Highlights

This report presents State estimates for 23 measures of substance use or mental health problems based on the 2005 and 2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), NSDUH is an ongoing survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States aged 12 years or older. Interview data from 136,110 persons were collected in 2005-2006 (Table A.9). Separate estimates have been produced for four age groups: 12 to 17, 18 to 25, 26 or older, and all persons 12 or older. Also in this report are estimates for persons aged 12 to 20 for two of the measures—past month alcohol use and binge alcohol use. Although estimates for persons 18 or older are not a part of this report, they are available on the web at http://oas.samhsa.gov/states.cfm. For each measure, States have been ranked and categorized into quintiles, or fifths, in order to simplify the discussion. National, regional, and State estimates presented in this report are based on hierarchical Bayes estimation methods that combine survey data with a national model. Note that these estimates are benchmarked to the national design-based estimates (for details, see Section A.4 in Appendix A).

In addition to State estimates for 2005-2006, this report includes estimates of change between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 for all measures. Please note that the change between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 can be viewed as the average annual change between 2004 and 2006; therefore, the total change for that period is approximately twice the average annual change. Changes are discussed only if they are significant at the 0.05 level or less.

Illicit Drug Use

Estimates of past month use of illicit drugs in 2005-2006 ranged from a low of 5.7 percent in North Dakota to a high of 11.2 percent in Rhode Island for all persons aged 12 or older. Two States showed significant changes from 2004-2005 to 2005-2006 in the percentage of all persons aged 12 or older who used an illicit drug in the past month: Kentucky decreased from 8.4 to 7.0 percent, and Washington increased from 8.5 to 10.0 percent. (Table s B.1 and C.1)
Nationally in 2005-2006, 10.4 percent of all persons aged 12 or older reported marijuana use in the past year. Young adults aged 18 to 25 reported the highest rate of past year use of marijuana, 28.0 percent. Vermont had the highest rates of past year and past month marijuana use among persons 12 or older (15.5 and 9.7 percent, respectively). Vermont also had the highest rates of past year and past month marijuana use among persons aged 18 to 25 (41.9 and 28.3 percent, respectively). Utah had the lowest rates of past year and past month marijuana use among persons aged 18 to 25 (18.9 and 9.6 percent, respectively) and the lowest rate of past month marijuana use among persons aged 12 or older (4.3 percent). Nationally, there was a significant decrease in past month marijuana use among youths aged 12 to 17 (from 7.2 to 6.7 percent), and past year marijuana use among youths also decreased from 13.9 to 13.3 percent over the same period. (Table s B.2, B.3, C.2, and C.3)
The national percentage of persons aged 12 or older perceiving a great risk of using marijuana once a month remained relatively unchanged between 2004-2005 (39.0 percent) and 2005-2006 (38.9 percent). Two States showed a decrease in the perceived risk of using marijuana once a month among persons 12 or older: Montana (from 36.0 to 32.0 percent) and Rhode Island (from 35.4 to 31.0 percent). (Table C.4)
Nationally, rates of first use of marijuana declined significantly among youths aged 12 to 17 between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 (from 5.8 to 5.6 percent) and in the overall population aged 12 or older (from 1.7 to 1.6 percent). Vermont had the highest marijuana incidence rate among youths aged 12 to 17 (7.8 percent), and among persons aged 18 to 25 (10.6 percent). Utah had the lowest rate among youths aged 12 to 17 (4.1 percent) and among persons aged 18 to 25 (4.2 percent). There were no significant increases in marijuana incidence in any age group between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. (Table s B.5 and C.5)
The rate of past month use of illicit drugs other than marijuana increased between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 among all persons aged 12 or older (from 3.6 to 3.8 percent). In 2005-2006, North Dakota had the lowest rate (2.5 percent) of past month use of an illicit drug other than marijuana among persons 12 or older, and Tennessee had the highest rate (4.7 percent). (Table s B.6 and C.6)
The 2005-2006 national prevalence rate for the use of cocaine in the past year among all persons aged 12 or older was 2.4 percent. The District of Columbia had the highest rate of past year cocaine use (4.9 percent) among persons aged 12 or older; North Dakota had the lowest rate (1.6 percent) in that population. (Table B.7)
In 2005-2006, 5.0 percent of all persons aged 12 or older reported having used pain relievers nonmedically in the past year, a percentage that reflected an increase from 2004-2005 (4.8 percent). A national increase in the nonmedical use of pain relievers among the 26 or older population (from 3.2 percent in 2004-2005 to 3.4 percent in 2005-2006) also was observed, which seems to have been triggered by an increase in the use of pain relievers in the Midwest and the South in the same age group (3.0 to 3.3 percent and 3.2 to 3.5 percent, respectively). (Table s B.8 and C.8)

Alcohol Use

In 2005-2006, the rate of past month alcohol use in States among all persons aged 12 or older ranged from a low of 32.4 percent in Utah to a high of 63.1 percent in Wisconsin. Six States showed significant increases from 2004-2005 to 2005-2006 in the percentage of all persons aged 12 or older who used alcohol in the past month: Arkansas (39.6 to 42.6 percent), Maine (51.5 to 54.8 percent), Michigan (54.2 to 56.2 percent), Nevada (48.2 to 52.0 percent), Utah (30.1 to 32.4), and Wyoming (53.0 to 56.4 percent). (Table s B.9 and C.9)
The rate of binge alcohol use among youths aged 12 to 17 decreased from 10.5 percent in 2004-2005 to 10.1 percent in 2005-2006; however, the rates among young adults aged 18 to 25 and persons aged 26 or older did not change. The highest rates of binge use of alcohol occurred among persons aged 18 to 25. North Dakota (56.5 percent) had the highest rate in this age group, about twice the highest rate among persons aged 26 or older (Wisconsin at 27.4 percent) and almost 4 times the highest rate among youths aged 12 to 17 (Montana at 15.3 percent). (Table s B.10 and C.10)
Between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, there was an increase in perception of the risk of binge drinking from 41.2 to 41.7 percent among persons aged 12 or older. In this age group, Wisconsin had the lowest percentage (32.9 percent) perceiving a great risk of drinking five or more drinks of alcohol on a single occasion, while New Mexico had the highest rate at 47.6 percent. Seven of the ten States (Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin) with the highest rates of binge use of alcohol in 2005-2006 among persons 12 or older also were States with the lowest perceived risk of binge drinking for the population aged 12 or older. (Table s B.11 and C.11, Figures 3.5 and 3.9)
Past month use of alcohol among persons aged 12 to 20 (underage use of alcohol) ranged from a low of 21.5 percent in Utah to a high of 38.3 percent in Vermont. Georgia (15.2 percent) had the lowest rate for past month underage (aged 12 to 20) binge use of alcohol, and North Dakota had the highest rate for this measure, 28.5 percent. There was no significant change at the national level in underage alcohol or binge alcohol use between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006; however, there were significant changes among several States. Arkansas and Vermont had increases in both underage alcohol use and underage binge alcohol use between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. South Dakota's and Wisconsin's rates decreased for both measures over the same time period. (Table s B.12 and C.12)

Tobacco Use

Nationally among persons aged 12 or older, the rate for past month use of tobacco in 2005-2006 was 29.5 percent. The State with the highest prevalence rate for tobacco use among persons aged 12 or older was West Virginia (40.6 percent). Utah had the lowest rate in the Nation for tobacco use among all persons aged 12 or older (22.1 percent). Two States showed increases in past month tobacco use among persons 12 or older between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006: California (21.2 to 22.6 percent) and Oklahoma (33.7 to 36.9 percent). (Table s B.13 and C.13)
In 2005-2006, the national rate for past month use of cigarettes among persons aged 12 or older was 25.0 percent, which was similar to the national rate in 2004-2005 (24.9 percent). West Virginia had the highest rate of past month cigarette use in the Nation (32.5 percent), and Utah had the lowest rate (19.3 percent) for all persons aged 12 or older. There was a significant decline in past month cigarette rates among youths between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, from 11.3 to 10.6 percent. (Table s B.14 and C.14)
Among persons aged 12 or older, the rate of the perception of great risk of smoking one or more packs of cigarettes a day remained almost the same (74.4 percent in 2004-2005 and 74.1 percent in 2005-2006). North Dakota had the lowest rate of perception of great risk for heavy cigarette use (67.3 percent), and Utah had the highest rate (78.2 percent) for persons aged 12 or older. (Table s B.15 and C.15)

Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment Need

Past year dependence on or abuse of alcohol remained unchanged between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 at 7.7 percent for all persons aged 12 or older. Montana had the highest rate (10.8 percent) among persons aged 12 or older. Kentucky and New Jersey had the lowest rates (6.3 percent). (Table s B.16 and C.16)
In 2005-2006, 3.4 percent of persons aged 12 or older were estimated to be dependent on alcohol in the past year, representing about 44 percent of those who were dependent on or had abused alcohol in the past year. Michigan was the only State to show a change in past year alcohol dependence rate, an increase from 7.4 percent in 2004-2005 to 8.6 percent in 2005-2006 among persons aged 18 to 25. (Table s B.16, B.17, and C.17)
Nationally in 2005-2006, about 2.8 percent of persons aged 12 or older were dependent on or had abused illicit drugs in the past year. Regional changes in the rates of past year illicit drug dependence or abuse occurred in the Northeast and Midwest where a decrease was noted among youths aged 12 to 17 between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 (from 5.2 to 4.6 percent in the Northeast and from 4.8 to 4.4 percent in the Midwest) along with a national decrease from 5.0 to 4.7 percent. (Table s B.18 and C.18)
The percentage of persons in 2005-2006 estimated to be dependent on illicit drugs in the past year was 2.0 percent. Nationally, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of persons dependent on illicit drugs among the 12 to 17 age group from 2.8 percent in 2004-2005 to 2.6 percent in 2005-2006. However, at the State level, no States showed any significant changes. (Table s B.19 and C.19)
The national rate in 2005-2006 for past year dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs among persons aged 12 or older was 9.2 percent. Eight States that ranked in the highest fifth for past year alcohol dependence or abuse also ranked in the top fifth for past year dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs among persons aged 12 or older (Colorado, District of Columbia, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming). Among 12 to 17 year olds, a significant decrease was noted in the Midwest region as a whole and in Wisconsin, while the rate for Arkansas increased significantly. (Table s B.20 and C.20, Figures 5.1 and 5.17)
In 2005-2006, the District of Columbia and Rhode Island had the highest percentage of persons aged 12 or older needing but not receiving treatment for an illicit drug use problem (3.3 percent), while New Jersey had the lowest rate (1.9 percent). (Table B.21)
The percentage of persons aged 12 or older needing but not receiving treatment for alcohol problems (7.3 percent) in 2005-2006 was almost 3 times larger than the corresponding percentage for persons needing but not receiving treatment for illicit drug problems (2.5 percent). Colorado, the District of Columbia, Montana, and Vermont were ranked in the highest quintile for both needing but not receiving treatment for an alcohol problem and needing but not receiving treatment for an illicit drug problem among persons aged 12 or older. (Table s B.21 and B.22, Figures 5.21 and 5.25)

Mental Health Problems

In 2005-2006, serious psychological distress (SPD) was present in 11.3 percent of the population aged 18 or older. Eight States showed significant declines in SPD between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 among persons aged 18 to 25 (Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Washington). These decreases at the State level contributed to the national decrease among persons aged 18 to 25 from 19.4 to 18.1 percent. (Table s B.23 and C.23)
In 2005-2006, 7.3 percent of all persons aged 18 or older experienced having a major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year, a decrease from the rate in 2004-2005 (7.7 percent). For the 18 or older population, Nevada had the highest rate (9.4 percent) of having MDE in the past year in 2005-2006, and Hawaii had the lowest rate (5.0 percent). In addition to the national decrease among persons aged 18 or older who experienced MDE in the past year from 2004-2005 to 2005-2006, there were national-level decreases in MDE rates among youths aged 12 to 17 and young adults aged 18 to 25. Among youths aged 12 to 17, State-level decreases occurred in Connecticut, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, and Utah. Among young adults aged 18 to 25, Alaska experienced a decrease in the MDE rate between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. (Table s B.24 and C.24)