Drug Facts

 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health


  • In 2009, an estimated 21.8 million Americans aged 12 or older were current (past month) illicit drug users
  • In 2009, 10.0 percent of youths aged 12 to 17 were current illicit drug users
  • Marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug. In 2009, there were 16.7 million past month users. Among persons aged 12 or older, the rate of past month marijuana use and the number of users in 2009 (6.6 percent or 16.7 million) were higher than in 2008 (6.1 percent or 15.2 million)
  • In 2009, the illicit drug categories with the largest number of past year initiates among persons aged 12 or older were marijuana use (2.4 million) and nonmedical use of pain relievers (2.2 million). These estimates were not significantly different from the numbers in 2008. However, the number of marijuana initiates increased between 2007 (2.1 million) and 2009 (2.4 million).
  • Most (85.5 percent) of the 4.6 million past year alcohol initiates were younger than 21 at the time of initiation.
  • In 2009, an estimated 3.1 million persons aged 12 or older used an illicit drug for the first time. A majority of these past year illicit drug initiates reported that their first drug was marijuana (59.1 percent).
  • In 2009, nearly one quarter (23.7 percent) of persons aged 12 or older participated in binge drinking.
  • In 2009, an estimated 12.0 percent of persons aged 12 or older drove under the influence of alcohol at least once in the past year.
  • The number and percentage of current nonmedical users of psychotherapeutic drugs in 2009 were close to 3% higher than in 2008
  • In 2009, there were 180,000 persons aged 12 or older who had used heroin for the first time within the past 12 months. The number of heroin initiates was significantly higher than the average annual number of heroin initiates during 2002 to 2008
  • Rates of current use of illicit drugs in 2009 were higher for young adults aged 18 to 25 (21.2 percent) than for youths aged 12 to 17 (10.0 percent)
  • In 2009, about 10.4 million persons aged 12 to 20 were binge drinkers, and 2.1 million were heavy drinkers
  • In 2009, about half (49.9 percent) of the youths aged 12 to 17 reported that it would be "fairly easy" or "very easy" for them to obtain marijuana if they wanted some (Figure 6.5). One in eight (12.9 percent) indicated that heroin would be "fairly" or "very" easily available, and 13.5 percent reported so for LSD.
  • In 2009 23.5 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem Of these, 2.6 million received treatment at a specialty facility. Thus, 20.9 million persons needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem but did not receive treatment at a specialty substance abuse facility in the past year.

 

Figure 5.1

Drug Facts provided by Office of Applied Studies


 

 
NEWS & EVENTS AT MOMSTELL

 

CESAR FAX

Marijuana continues to be the most prevalent illicit drug (other than alcohol) used by U.S. high school seniors, according to data from the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study

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Prevention and Treatment

Prevention and treatment saves lives and costs less:  Millions of people and their families are in recovery from addiction and leading productive lives.  Over $7.00 is saved in medical and social costs for every dollar invested in treatment.

Treatment Need

Treatment need is defined as having a substance use disorder or receiving treatment at a specialty facility (hospital inpatient, drug or alcohol rehabilitation, or mental health centers) within the past 12 months.

In 2009, 23.5 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem (9.3 percent of persons aged 12 or older). Of these, 2.6 million (1.0 percent of persons aged 12 or older and 11.2 percent of those who needed treatment) received treatment at a specialty facility.

Thus, 20.9 million persons (8.3 percent of the population aged 12 or older) needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem but did not receive treatment at a specialty substance abuse facility in the past year. .

Of the 20.9 million persons aged 12 or older in 2009 who were classified as needing substance use treatment but did not receive treatment at a specialty facility in the past year, 1.1 million persons (5.1 percent) reported that they felt they needed treatment for their illicit drug or alcohol use problem. Of these 1.1 million persons who felt they needed treatment, 371,000 (34.9 percent) reported that they made an effort to get treatment, and 693,000 (65.1 percent) reported making no effort to get treatment.

 
 
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