Show Alcohol Tobacco and Substance Abuse Compiled by Monica Wilkinson The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse an annual survey conducted by the Substance Services Health Mental and Abuse Administration SAMHSA has been the primary source of estimates of the prevalence and incidence of llcit drug alcohol and tobacco use in the population since 1971 The survey is based onnationally representative sample of the civilian non-institutionalized population of the United States age 12 years and older Information provided in the expanded 1999 National Household Survey of Drug Abuse providesmore detailed picture of substance abuse pattems in the United States than has previously been possible Selected findings are presented below Alcohol Use in 1998 113 million Americans age 12 and older reported current use of alcohol used alcohol at least once during the 30 days prior to the About 33 millon of this group interview engaged in binge drinking or more drinks on one occasion during that 30-day period and 12 million were heavy drinkers or more drinks on one ogcasionor more days during the past 30 days Rates of current alcohol binge alcohol and heavy alcohol use remained unchanged from 1998 to 1999 for all age groups Although consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal for those under 21 years of age in the United States 10million current drinkers were age 12-20 in 1998 The level of alcohol use was strongly associated with illcit drug use in 1998 as in prior years with 29percent of heavy drinkers and 17percent of binge drinkers also being illcit drug users Only7 percent of nondrinkers were illicit drug users Tobacco Use An estimated 60 million Americans age 12 and older reported current cigarette use meaning smoking cigarettes at least once during the 30 days prior to the interview The rate of current cigarette use in the population age 12 and older was similar in 1999 29percent to the rates from 1994 through 1998 The current smoking rate among young adults age 18-25 continues to follow an upward path from 34percent in 1994 to 41percent in 1998 There were no significant changes in smoking rates among adults age 18-34 years from 1998 to 1999 For older adults age 35 and older however the rate in 1999 of 28was significantly higher than the rate in 1998 but was similar to the rates estimated in 1994 through 1997 Among youth age 12-17 the rate was 159 percent in 1999 ot statistically different than in 1998 18percent but significantly lower than the rate in 1997 19percent Youth age 1217 who currently smoked cigarettes were 11times more likely to use illicit drugs and 16 times more likely to drink heavily than nonsmoking youth An estimated6 percent of youth age 1217 or 13 milion were current cigar smokers in 1998 Current smokers were smokers to be heavy users Among current heavy alcohol use was marjuanashashish use the rate of current 16percent Among more likely than nondrinkers and illicit drug smokers the rate of 14percent the rate of was 13percent and illicit drug use was nonsmokers only9 percent were heavy drinkers 8 percent were marijuana hashish users and 25 percent were illicit drug users An estimated1 percent of the population were current users of smokeless tobacco in 1998 The rate has remained steady since 1991 An estimated9 percent of the population were current users of cigars in 1998 This representsstatistically significant increase from 1997 when the rate was9 percent Illiit Drug Use An estimated 13milion Americans were current users of illicit drugs in 1998 meaning they used an illcit drug at least once during the 30 days prior to the interview The percent of the population age 12 and older using ilicit drugs did not change significantly between 1998 and 1999 2 to0 percent However the rate of use was lower in 1999 than in 1997 for the age group 12-17 years and there appears to beconsistent downward trend 4 percent in 1997 to0 percent in 1999 Among young adults age 18 to 25 years the rate increased between 1997 and 1999 14percent in 1997 to 18percent in 1999 The rates for the age group 26-34 years old and 35 years and older in 110 Digital image 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah Al rights reserved |