drugs.”
Alongside these encouraging trends in substance use, most mental health outcomes are also showing signs of improvement, including an increase in what researchers define as hope.
Among 10th-grade participants in 2025, 29% reported feeling anxious, down from 31% in 2023, while nearly 26% reported depressive feelings, compared to about 30%. At the same time, about 75% of students expressed strong feelings of hope, up from 71%.
Still, researchers note that these improvements do not eliminate the need for continued support.
“Hope is the belief that tomorrow can be better than today, and individuals have the power to make that happen,” said the HYS Committee. “When students have clear goals, options to advance toward those goals, and believe their actions can influence their future, they tend to show greater resilience and optimism.”
Support systems remain a critical factor in youth well-being. In 2025, 61% of 10th graders reported having an adult they can turn to when they feel sad or hopeless. Those students were significantly less likely to report anxiety, self-harm behaviors, or suicidal thoughts.
“These trends reflect the strength and adaptability of Washington’s providers, communities, youth, and families,” said Teesha Kirschbaum, director of the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. “We’re encouraged to see progress, but it also reinforces the importance of continued prevention efforts, youth engagement, and access to care.”
The survey also highlights the connection between student well-being and academic success. Students who feel supported and connected at school are more likely to attend regularly, stay engaged, and perform well.
Among 10th graders, 79% reported trying to do their best work in school often or almost always, compared to 74% in 2023. Additionally, 70% said what they learn in school will be important later in life, up from 65%.
Beyond individual outcomes, the survey plays a key role in shaping how the state responds to youth needs. Data collected every two years helps inform policy decisions, guide funding priorities, and support program planning at the state and local levels. Schools, public health agencies, and community organizations rely on the results to identify trends, assess gaps, and develop targeted interventions aimed at improving student well-being. By tracking these patterns over time, leaders are better equipped to respond to emerging challenges and invest in strategies that support long-term outcomes for young people.
For state leaders, the findings offer both encouragement and a reminder of the responsibility to continue building systems that support youth.
“Young Washingtonians show their trust in us by sharing their strengths and challenges through the Healthy Youth Survey,” said Washington State Health Officer Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett. “It’s up to all of us to honor that trust and better support those most in need.”
Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal echoed that sentiment.
“When students feel supported at school, and they know how to access additional help when they need it, their academic outcomes improve,” said Reykdal. “These results show progress, but also the importance of continuing that work.”
If you or a young person you know needs support with mental health or substance use challenges, resources are available at StartTalkingNow.org and 988lifeline.org.
