I’ve spilled a lot of ink lately opining about the dangers of modern childhood and the risk parents face if they don’t pay attention. Well, last week an agency in the U.S. Department of Health dropped a report with some shocking news about adult behavior.
According to the Substances Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 2025 Americans consumed more cannabis that either cigarettes or booze. There’s a lot to unpack from this data but looking over the past five years, it seems that young people are less enthralled with this stuff while adults over 25 are struggling. Results from the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Graphics from the Key Findings Report
I suggest looking at the actual stats rather than the charts. What caught me and sent me here were headlines like this. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/daily-marijuana-surpasses-alcohol-tobacco-173915579.html
Then there’s the newest craze. Gaming. 57% of Americans reported gambling in 2025. That’s up from 43% in 2019. Pennsylvanians gambled nearly $7 billion in 2024. Only Nevada gambles more. From 2018 to 2023 on-line gambling increased 8 fold from $2.5B to $20B nationally.
So, if leadership comes from example, adults aren’t doing the job and that may help explain part of the reason kids seem unhappy at home. The SAMHSA report covers that as well without concluding the reason.
We all have reasons to be unhappy. We seem to be at war; at least fuel prices suggest it. Today I treated my household to a strip steak at $24/pound. One minute we are told we won’t have jobs or won’t need to work because of AI and that it will consume all of our electricity and water. The next day the reports are that AI is not replacing humans, and we might still be needed. Somewhere.
In times like these, it may be best to turn to a fellow like Warren Buffet. He counsels three forms of investment; Your own development (e.g., education); value based stock and a house you can afford. He lives in a house he bought in 1958 for $31,500. So far as I am aware, no weed or gummies are on his menu and he’s not betting on whether someone will exceed Aroldis Chapman’s 105 mph pitch in 2010 during tonight’s games. In an age when nothing seems real, he seems to keep real. Warren Buffett: If you’re going to splurge, splurge on these 3 things
In the meantime, for those raising kids, you probably should evaluate your own habits-whether weed, booze, tattoos, season tickets or Doordash and ask; “Are these habits I want my kids to emulate?
From the Daily Caller on 8/9/2026: Weed is America’s most commonly used drug now, and the reason why may be worse than you think