Heroin use has dropped dramatically among young adults in the past year, according to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on Friday, the report also showed that young people are abusing prescription opioids less as well. In 2015, SAMHSA estimated 8.5 percent of people in that age range misused prescription opioids; that dropped to just over 7 percent in 2017.

While this is all good news, the big picture is that addiction is still a huge problem in America, especially among the age group of 18 to 25. This group typically has higher rates of tobacco, alcohol and heroin use disorders. They also experiment with more drugs such as cocaine, meth, and hallucinogens. Society often views this period as a rebellious time for many young people. After all, many people in this age group are in college and away from their parents for the first time. For many, partying is seen as rebellion. Many people go to college, however, to learn and get a degree, but end up faced with an addiction to alcohol or drugs.

While fewer young adults have decided to use heroin, the number of heroin users barely went down in the same age group. People still aren’t getting the help they need to battle their substance use disorders. Worse yet, the number of people in the US that use methamphetamine has risen. And, with the legalization of marijuana in several states, there is an uptick in use that is to be expected.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug. It is in the same class of drugs as cocaine. The schedule II substance gives a high that is described as a powerful rush that can last for hours. People often become addicted to it quickly, and the symptoms of a substance abuse disorder begin to rear its ugly head. People who are addicted to meth experience painful and withdrawal effects when they try to cease using.