Illicit drugs are associated with serious
health and social consequences, such as addiction. Illicit
drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine, inhalants, hallucinogens,
crack, and prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs used
for non-medical purposes. In 2005, nearly 12.7 million women
aged 18 years and older reported using an illicit drug within
the past year; this represents 11.2 percent of women. The
past-year illicit drug use rate was significantly higher
among women aged 18–25 years than among women 26 years and
older (30.1 percent versus 8.1 percent). Among adolescent
females aged 12–17 years, 20.0 percent reported using illicit
drugs in the past year.
In 2005, marijuana was the most commonly
used illicit drug among females in each age group, followed
by the non-medical use of prescription-type psychotherapeutic
drugs. Use of both categories of drugs was highest among
females aged 18–25 (23.2 and 14.0 percent, respectively).
Methamphetamine is a stimulant with a
high potential for abuse, and use can result in decreased
appetite, increased respiration and blood pressure, rapid
heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and hyperthermia. Long-term
effects can include paranoia, anorexia, delusions, and hallucinations.1
While limited data exist on adult methamphetamine
use, the Monitoring the Future Survey has tracked use among
students since 1999. In 2006, 1.8 percent of 8th and 10th
graders and 2.5 percent of 12th graders reported using methamphetamine
in the past year (data not shown).2
According to the National Survey on Drug
Use and Health’s 2004–05 estimates, 3.9 percent of pregnant
women reported using illicit drugs in the past month. Among
pregnant 15- to 17-year-olds, 12.3 percent, or 1 in 8, reported
past month illicit drug use. Women 18 and older were less
likely to report illicit drug use during pregnancy: the
rate was 7.0 percent among 18- to 25-year-olds, and 1.6
percent among those aged 26–44 years (data not shown).
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Vertical Bar Chart: Females Reporting Past Year Use of Illicit Drugs, by Age and Drug Type, 2005
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