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Show Substance Abuse Compiled by Dan Bergantz 2001 Utah Detox Admissions: 20,575 Substance abuse affects many aspects of public health. The harm caused by the abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs goes far beyond the physical side effects and bodily harm inflicted on the individual abusing these substances. Substance abuse is often found linked with other public health problems including low birth weight infants, miscarriages, domestic violence, child abuse, poverty, etc. Although overall rates of alcohol and illicit drug abuse are lower in Utah comparative to national averages, there are areas of concern. The largest area of concern in Utah is the abuse of methamphetamine. According to the Utah Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Abuse, 18 percent of admissions to drug treatment facilities in Utah were for the treatment of methamphetamine abuse (Table 59). Comparatively, admissions for methamphetamine treatment on the national level comprised only four percent of all admissions. There are a number of other significant trends in Utah. Treatment for marijuana abuse is most apparent in the younger age cohorts, whereas treatment cases for the other highly used, illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine) significantly increase in the older age cohorts. Also, since 1997, cases of cocaine and heroin abuse have decreased in Utah, but abuse of marijuana and methamphetamine has continued to increase. Table 59. Primary Substances of Abuse, by Percentage of Treatment Admissions, Utah and U.S., 2000. Substance Utah U.S. Alcohol 41% 44% Cocaine/Crack 8% 13% Heroin 8% 16% Marijuana 18% 15% Amphetamines 18% 4% Table 60. Primary Substance Treatment Admissions by Age Cohort, Utah, 2001. Age Cohort (years) Substance <18 18-24 25-34 35-65 >65 Alcohol 626 1308 1696 4802 48 Cocaine/Crack 27 215 557 818 1 Heroin 4 227 540 795 1 Marijuana 1683 1012 539 460 0 Amphetamines 122 965 1612 1085 0 ¦Alcohol c ¦§ 80 - |
