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About the Campaign
Know the link between youth substance use and mental health challenges.
CDC developed the Free Mind campaign to help prevent and reduce drug use and overdose among youth. The campaign was created through research and real conversations with youth, parents, and caregivers. Through these conversations, CDC identified a need to address the connection between substance use and mental health among youth ages 12-17.
For more details on Free Mind campaign development, see Campaign Summary [PDF – 5 MB].
Youth may use substances to help them cope with mental health challenges like stress, anxiety, and depression, and ongoing use can lead to a substance use disorder. Substance use can lead to worsening mental health and contribute to the development of some mental health conditions.1
A 2023 survey found youth ages 12-17 who had a major depressive episode in the past year were more likely than their peers to:
- Use illegal drugs, marijuana, and tobacco products.
- Misuse prescription opioids.
- Binge drink alcohol.2
Breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use can help prevent overdose deaths and encourage more young people to seek the support they need.3 Recognizing that substance use disorders can co-occur with mental health conditions, it is essential to provide youth with the tools to navigate these challenges.1
Take Action
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Mental Health and Substance Use Co-occurring Disorders. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/what-is-mental-health/conditions/co-occurring-disorders.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 national survey on drug use and health. Published July 2024. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/data-we-collect/nsduh-national-survey-drug-use-and-health/national-releases.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stigma reduction. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/stigma-reduction/index.html.