Illicit drug use peaks at which age bracket?

• A. 16-17
• B. 18-20
• C. 21-25
• D. 26-34

Answer: (B)

Illicit drug use tends to rise as people move from late adolescence into early adulthood, reaching its highest level in the late teen to early twenty period. In many national surveys, the largest share of people reporting use is found in the 18–20 age group. This peak reflects a mix of increased independence, greater exposure to social environments like college or new workplaces, and heightened experimentation during this life stage. While the 21–25 bracket also shows high use, the peak is often represented most strongly by the 18–20 group in these measures. Below this age, use is generally lower, and after the mid-twenties the prevalence tends to decline as responsibilities grow and social contexts change.