The pressure to perform is driving Gen Z toward substances that promise relief but carry heavy costs.
Gen Z isn’t shy about talking mental health, burnout, or anxiety—but conversation alone doesn’t make the pressure go away. With jobs that demand constant hustle, social lives curated through filters, and an economy that feels more rigged than rewarding, many young adults are turning to substances to cope. Some are legal, some aren’t. Some feel harmless, others aren’t even labeled properly. But all of them are part of a bigger story: a generation desperate for calm, focus, escape, or just a break.
The substances Gen Z reaches for aren’t always what you’d expect. It’s not just party drugs—it’s nootropics, edibles, stimulants, and herbal remedies, often blended with anxiety about the future and a need to feel in control. These 11 coping choices reflect the complicated, high-stakes world Gen Z is navigating—and raise real questions about how we’re defining self-care, productivity, and survival.
1. Nicotine vapes are marketed as chill but fuel more anxiety.
What started as a way to quit smoking has turned into a high-nicotine habit that’s become almost invisible. Vaping is everywhere—at desks, in bathrooms, between Zoom calls. It gives a quick hit of calm but spikes anxiety long-term, especially with frequent use, as stated by the writers at Exprogram.
Gen Z often sees vaping as harmless or even helpful, but the dependency creeps in fast. The constant craving and withdrawal cycle mess with mood, focus, and sleep, leaving users more frazzled than before. What looks like a coping mechanism is often just adding fuel to the stress fire.
2. Adderall is being misused as a productivity hack.
In high-pressure environments, Adderall is treated like a shortcut to intense focus and longer hours. Many young adults without prescriptions borrow or buy pills during crunch time, especially in college or creative fields that glorify grinding, as reported by the writers at Addction.
The problem? It doesn’t just wear off—it crashes hard. Misusing stimulants messes with sleep, appetite, and mental clarity, often leading to emotional lows, irritability, and burnout. What feels like superhuman focus turns into a brutal comedown that gets worse with every cycle.
3. Alcohol use is shifting to solo stress relief.
Forget party scenes—more Gen Zers are drinking alone or quietly during the week to “wind down” after a stressful day. It’s not about fun anymore; it’s about turning down the noise in their heads and taking the edge off relentless pressure, according to Surya Gowda at USA Today.
While it might seem harmless, regular alcohol use to cope with work or emotional overwhelm creates dependency patterns that are hard to break. It dulls your nervous system in the moment but makes anxiety and sleep issues worse over time. The escape feels real—but so does the fallout.
4. THC edibles are now part of the nightly routine.
Weed isn’t new, but how it’s used is shifting. Edibles, vape pens, and THC drinks are marketed like wellness products—and plenty of Gen Z users swear by them for sleep, anxiety, and tuning out work stress.
The issue is consistency. Relying on cannabis to relax or sleep can lead to tolerance, dependence, and lower motivation. For some, it’s a gateway to calm. For others, it blurs the line between managing emotions and avoiding them entirely. What starts as a tool can quietly become a trap.
5. Caffeine is being abused in ways nobody’s talking about.
It’s not just morning coffee anymore. Energy drinks, espresso shots, caffeine pills, and ultra-strong brews are part of daily survival. The goal? Stay productive, stay alert, and stay ahead—even if your body’s begging for rest.
Caffeine abuse often flies under the radar because it’s socially acceptable. But it’s still a substance, and overuse leads to jitteriness, irritability, heart palpitations, and insomnia. When you need two energy drinks to get through a Tuesday, that’s not just “tired”—it’s a warning sign.
6. Delta-8 and synthetic cannabinoids are being seen as safer weed.
Delta-8 THC and other synthetic cannabinoids are popping up in vape carts, gummies, and tinctures—often sold legally in gas stations or online. Many young users assume they’re a safer, milder alternative to regular weed.
The truth is, they’re largely unregulated. That means potency and side effects can vary wildly. Some people feel fine; others end up with paranoia, nausea, or panic attacks. Using mystery chemicals to manage daily stress is a gamble Gen Z is taking more often than you’d think.
7. Benzos are being passed around like anti-anxiety candy.
Medications like Xanax and Ativan are meant for short-term anxiety relief, but off-label use is common. Friends share pills, or people source them online to help with panic, sleep, or emotional burnout after long, brutal workweeks.
These meds are powerful and dangerously addictive. Even occasional use can mess with brain chemistry and emotional regulation. They don’t teach coping—they just shut everything down. And for Gen Z, who already feels emotionally overloaded, that quick silence becomes tempting but risky.
8. Nootropic stacks are seen as the smart-person secret weapon.
Nootropics—aka “smart drugs”—claim to enhance focus, memory, and brain function. Young professionals and students combine various supplements and compounds, hoping to create a mental edge that helps them crush deadlines and stay sharp.
Some stacks are harmless. Others aren’t. Without medical guidance, mixing cognitive enhancers can lead to anxiety, insomnia, and unexpected crashes. What feels like biohacking often becomes burnout dressed in tech-bro packaging, and most users don’t even realize their productivity boost has a cost.
9. Microdosing psychedelics is being used to soften emotional chaos.
Some Gen Zers are microdosing LSD or psilocybin mushrooms in tiny, non-hallucinogenic amounts to improve mood, creativity, or emotional clarity. It’s trendy in tech and creative circles, often described as “mental wellness without the baggage.”
The jury’s still out on long-term safety. Some people report breakthroughs. Others feel nothing—or worse, get more emotionally dysregulated. The risk isn’t just chemical—it’s psychological. Using psychedelics to escape stress, even in tiny amounts, can still mess with your emotional footing over time.
10. Over-the-counter sleep aids are being used nightly.
Melatonin, diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and sleep gummies have become part of Gen Z’s bedtime rituals. With irregular work hours and constant digital stimulation, sleep doesn’t come easy—so they reach for anything that shuts down their thoughts.
These seem harmless, but using them consistently builds dependence. Plus, many OTC sleep aids can leave you groggy, moody, or foggy the next day. You’re sleeping, but you’re not really resting—and over time, that starts to show in your mental and physical health.
11. Off-label antidepressant use is happening quietly and casually.
In an effort to self-regulate, some Gen Zers are borrowing or sourcing antidepressants like SSRIs without prescriptions. They’re seen as a way to smooth out mood swings, curb anxiety, or simply feel “more okay” day to day.
It’s risky. These medications are powerful, and using them without medical supervision can lead to side effects, emotional blunting, or withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly. Trying to chemically fix emotional pain without support often masks the real issues underneath—and those don’t stay buried for long.