March 13, 2008 |
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Combined data from 2002 to 2006 indicate that 20.9 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 used an illicit drug in the past year. Inhalants were the most frequently reported class of illicit drugs used in the past year among adolescents aged 12 or 13 (3.4 and 4.8 percent, respectively), while marijuana was the most commonly used class of drugs among adolescents aged 14 to 17 (9.9, 17.5, 24.6, and 29.0 percent, respectively) (Table 1). The percentages of adolescents using most illicit drugs generally increased with age; the one exception was for inhalants. The rates of past year inhalant use increased steadily from 3.4 percent at age 12 to 5.3 percent at age 14, then declined to 3.9 percent by age 17.
Illicit Drug | 12 Years Old |
13 Years Old |
14 Years Old |
15 Years Old |
16 Years Old |
17 Years Old |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Any Illicit Drug | 6.8% | 11.2% | 17.3% | 24.1% | 30.9% | 35.0% |
Marijuana | 1.1% | 4.0% | 9.9% | 17.5% | 24.6% | 29.0% |
Cocaine | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 1.7% | 3.0% | 4.7% |
Hallucinogens | 0.4% | 1.0% | 1.9% | 3.1% | 5.0% | 6.6% |
Ecstasy | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 1.3% | 2.4% | 3.5% |
Inhalants | 3.4% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 5.1% | 4.2% | 3.9% |
Pain Relievers** | 2.7% | 3.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% | 10.6% | 12.6% |
Tranquilizers** | 0.3% | 0.6% | 1.2% | 2.4% | 3.5% | 4.8% |
Stimulants** | 0.4% | 0.9% | 1.6% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 4.0% |
Source: SAMHSA, 2002-2006 NSDUHs. |
Reflecting these patterns, 45.5 percent of past year illicit drug users aged 12 or 13 had used inhalants and 28.4 percent had used marijuana; among past year illicit drug users aged 16 or 17, 12.4 percent had used inhalants and 81.4 percent had used marijuana (Figure 1).
Age Group | Inhalants | Pain Relievers** |
Marijuana | Any Other Illicit Drug |
---|---|---|---|---|
12 or 13 | 45.5% | 36.5% | 28.4% | 9.8% |
14 or 15 | 25.1% | 34.2% | 66.2% | 26.3% |
16 or 17 | 12.4% | 35.2% | 81.4% | 34.2% |
Source: SAMHSA, 2005-2006 NSDUHs. |
Combined data for 2002 to 2006 indicated that an annual average of 593,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 used inhalants for the first time in the year before their survey interview. Glue, shoe polish, or toluene was the most frequently mentioned type of inhalant used among all past year inhalant initiates aged 12 to 17, with 29.6 percent reporting use of inhalants in this category (Table 2). This was followed by gasoline or lighter fluid and spray paints (25.7 and 24.4 percent, respectively).
However, the types of inhalants used varied by age. Among past year inhalant initiates aged 12 to 15, the three most commonly used types of inhalants were glue, shoe polish, or toluene; spray paints; and gasoline or lighter fluid. In comparison, nitrous oxide or whippets were the most common type of inhalant used among past year inhalant initiates aged 16 or 17.
Inhalant | Total Aged 12-17 Years Old |
12 Years Old |
13 Years Old |
14 Years Old |
15 Years Old |
16 Years Old |
17 Years Old |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amyl Nitrite, "Poppers," Locker Room Odorizers, or "Rush" | 15.3% | 14.7% | 17.7% | 16.4% | 15.1% | 12.4% | 14.5% |
Correction Fluid, Degreaser, or Cleaning Fluid | 19.4% | 22.5% | 25.9% | 21.7% | 20.5% | 15.0% | 8.1% |
Gasoline or Lighter Fluid | 25.7% | 26.5% | 30.9% | 33.2% | 28.5% | 19.9% | 9.9% |
Glue, Shoe Polish, or Toluene | 29.6% | 33.8% | 42.9% | 40.8% | 27.1% | 16.0% | 9.8% |
Halothane, Ether, or Other Anesthetics | 3.6% | 4.0% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 5.0% | 4.5% | 2.6% |
Lacquer Thinner or Other Paint Solvents | 12.5% | 16.0% | 15.1% | 14.1% | 15.0% | 8.8% | 4.5% |
Lighter Gases, Such as Butane or Propane | 8.7% | 7.0% | 10.7% | 12.4% | 9.0% | 7.5% | 3.0% |
Nitrous Oxide or Whippets | 22.7% | 4.7% | 5.5% | 11.6% | 19.6% | 43.4% | 59.3% |
Spray Paints | 24.4% | 28.6% | 33.2% | 30.4% | 26.1% | 14.8% | 8.5% |
Some Other Aerosol Spray | 20.5% | 16.4% | 20.5% | 24.3% | 23.9% | 18.1% | 17.2% |
Source: SAMHSA, 2002-2006 NSDUHs. |
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2002 through 2006 data used in this report are based on information obtained from 114,016 adolescents aged 12 to 17, including 58,149 males and 55,867 females. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence. The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following publication: Office of Applied Studies. (2007). Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 07-4293, NSDUH Series H-32). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Information for earlier NSDUHs is available in the following publications: 2005 NSDUH: (DHHS Publication No. SMA 06-4194, NSDUH Series H-30) 2004 NSDUH: (DHHS Publication No. SMA 05-4062, NSDUH Series H-28) 2003 NSDUH: (DHHS Publication No. SMA 04-3964, NSDUH Series H-25) 2002 NSDUH: (DHHS Publication No. SMA 03-3836, NSDUH Series H-22) Also available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Because of improvements and modifications to the 2002 NSDUH, estimates from the 2002 through 2006 surveys should not be compared with estimates from the 2001 or earlier versions of the survey to examine changes over time. |
The NSDUH Report is published periodically by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Office of Applied Studies are available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov. |
This page was last updated on May 16, 2008. |
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