Iowa Has Lowest Drug Use Rate

Past-month illegal drug use by state reached a low of 6.1 percent in Iowa for persons age 12 and older, according to a new report based on SAMHSA's 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Across the Nation in 2002, an estimated 19.5 million Americans (8.3 percent of the population age 12 and older) had used an illicit drug in the past month. The NSDUH survey is conducted annually by the Agency's Office of Applied Studies (OAS).

The report, State Estimates of Substance Use from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, estimates state rates of use of illegal drugs, binge drinking, serious mental illness, and tobacco use.

"State-by-state data are powerful tools for policymakers at the Federal, state, and local levels to identify state prevention and treatment needs," said SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W. "These data will take on greater value over time, as more data are accumulated and trends can be assessed in greater detail, at both the national and the state levels."

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Treatment Need

Regarding treatment for substance abuse, 2.7 percent of persons age 12 or older nationwide (about 6.3 million persons) needed but did not receive treatment for an illicit drug problem, and 7.3 percent needed but did not receive treatment for an alcohol problem in 2002.

States with the highest rates of individuals needing but not receiving substance abuse treatment were mainly in the West, and the states with the highest rates of individuals needing but not receiving alcohol treatment were mainly in the Midwest and West.

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Marijuana

Alabama had the lowest rate—4.4 percent—of past-month use of marijuana among persons age 12 and older in 2002. Other states in the lowest fifth for current use of marijuana among persons age 12 and older included Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.

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Other Illicit Drugs

In the category of past-month use of any illicit drug other than marijuana, Alaska, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington comprised the highest tier, with Arizona having the highest prevalence rate, 4.9 percent, among all persons age 12 and older. In the 18-to-25 age group, the rate of past-month use of any illicit drug other than marijuana was highest in Rhode Island (14.1 percent).

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Binge Alcohol

Utah had the lowest rate of binge alcohol use among all persons age 12 and older (16.6 percent), while North Dakota had the highest rate (30 percent). North Dakota also had the highest rate among those age 18 to 25 (55.8 percent) and among youth age 12 to 17 (16.4 percent). Binge alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on one or more occasions in the past month.

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Serious Mental Illness

The 2002 NSDUH report estimates that 8.3 percent of the population age 18 and older had serious mental illness in the past year. Oklahoma reported the highest rate in the Nation, 11.4 percent, while New Jersey reported the lowest rate, 6.5 percent.

For a copy of the report, contact SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847-2345. Telephone: 1 (800) 729-6686 (English and Spanish) or 1 (800) 487-4889 (TDD). The report is also available on SAMHSA's Web site at www.oas.samhsa.gov/
nhsda2k2.htm. 

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