Lyon County Sheriff Pope’s Message of the Week on October 10, 2025

Monitoring current drug trends amongst our community allows the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office to take a more targeted approach to enforcing narcotics-related laws. Monitoring current drug and alcohol trends amongst our youth allows the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office to not only take a targeted approach to enforcement, but also grants a pathway to education on the effects of illegal drugs on our youth.

The legalization of marijuana in Nevada, and the accessibility of marijuana infused products to our youth, has put Nevada amongst the highest in the Country in drug use amongst teens. Cannabis use can have permanent effects on the developing brain when use begins in adolescence, especially with regular or heavy use.

From my experience working in narcotics in this County, and being involved in youth / high school sports, cigarettes and vaping devices are the true gateway drug. Both have a higher propensity to lead to marijuana use and beyond.

Substance Abuse among Youth:

Early drug abuse correlates with substance abuse problems later in life, and the most significant increases in destructive behavior appear to take place among older teens and young adults.

Nationwide Statistics:

In 2023, 1.86 million adolescents aged 12 to 17, or 7.2% of teens nationwide, reported using drugs in the last month.

Among teens who reported using drugs in the last month, 83.9% report using marijuana during that same period.

442,000 teenagers aged 12- to 17-years-old used an illicit drug other than marijuana in the last month.

5.4% of 8th graders have used illicit drugs in the last 30 days.

15.1% of 8th graders have tried illicit drugs at least once.

By the time they’re in 12th grade, 36.8% of teens have tried illicit drugs.

8.90 million 18- to 25-year-olds used drugs in the last month.

5,926 Americans aged 15 to 24 years old died of an overdose of illicit drugs in 2023.

5.67% of overdose deaths are individuals aged 15 to 24 years.

Youth Alcohol Abuse Statistics:

Alcohol is by far the most commonly abused substance among teens and young adults.

In 2023, 1.02 million 12- to 17-year-olds reported binge drinking in the last month.

25.44 million 18- to 25-year-olds report binge drinking in the last month.

5.58 million 12- to 20-year-olds report drinking in the last month.

Among them, 58.9% report binge drinking during that period.

18.5% of 8th graders have abused alcohol at least once.

48.7% of teens have abused alcohol by 12th grade.

6.9% of all 12- to 17-year-olds used alcohol in the last month.

0.9% of 12th graders drink daily.

8.8% of 12th graders have 5+ drinks in a row when consuming alcohol.

0.3% of 8th graders drink daily; by 10th grade, 0.6% drink daily.

757,000 teenagers aged 12- to 17-years-old met the criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the 2023.

Nevada Statistics:

Teenagers in Nevada are 17.71% more likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen.

21,000 or 8.54% of 12- to 17-year-olds report using drugs in the last month.

Among 12- to 17-year-olds who used illicit drugs in the last month, 85.71% reported marijuana use.

13.33% of 12- to 17-year-olds reported using marijuana in the last year.

0.23% of 12- to 17-year-olds reported using cocaine in the last year.

0.10% of 12- to 17-year-olds reported using methamphetamine in the last year.

2.29% of 12- to 17-year-olds reported using pain relievers in the last year.

8.37% of all 12- to 17-year-olds used alcohol in the last month.

12- to 17-year-olds in Nevada are 21.68% more likely to use alcohol than the average American in their age group.

93,000 adults aged 18- to 25-years-old used drugs in the last month.

18- to 25-year-olds in Nevada are 19.48% more likely to use drugs than the average American in the same age group.

8.26% of teenagers aged 12- to 17-years-old met the criteria for DUD in the last year.

4.12% of teenagers aged 12- to 17-years-old met the criteria for AUD in the last year.

However, it can be accomplished; parents need to speak with their children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Google searches are a common way for people to find solutions to countless problems. The simple Google search of “how to talk to your kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol” takes a person to countless, credible resources. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has hosted classes in reference to this topic and will continue to do so in the future.