SAMHSA Press Release
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amcm...@actmissouri.org
Sep 10, 2008, 11:30:14 AM9/10/08
to MYAA Rx and OTC Group
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: SAMHSA Press Office,
240-276-2130
Sept. 4,
2008
www.samhsa.gov
New National Survey Reveals Cocaine, Methamphetamine Use Drop among
Young Adults; Prescription Drug Abuse Increases
Youth Substance Abuse Declines from 2002 to 2007
Cocaine and methamphetamine use among young adults has dropped
significantly over the past year, while abuse of prescription drugs
has risen, according to the nation’s largest substance use assessment,
the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The report
also showed a spike in drug use among 55-59 year-olds, as baby boomers
entered that age range.
Cocaine use among 18-25 year-olds dropped 23 percent (to 1.7 percent),
while methamphetamine use among young adults fell by a third (to 0.4
percent) between 2006 and 2007, said the report by the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The survey was
released today at the start of the 19th annual National Alcohol and
Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
Historically, young adults have had the highest rates of substance
abuse.
Among youth ages 12-17, there was a significant decline in overall
past month illicit drug use, from 11.6 percent in 2002 to 9.5 percent
in 2007. Reductions in youth drug use occurred for nearly every type
of illicit drug, including marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, LSD,
Ecstasy, prescription-type drugs used nonmedically, pain relievers,
stimulants and methamphetamine.
Current marijuana use among this age group declined from 8.2 percent
in 2002 to 6.7 percent in 2007. Most of the decline occurred between
2002 and 2005.
The level of alcohol use also dropped among those aged 12 to 17, from
17.6 percent in 2002 to 15.9 percent in 2007. Similarly, the rate of
cigarette use among this age group diminished from 13.0 percent in
2002 to 9.8 percent in 2007.
“These results confirm that progress has been made – particularly
regarding substance abuse among younger Americans,” said HHS Secretary
Mike Leavitt. “The report also reminds us of the importance of our
efforts to provide substance abuse treatment to those in need and to
encourage health care professionals to identify people who are at risk
for developing substance abuse problems and intervene early.”
The reductions in methamphetamine and cocaine use among young adults
coincide with reductions in their use among Americans in the workforce
and significant market disruptions for both drugs. In 2007, there was
a 21 percent increase in the average price per gram for cocaine and a
10 percent decrease in purity.
Workplace drug test positives for cocaine dropped 19 percent in 2007
to the lowest levels in the history of this testing system. For
methamphetamine, there has been a 50 percent reduction in the level of
workplace drug test positives since 2005, along with an 84 percent
increase in average price per pure gram and 26 percent decrease in
methamphetamine purity in 2007.
Despite many positive trends, the most recent NSDUH also reveals some
less encouraging data. Among young adults ages 18 to 25, the level of
current nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers has risen 12
percent (to 4.6 percent in 2007). In addition, the level of current
illicit drug use among those aged 55 to 59 more than doubled, to 4.1
percent in 2007, confirming concerns that baby boomers have continued
their higher levels of substance abuse as they age.
“Our efforts against methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illegal drugs
are working,” said John Walters, director of National Drug Control
Policy. “The markets for these poisons are shrinking, and the deadly
grip they hold on the lives of individuals, families, and communities
is being countered. But when it comes to prescription drugs, we can
not afford to re-live the painful experiences we’ve had with illegal
drugs. We must act quickly to increase awareness of the dangers of
prescription drug abuse, decrease the illegal diversion of these
products, and shore up safer practices for their prescription and
distribution.”
The 2007 NSDUH report also provides extensive data on mental health
issues. The report says 24.3 million Americans aged 18 or older
experienced serious psychological distress over the past year, and
16.5 million Americans had suffered at least one major depressive
episode during this period.
The mental health and substance abuse components of the report also
highlight the association between these public health problems. For
example, in 2007 adults 18 and older who had experienced a major
depressive episode in the past year were more than twice as likely as
other adults to have used illicit drugs during that time (27.4 percent
vs.12.8 percent).
“The survey shows the tremendous progress communities, families and
individuals across America have made in reducing substance abuse among
young people”, said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, DDS,
MPH, a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service. “It also
provides critical information that will help guide the future
direction of our substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts.”
NSDUH is a scientifically conducted annual survey of approximately
67,500 people throughout the country. Because of its statistical
power, it is a primary source of information on the levels of illicit
drug, alcohol, and tobacco use as well as certain mental health
conditions.
The complete survey findings are available on the SAMHSA Web site at
http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUHlatest.htm .
National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month recognizes the
accomplishments of people in recovery, the contributions of treatment
providers and advances in substance abuse treatment and recovery
throughout the nation. Electronic versions of Recovery Month
materials are available at www.recoverymonth.gov. The kit is
downloadable at
http://www.recoverymonth.gov/2008/kit/pdf/Entire%20Recovery%20Month%20Kit.pdf.
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the
accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation’s substance
abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health services
delivery systems
###
240-276-2130
Sept. 4,
2008
www.samhsa.gov
New National Survey Reveals Cocaine, Methamphetamine Use Drop among
Young Adults; Prescription Drug Abuse Increases
Youth Substance Abuse Declines from 2002 to 2007
Cocaine and methamphetamine use among young adults has dropped
significantly over the past year, while abuse of prescription drugs
has risen, according to the nation’s largest substance use assessment,
the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The report
also showed a spike in drug use among 55-59 year-olds, as baby boomers
entered that age range.
Cocaine use among 18-25 year-olds dropped 23 percent (to 1.7 percent),
while methamphetamine use among young adults fell by a third (to 0.4
percent) between 2006 and 2007, said the report by the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The survey was
released today at the start of the 19th annual National Alcohol and
Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
Historically, young adults have had the highest rates of substance
abuse.
Among youth ages 12-17, there was a significant decline in overall
past month illicit drug use, from 11.6 percent in 2002 to 9.5 percent
in 2007. Reductions in youth drug use occurred for nearly every type
of illicit drug, including marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, LSD,
Ecstasy, prescription-type drugs used nonmedically, pain relievers,
stimulants and methamphetamine.
Current marijuana use among this age group declined from 8.2 percent
in 2002 to 6.7 percent in 2007. Most of the decline occurred between
2002 and 2005.
The level of alcohol use also dropped among those aged 12 to 17, from
17.6 percent in 2002 to 15.9 percent in 2007. Similarly, the rate of
cigarette use among this age group diminished from 13.0 percent in
2002 to 9.8 percent in 2007.
“These results confirm that progress has been made – particularly
regarding substance abuse among younger Americans,” said HHS Secretary
Mike Leavitt. “The report also reminds us of the importance of our
efforts to provide substance abuse treatment to those in need and to
encourage health care professionals to identify people who are at risk
for developing substance abuse problems and intervene early.”
The reductions in methamphetamine and cocaine use among young adults
coincide with reductions in their use among Americans in the workforce
and significant market disruptions for both drugs. In 2007, there was
a 21 percent increase in the average price per gram for cocaine and a
10 percent decrease in purity.
Workplace drug test positives for cocaine dropped 19 percent in 2007
to the lowest levels in the history of this testing system. For
methamphetamine, there has been a 50 percent reduction in the level of
workplace drug test positives since 2005, along with an 84 percent
increase in average price per pure gram and 26 percent decrease in
methamphetamine purity in 2007.
Despite many positive trends, the most recent NSDUH also reveals some
less encouraging data. Among young adults ages 18 to 25, the level of
current nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers has risen 12
percent (to 4.6 percent in 2007). In addition, the level of current
illicit drug use among those aged 55 to 59 more than doubled, to 4.1
percent in 2007, confirming concerns that baby boomers have continued
their higher levels of substance abuse as they age.
“Our efforts against methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illegal drugs
are working,” said John Walters, director of National Drug Control
Policy. “The markets for these poisons are shrinking, and the deadly
grip they hold on the lives of individuals, families, and communities
is being countered. But when it comes to prescription drugs, we can
not afford to re-live the painful experiences we’ve had with illegal
drugs. We must act quickly to increase awareness of the dangers of
prescription drug abuse, decrease the illegal diversion of these
products, and shore up safer practices for their prescription and
distribution.”
The 2007 NSDUH report also provides extensive data on mental health
issues. The report says 24.3 million Americans aged 18 or older
experienced serious psychological distress over the past year, and
16.5 million Americans had suffered at least one major depressive
episode during this period.
The mental health and substance abuse components of the report also
highlight the association between these public health problems. For
example, in 2007 adults 18 and older who had experienced a major
depressive episode in the past year were more than twice as likely as
other adults to have used illicit drugs during that time (27.4 percent
vs.12.8 percent).
“The survey shows the tremendous progress communities, families and
individuals across America have made in reducing substance abuse among
young people”, said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, DDS,
MPH, a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service. “It also
provides critical information that will help guide the future
direction of our substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts.”
NSDUH is a scientifically conducted annual survey of approximately
67,500 people throughout the country. Because of its statistical
power, it is a primary source of information on the levels of illicit
drug, alcohol, and tobacco use as well as certain mental health
conditions.
The complete survey findings are available on the SAMHSA Web site at
http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUHlatest.htm .
National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month recognizes the
accomplishments of people in recovery, the contributions of treatment
providers and advances in substance abuse treatment and recovery
throughout the nation. Electronic versions of Recovery Month
materials are available at www.recoverymonth.gov. The kit is
downloadable at
http://www.recoverymonth.gov/2008/kit/pdf/Entire%20Recovery%20Month%20Kit.pdf.
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the
accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation’s substance
abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health services
delivery systems
###
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