Some indicators may open doors to the larger challenges young adults face daily. As young people, do you feel confused, not knowing what really defines you, your defining traits, I mean, who you really are? Do you feel perplexed and do not understand the meaning and purpose of your life, and the direction your life is heading? Do you feel troubled by loneliness? Do you think things do not add up in your life? Does your life seem to be in disarray, or do things seem to fall apart? Do you feel a deficit in your relationship with your parents, siblings, friends, colleagues, neighbors, community members, coworkers, or spouse? Do you feel disturbed about who your spouse will be? Do you worry about establishing financial independence or how to afford your dream home? Do you worry about what profession to pursue, and are you scared about how soon you can get employment after college? Do you worry about gun violence in our communities and political issues in our nation? And the list goes on. The questions above give insight into the larger problems young people face in their lives.
Studies show that the most frequently disabling mental health conditions that are challenging young adults aged 18 to 25 and above include depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and drug and alcohol use disorders. Good news! Wholesome Life Transformation Inc (WLT)was established to empower you to adopt and sustain positive health behaviors, achieve optimal health and well-being, and lead purpose-driven lives, free of poverty, distress, hunger, homelessness, and violence; establish stable marriages and strong family relationships; and model lives after the character traits of the Creator-God.
“More than1.5 million adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years died in 2021, about 4500 every day. Mortality rates are highest among young adults aged 20–24 years. Females generally have lower mortality rates for these ages than males”(WHO, Adolescent and young adult health. Key Facts: Nov. 26, 2024)
Tobacco use: “Most people using tobacco today began doing so when they were adolescents. Nicotine is highly addictive, and young people’s brains develop up to theirmid-twenties. Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, including an estimated 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke. The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing over 8 million people a year around the world. More than 7 million deaths are the result of direct tobacco use, while around 1.3 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke. All forms of tobacco use are harmful, and there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco. Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use worldwide. Other tobacco products include waterpipe tobacco, cigars, cigarillos, heated tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco, bidis and kreteks, and smokeless tobacco products.” (WHO, adolescent and young adult health. Key Facts: July 31, 2025)
Alcohol and drug use: “Early onset of substance use is associated with higher risks of developing dependence and other problems during adult life, and younger people are disproportionately affected by substance use compared with older people. People of younger age (20–39 years) are disproportionately affected by alcohol consumption, with the highest proportion (13%) of alcohol-attributable deaths occurring within this age group in 2019. The data on global alcohol consumption in 2019 show that an estimated 400 million people aged 15 years and older live with alcohol use disorders, and an estimated 209 million live with alcohol dependence. Drinking alcohol is associated with risks of developing noncommunicable diseases such as liver diseases, heart diseases, and different types of cancers, as well as mental health and behavioral conditions such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders. Cannabis is the most widely used psychoactive drug among young people, with about 4.7% of people aged 15–16 years using it at least once in 2018” (WHO, Adolescent and young adult health. Key Facts: June 19, 2024)
Mental health: “Depression and anxiety are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents, and suicide is among the leading causes of death in people aged 15–19 years. Half of all mental health disorders in adulthood start at age 18, but most cases are undetected and untreated. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15–29 years. The consequences of failing to address adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.” (WHO, adolescent and young adult health. Key facts Oct. 10, 2024)
Injuries and violence: “Injuries, interpersonal violence, self-harm, and maternal conditions are the leading causes of death among adolescents and young adults. Injuries result from road traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns, poisoning, and acts of violence against oneself or others, among other causes. Of the 4.4 million injury-related deaths, unintentional injuries take the lives of 3.16 million people every year, and violence-related injuries kill 1.25 million people every year. Roughly 1 in 3 of these deaths result from road traffic crashes, 1 in 6 from suicide, 1 in 10 from homicide, and 1 in 61 from war and conflict (WHO, Adolescent and young adult health. Key Facts: Nov. 26, 2024, and June 19, 2024).
The impact of substance use and mental health problems on individuals, families, communities, and society at large is significant, as shown by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)in 2024. The substances include tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use among individuals aged 12 and above.
This includes tobacco products, such as cigarettes, smokeless tobacco (including snuff, dip, chewing tobacco, or snus), cigars, and pipe tobacco. Nicotine vaping refers to the use of e-cigarettes or other vaping devices to vaporize nicotine. In 2024, 16.7% (48.0 million people) used tobacco products, according to the NSDUH. The percentage of people aged 18 to 25 who used tobacco products in the past month was 14.4% in 2024. Among people aged 26 or above, the rate of people who used tobacco products in the past month was 18.7%
Alcohol use refers to having more than a sip or two of any alcoholic drink (for example, a can or a bottle of beer, a glass of wine or a wine cooler, a shot of liquor, or a mixed drink with liquor in it). According to the NSDUH results, among young adults aged 18 to 25, 47.5% (16.6 million people) used alcohol in the past month in 2024. And among those aged 26 or above, the percentage of alcohol used in the past month was 51.0.
This includes any use of marijuana or cannabis products (including smoking, vaping, and other modes of use), cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or methamphetamine, as well as misuse of prescription stimulants, tranquilizers, or sedatives (e.g., benzodiazepines) or pain relievers. The results of the NSDUH indicated that the percentage of illicit drug use among people aged 12 or older in the past year was 25.5% (73.6 million people) in 2024. Among young people aged 18 to 25, the percentage of illicit drug use in the past year was 38.1% in 2024. And for those young people aged26 or above, the percentage of illicit drug use in the past year was 24.8% in 2024.
As shown in the NSDUH results, “substance use disorders (SUDs) are characterized by impairment caused by the recurrent use of alcohol or other drugs (or both), including health problems; disability; and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home.”According to the NSDUH results, 16.8% (48.4 million people) aged 12 or older had SUDs in the past year. 27.9 million people had an alcohol use disorder, and 28.2 million people had a drug use disorder.
Mental Illnesses: Studies have shown that “mental illnesses are common in the United States and around the world.” The 2022 NSDUH provided estimates of any mental illness (AMI) and severe mental illness (SMI) for adults aged 18 or older. “Adults aged 18 or older were classified as having AMI if they had any mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in the past year of sufficient duration to meet criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV)”. “Adults aged 18 or older were classified as having SMI if they had any mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that substantially interfered with or limited one or more major life activities.” In 2022, the NSDUH report showed that 36.2 percent (12.6 million) young adults aged 18 to 25 had AMI, followed by 29.4 percent (30.2 million) young adults aged 26 to 49. The percentage of young adults aged 18 to 25 with SMI in 2022 was 11.6 percent (4 million), followed by adults aged 26 to 49 at 7.6 percent (7.8 million).
Chronic disease: research study conducted by Watson, KB; Carlson, S; Loustalot, F; et al (April 27, 2025) in 2023, showed that 59.9% (43.7 million) young adults aged 18 to 34 had at least one chronic condition, and 27.1% (19.9 million) had more than one condition. Data were analyzed from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which measured twelve of the chronic conditions (asthma, arthritis, cancer, chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), depression, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and stroke). The most troubling chronic problems include depression, obesity, and high cholesterol. Studies show that trends in these conditions progressively worsen in later adulthood.
In the District of Columbia, detailed age-specific data for those aged 18 to 39 is limited; however, the adult data provides helpful context for young adults. The “median age of residents in the DC is younger than the U.S. average (33.7 vs 37.6, respectively).” In the 2022 report of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “adults aged 18 or older were classified as having any mental illness(AMI) if they had any mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in the past year. Adults aged 18 or older were classified as having serious mental illness(SMI) if they had any mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that substantially interfered with or limited one or more major life activities.”
Mental illness: In adults, anxiety disorders, Major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are the leading mental health issues. “In 2014, approximately 18% of DC adults had ever been told they had a depressive disorder. Rates were highest in Ward 8 (30%), Ward 1 (22%), and Ward 7 (18%). The second most common inpatient hospital discharge among all DC residents was for Mood disorders (3.9%). The second most common age group for inpatient discharges was 18–44 (6.1%).In 2012, the report from the service providers indicated that’psychoses as a diagnosis were the leading diagnosis as a proportion of all hospital discharges across every zip code in the district.”Studies show that among young adults aged 18 to 25, based on 2017 to 2019 averages, 5.5% of young adults have serious mental illness (SMI) and 7.3% have serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.
Substance use: Concerning, “substance use, alcohol, opioid, and prescription drug use, and marijuana use are the leading issues for both adults and children.
Violent crime: “Violent crime in the district dropped 35% in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching its lowest level in over 30 years. Key categories fell drastically – homicides down 32%, robberies by 39%, armed carjacking by 53%, and assaults with dangerous weapons by 27%.”
According to the United States Department of Justice, “Violent Crime in DC hits 30-year low.” Key categories of violent crimes include homicides, robbery, and assault with dangerous weapons. According to a Politico article, over 60% of DC’s homicides occur in Wards 7 and 8. According to the Washington Examiner, Ward 8, in particular, is on track for a homicide rate of~ 71.9 per 100,000 in 2025, putting it among the highest in the country for a ward. Ward 7 also has a much higher rate, though lower than Ward 8’s, and is still significantly above the district average.
Chronic conditions: Certain health risk factors, such as obesity, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, alcohol abuse, and tobacco use, impact health status, resulting in poor health outcomes, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. “Districtwide, approximately 33% of adults are overweight while 22% are obese.” According to the 2017 DC Health Systems Plan, “26% of black residents are smokers compared to 7% of white residents.
According to Michael Foust (2023), a “significant minority of young adults who are in a relationship believe marriage is an“outdated” concept, according to a new survey of Millennials and Gen Z that also found that an overwhelming majority nevertheless hope to get married.”Horowitz JM, Graf N, Livingston G(2019) study showed that “young adults are more likely than their older counterparts to find it acceptable for an unmarried couple to live together. About eight-in-ten adults younger than age 30(78%) say that cohabitation is acceptable even if the couple doesn’t plan to marry.”And from the American Family Survey (2023), “56% of young adults say personal commitment matters more than legal marriage, and 85% believe marriage isn’t for fulfilling a committed relationship.”At the interpersonal level, challenges encountered in marriage and family life may include differences in values and expectations, incidents of infidelity, reduced intimacy, varying levels of commitment, financial concerns, communication difficulties, self-interest, dishonesty, and trust issues.
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Follow us on our website, blog, social media, and at conferences, seminars, workshops, community spiritual well-being events, and individual or family-tailored meetings. WLT uses the Truth rooted in God’s word, the Holy Bible, and evidence-based health education and promotion interventions to empower young people to acquire knowledge, attitudes, skills, and beliefs that enable them to adopt intentionally and maintainpositive healthbehaviors, attain optimal health and well-being, lead purpose-driven lives, establish a strong marriage, and a stable family life modeled after God’s will.