Arizona Young Adults Lead Nation in Drinking Drop

Past-month drinking among Arizonans ages 18-25 fell from 53.4% to 41.6% across two survey periods, per federal data.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Substance Abuse

Arizona Young Adults Lead Nation in Drinking Drop

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Do you think young adults in your area are drinking less than they used to?

Arizona recorded the largest decline in past-month drinking among young adults ages 18-25 of any state, according to an analysis of federal survey data. Young adults in the state who reported drinking in the past month fell from 53.4% in 2021-22 to 41.6% in 2023-24, which matters for readers across Arizona who track alcohol use among younger residents.

Why it matters

The shift is a population-level change in how young adults in Arizona are drinking, and it may reflect broader national movement. National past-month drinking among adults ages 18-25 also declined, from 50.9% in 2021 to 47.5% in 2024, suggesting the Arizona trend is part of a wider pattern rather than an isolated local event.

The figures come from federal survey data in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which SAMHSA combines with other local data through statistical modeling to produce two-year state estimates. SAMHSA cautions that survey methodology changes mean 2021-22 state estimates are not comparable with earlier periods, so the size of the change should be read with that limit in mind.

The players

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The federal agency that oversees the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and publishes national and state estimates on substance use and mental health.

Tmrw

The organization that analyzed the federal survey data and ranked states by changes in young adult drinking.

The details

Tmrw analyzed the federal survey responses to compare drinking rates across states. SAMHSA produces its state estimates by combining survey answers with other local data through statistical modeling, which allows two-year snapshots at the state level. Because the survey asks about past-month use, the measure captures recent drinking rather than lifetime or heavy-drinking patterns. Tmrw also reported increases in several states, including Alabama and Tennessee, showing the trend is not uniform across the country.

2021-22: survey period in which 53.4% of Arizona 18-25-year-olds reported past-month drinking
2022-23: survey period in which the Arizona rate was 46.2%, per SAMHSA
2023-24: survey period in which the Arizona rate fell to 41.6%
2024: year of the national estimate showing 47.5% past-month drinking among 18-25-year-olds

Health Landscape

The figures rest on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the federal survey that SAMHSA uses to track substance use across the country. Arizona's drop sits within a national decline among young adults, but the survey's methodology changes mean comparisons with earlier years require caution.

If you are a young adult or the parent of one, this trend is a reason to ask your doctor about alcohol use during routine checkups, since drinking patterns can shift quickly. Anyone who drinks may find it worth discussing with a clinician how their own habits fit current guidance.

The takeaway

Arizona's sharp drop shows that young adult drinking can change meaningfully over a few years, though the survey's methodology limits make exact year-to-year comparisons tricky. Tracking your own drinking and raising it with your physician during routine visits is a practical step worth taking.