Usage Statistics

Pretty Bad! Alcohol and Drug Abuse is everyone's problem and affects all of us in more ways than one even if we are not directly involved with it ourselves. If you have children that do not do drugs that is great but you need to remember that even if they are not doing drugs themselves they will be exposed to children that do during school and other social activities. Drug Education and being involved with your children and being aware of what is taking place in their daily lives is the best way to help your children develop a drug free lifestyle.

Do you know your children? Ask yourself, Do you know your child's gym teachers name? Where was your child last night, and who were they with? Where did they go?

Drugs are prevalent in America and Drugs Kill!

Even if you don't have children or are not directly involved with a person with a substance abuse problem you are directly affected because of the crime that it causes as well as the medical expenses that it places on our society. If you still think you are not affected ask yourself this. How would you feel if a drunk driver killed your best friend tomorrow?

Get the Point?

The information below comes from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services studies on Drug Abuse, and Alcoholism. Clicking on these reports will take you directly to their website where detailed Statistics on Substance Abuse and Drug Abuse can be found as well as their cost to society.

SAMHSA's Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS) provides national estimates for cost, revenue, counseling activities, and staffing. The ADSS Cost Study was the first study of treatment costs with validated cost data from a nationally representative sample of substance abuse treatment facilities. For data on mean cost per admission by type of treatment, cost per enrolled client day, and Personal costs associated with substance abuse treatment, see The DASIS Report: Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS) Cost Study
In 2002, SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that almost 30 million persons aged 12 and older (13%) had used prescription pain relievers nonmedically at least once in their lifetime. The numbers of persons using prescription pain relievers nonmedically for the first time increased from 600,000 in 1990 to more than 2 million in 2001. About 1.5 million persons aged 12 or older were dependent on or abused prescription pain relievers in 2002. See The NSDUH Report: Nonmedical Use of Prescription Pain Relievers

Almost half of all admissions reported to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) in 2002 were for alcohol abuse (43%). Between 1992 and 2002, the proportion of all admissions by primary drug of abuse increased for amphetamine/ amphetamine and other stimulants from 1% to 7%; for primary marijuana abuse from 6% to 15%; and for primary heroin abuse from 11% to 15%. However, during this period, the proportion of all admission decreased for primary cocaine abuse from 18% to 13%. See Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS): 2002 Highlights

In 2001, there were 58,000 substance abuse treatment admissions aged 55 or older; this was about 3% of all substance abuse treatment admissions reported to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Admissions aged 55 or older were more likely than younger admissions to enter treatment through self-referral (41% vs. 36%) and less likely to be referred through the criminal justice system (25% vs. 35%). See The DASIS Report: Older Adults in Substance Abuse Treatment: 2001
Phencyclidine (PCP) was reported as the primary substance of abuse for about 3,100 substance abuse treatment admissions reported in 2001 to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). The average age of primary PCP admissions was younger than that of all other substance abuse treatment admissions: 28 years of age for primary PCP admissions vs. 34 years for all other substance abuse treatment admissions. Primary PCP admissions were more prevalent in the West (36%) and Northeast (33%) than in the Midwest (22%) or the South (15%). See The DASIS Report: Characteristics of Primary Phencyclidine (PCP) Admissions: 2001.

Based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 21% of young drivers aged 15 to 17 were binge drinkers and 6% were heavy drinkers during the combined years of 1999 to 2001. Rates of heavy drinking and binge drinking among young drivers varied by the States' Graduated Driver Licensing ratings, based on the extent to which they restrict driving behavior among young drivers. This report identifies the States categorized from most restrictive to least restrictive according to the 4 category rating scheme developed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Traffic Injury Research Foundation. See The NSDUH Report: Graduated Driver Licensing and Drinking Among Young Drivers

In 2001, 60% of the 112,000 substance abuse treatment admissions aged 18-20 reported to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), involved alcohol. Admissions aged 18-20 for alcohol only were more likely to have been referred by the criminal justice system (70%) than admissions for alcohol with a secondary drug (56%). Alcohol only treatment admissions aged 18-20 were less likely to have started using alcohol prior to the age of 13 than admissions for alcohol with a secondary drug (12% vs. 23%). See The DASIS Report: Treatment Admissions for Primary Alcohol Abuse Among Youth Aged 18-20; 2001

In 2001, amphetamines including methamphetamine, were the primary substance of abuse reported in more than 98,000 substance abuse treatment admissions. This represented 6% of the admissions reported that year to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Among admissions with amphetamines as a primary substance, the most common route of administration was smoking (44%), followed by injection (26%), and inhalation (19%). Primary amphetamine admissions were more likely to have been referred to substance abuse treatment by the criminal justice system than admissions for other substances (48% vs. 34%). See The DASIS Report: Characteristics of Primary Amphetamine Treatment Admissions, 2001.

The National Treatment System: Outpatient Methadone Facilities (Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS)) This report provides national estimates for facilities that offer outpatient methadone treatment. It describes the relationship between methadone treatment practices and facility characteristics by examining facility size, ownership, amount of public revenue, urbanicity, level of facility affiliation, licensure, setting, services, and staffing composition. It provides information on treatment practices such as methadone dosing level and staffing patterns, and describes the characteristics of clients in treatment.

Between 1995 and 2001, the proportion of substance abuse treatment admissions with co-occurring substance abuse and psychiatric disorders reported to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) increased from 12% to 16%. The proportion of females among admissions with co-occurring disorders increased from 38% to 44% while remaining stable at about 30% among all other admissions. Primary use of opiates increased for admissions with co-occurring disorders (from 13% to 21%) while remaining stable for all other admissions at 25%. See The DASIS Report: Admissions with Co-Occurring Disorders, 1995 and 2001.

About 34% of the substance abuse treatment admissions reported to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) were employed full- or part-time at the time of admission. Employed admissions were more likely to report alcohol as their primary substance of abuse than unemployed admissions (56% vs. 41%). Among criminal justice referrals, employed admissions were three times more likely than unemployed admissions (16% vs. 5%) to have been referred as a result of arrests for "driving while intoxicated" (DWI)) or "driving under the influence" (DUI). See The DASIS Report: Employed Admissions, 2001

In 2001, the 436,000 admissions for detoxification accounted for 25% of all substance abuse treatment admissions reported to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Detoxification admissions were more likely to have had five or more previous admissions (26%) compared with all other admissions (9%). Compared with all other substance abuse treatment admissions, detoxification admissions were more likely to be Hispanic (17% vs. 11%) and older (average age 38 vs. 33), and less likely to be employed full-time(16% vs. 29%). See The DASIS Report: Admissions for Detoxification, 2001.

SAMHSA's 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that more than 2.6 million youths aged 12 to 17 reported using inhalants at least once in their lifetime. The categories of inhalants most frequently used in the youths' lifetime were glue, shoe polish or toluene (4.5%), gasoline or lighter fluid (3.5%), and spray paints (2.5%). Over half (53%) of the youths who used an inhalant, however, had used more than one type in their lifetime. Youths who had used an inhalant in the past year were about 3 times more likely to use marijuana, 4 times more likely to use prescription drugs nonmedically, and 7 times more likely to use hallucinogens than those who had not used inhalants in the past year. See The NSDUH Report: Inhalant Use Among Youths: 2002 Update

SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that, in 2002, over 60 percent of youths aged 12 to 17 who had used marijuana in the past year obtained their most recently used marijuana for free or shared someone else's marijuana. Among youths who obtained marijuana for free or shared it, blacks (18 percent) were more likely than whites (9 percent) or Hispanics (7 percent) to have obtained it from a relative or family member. Among youths who bought their most recently used marijuana, white youths (9 percent) were more likely than black youths (4 percent) to have purchased it inside a school building. See The NSDUH Report: How Youths Obtain Marijuana

Based on SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) conducted in 2000, 55% of hospital inpatient treatment episodes involved individuals who completed treatment and another 25% involved those who were transferred to further treatment. The hospital inpatient treatment completion rate was highest, at 59%, for episodes involving alcohol as the primary substance of abuse. See The DASIS Report: Discharges from Hospital Inpatient Treatment, 2000

Based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2002, almost 1.5 million youths aged 12 to 17 had been detained in a jail or a detention center at least once in their lifetime. Past year substance abuse or dependence was almost 3 times higher among youths who had been detained at least once in their lifetime than among youths who had never been in a jail or a detention center. Prescription type drugs were used in the past year by 21.2% of youth who had been in a jail or detention compared with 8.4% of the youth who had never been detained. See The NSDUH Report: Substance Use, Abuse, and Dependence Among Youth Who Have Been in a Jail or a Detention Center.
SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) found in 2000 that the completion rate for long-term residential treatment was highest (38%) involving alcohol as the primary substance of abuse. The completion rates for long-term residential treatment by other primary substances were: marijuana (32%), stimulants (30%), opiates (29%), and cocaine (29%). The median length of stay for completed long-term residential treatment episodes was 75 days, ranging from 73 days for cocaine to 91 days for opiates. See The DASIS Report: Discharges from Long-term Residential Treatment, 2000.

Based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2002 almost 5 million adults were alcohol dependent or alcohol abusing and had at least one child younger than age 18 living in their home. Parents with past year alcohol dependence or abuse were more likely to report household turbulence than parents who were not alcohol dependent or alcohol abusing. Household turbulence included people in their household having serious arguments and often insulting or yelling at each other. See The NSDUH Report: Alcohol Dependence or Abuse Among Parents with Children Living in the Home.

Based on SAMHSA's 2000 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), about 10 percent (15,000) of substance abuse admissions aged 18 or younger were referred by schools. Four States had rates of at least twice the national average of school referrals: South Carolina (32%), Hawaii (28%), New Hampshire (25%) and Virginia (22%). In four States, school referrals made up 2% or less of youth substance abuse admissions: Montana, Nevada, Missouri, and North Dakota. See The DASIS Report: Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Referred by Schools, 2000.

According to SAMHSA's 2001 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), adolescent admissions for substance abuse increased from 1992 to 2001, due to increased admissions involving marijuana and increased referrals from the criminal justice system. Since 1992, methamphetamine/amphetamine admission rates increased by 100 percent or more in 33 States, spreading east from the Pacific States into the Midwest and South. In 2001, for the fifth consecutive year, TEDS admissions for primary opiate abuse exceeded those for primary cocaine abuse. See Treatment Data Episode Set (TEDS) 1992-2001: National Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services.

In 2002, according to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 8 million youths (33 percent) aged 12 to 17 attended religious services 25 times or more in the past year. More than 78 percent of youths (19 million) reported that religious beliefs are a very important part of their lives and 69 percent (17 million) reported that religious beliefs influence how they make decisions. Youth aged 12 to 17 with higher levels of religiosity were less likely to have used cigarettes, alcohol, or illicit drugs in the past month than youths with lower levels of religiosity. See The NSDUH Report: Religious Beliefs and Substance Use Among Youths.

In SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), the number of substance abuse treatment admissions in which narcotic painkillers were involved increased 101 percent between 1992 and 2000. Increases in substance abuse treatment admission rates for abuse of narcotic painkillers were greatest in areas outside large central metropolitan areas. The proportion increased of narcotic painkiller treatment admissions taking the drugs orally while the proportion injecting narcotic painkillers decreased. However, only in rural areas did the proportion who inhaled the narcotic painkillers increase. See The DASIS Report: Treatment Admissions in Urban & Rural Areas Involving Abuse of Narcotic Painkillers.

According to SAMHSA's DAWN system, the growth in PCP related visits to emergency departments between 2001 and 2002 exceeded the national average in four metropolitan areas in the East: Newark (254%), Washington, D.C. (148%), Baltimore (60%), and Philadelphia (46%). See The DAWN Report: Trends in PCP-related Emergency Department Visits. (PDF format)

In 2002, males and females aged 12 to 17 were equally likely (55%) to report that obtaining marijuana would be easy. However, female youths were more likely than males to report it would be easy to obtain crack (32% vs. 21%), cocaine (29% vs. 21%), LSD (23% vs. 16%) and heroin (17% vs. 13%). See The NSDUH Report: Availability of Illicit Drugs Among Youths.

In SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) linked admission/ discharge records, 11 percent represented clients who received short-term residential substance abuse treatment. The completion rate for short-term residential treatment was highest (67%) for episodes where alcohol was the primary substance of abuse. Over half completed their short-term residential when their primary substance was opiates (59%), marijuana (58%), cocaine (55%) or stimulants (53%). The median length of stay for completed short-term residential treatment episodes was 26 days, ranging from 22 days for alcohol to 28 days for marijuana. See The DASIS Report: Discharges from Short-term Residential Treatment, 2000.

Based on SAMHSA's 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the percentages of youths engaging in delinquent behaviors rose with increasing frequency of marijuana use. In 2002, more than 5 million youths engaged in serious fighting at school or work and almost 4 million took part in a group-against-group fight in the past year. Over half (57%) of those who used marijuana 300 or more days in the past year reported that they also sold illegal drugs. See The NSDUH Report: Marijuana Use and Delinquent Behaviors Among Youths.

Parents, The Anti Drug!