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Show Alcohol, Tobacco, and Substance Abuse There are several surveys available that measure self-reported behaviors relating to alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System measures self-reported drinking prevalence, binge drinking, drinking and driving and smoking. The Utah Division of Substance Abuse uses two surveys that ask questions pertaining to alcohol, tobacco, and substance abuse. The first, the Utah Household Survey on Substance Abuse, is conducted annually by Dan Jones and employs face-to-face interviews. U.S. data referred to in the Utah Household Survey on Substance Abuse come from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse commissioned by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Prior to 1994 this survey was administered to Utahns age 12 and older. Beginning in 1994 it was limited to adults 18 and older. The other, the Utah School Drug Use Survey, is conducted by BYU's Center for Studies of the Family and is administered to students in grades 7-12. This survey was conducted in 1984, 1989, and 1994. Results from all three surveys are given in this subsection, as are results from similar national surveys. Note that national and state data are not always collected for the same years; this somewhat limits year-to-year comparisons. All three surveys assure confidentiality. However, when interpreting results it should be kept in mind that these are self-reported data. Drinking Prevalence (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey) Drinking prevalence is measured as consumption of alcoholic beverages in the last month. Drinking prevalence by itself does not necessarily indicate an increased health risk, but is included in this survey to compare Utah to other states in reported drinking by those 18 and up. In 1993, five other states had a lower percentage of persons who reported having consumed alcoholic beverages during the previous month. Utah ranks well below the U.S. median. Serious health problems are not usually associated with occasional drinking. Driving after drinking and binge drinking are more apt to affect health adversely, and these reports follow. Figure 44________________ Table 73. Drinking Prevalence U.S. Year Utah U.S. Low Median U.S. High 1989 31.1 30.3 53.2 69.9 1990 30.0 29.9 51.3 69.4 1991 27.4 25.5 51.2 68.3 1992 28.7 26.1 50.5 69.9 1993 31.8 27.4 51.8 69.6 1994 _ _ _ - 1995 29.0 - - - Percentage of persons who have had alcoholic beverages during the past month. Drinking Prevalence O (0 0> O) ¦ c c o O Q. O CO 60. i-----------A-----------A-- """ "" 501 40-30 [ ?-----------0----------O--1------.............-pu .- -------^_ -----O ___^----f 20. 10. 0. ------------1------------1- ---------1- -------1---------1 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1995 Utah------D- - -U.S. Low •O---U.S.-----A---U.S. Median High Utah's Health: An Annual Review 1996 81 |
