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September marked the release of the 2005 National
Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual study sponsored by
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
According to the survey’s results, illicit drug use among youth has
continued its downward slide, while the rate of use among older
adults has increased.
The survey, which is recognized as the primary
source of statistical information on substance use and abuse in the
U.S., revealed that the rate of drug use among youth ages 12 to 17 has
been moving downward—from 11.6 percent using drugs in the past month in
2002 to 11.2 percent in 2003, 10.6 percent in 2004 and 9.9 percent in
2005.
“The trends among young people are encouraging,” said Health and
Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. “We know prevention activities
must start with our children. There is more to be done and we must
build on our work to ensure that children and their parents understand
that they must live free of drugs and alcohol to be healthy.”
However, the survey uncovered less encouraging
trends among adults. Overall rates of drug use among young adults (aged
18 to 25) have remained steady, while rates among baby boomers (aged 50
to 59) have increased significantly from 1.9 to 3.4
percent. Interestingly, the survey also pointed out that 74.8 percent of
current illicit drug users aged 18 and older were employed. In
addition, it found that 80 percent of adult binge drinkers were
working.
These statistics strongly reinforce that the
workplace is one of the most effective settings for reaching individuals
who abuse alcohol and drugs. The U.S. Department of Labor’s
Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace program
provides resources to help employers and employees work together to keep
their workplaces free of the hazards caused by worker drug and alcohol
use. In addition, the program’s Web site offers a number of resources,
such as
helplines for employees, to help people struggling with drug and
alcohol related problems find the assistance they need to stop using and
be productive members of the workforce and community.
For more information on the 2005 NSDUH, visit
SAMHSA’s Office of Applied Studies Web site.
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