The
NSDUH Report: Female Youths and Delinquent Behaviors
Highlights:
- In addition to questions
about drug use, SAMHSA's 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
asked youth to report how often they engaged in the following delinquent
behaviors in the past year: (a) serious fighting at school or work,
(b) taking part in a fight where a group of friends fought against another
group, (c) attacking someone with the intent to seriously hurt them,
(d) stealing or trying to steal something worth more than $50, (e) selling
illegal drugs, or (f) carrying a handgun.
- In 2003, about 2.4
million girls, aged 12 to 17 reported taking part in one or more serious
fights at school or work during the past year.
- The proportion of girls
increased from 2002 to 2003 who participated in serious fights at school
or work during the past year (from 16.2% to 20%) and who participated
in a group-against-group fight in the past year (from 13.5% to 16.8%).
- Past year substance
use was the most prevalent delinquent behavior among girls aged 12 to
17, with 36.5% (4.5 million) reporting past year alcohol use and 21.9%
(2.7 million) reporting past year illicit drug use.
Other
reports on delinquent behaviors
Reports
on youth
Other topics
Other
OAS publications and services
This Short Report, The
NSDUH Report: Female Youths and Delinquent Behaviors,
is based on SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug
Use and Health conducted by the Office of Applied
Studies (OAS) in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA). SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
is the primary source of information on the prevalence, patterns, and
consequences of drug and alcohol use and abuse and for selected mental health measures in the general U.S. civilian non institutionalized population, age 12 and older.
SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use & Health also provides estimates
for drug use and for selected mental health measures by State.
|