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February 14, 2003 |
In Brief |
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The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) asks youths aged 12 to 17 to identify all the persons they would talk to about a serious problem.1 Respondents were also asked about household composition and past month use of cigarettes, alcohol, and various illicit drugs, including marijuana, cocaine (including crack), inhalants, hallucinogens, heroin, or prescriptiontype drugs used nonmedically.
Figure 1. Estimated Numbers (in Millions) of Youths Aged 12 to 17 Reporting Persons to Whom They Would Turn for a Discussion About a Serious Problem: 1999 |
Figure 2. Percentages of Youths Aged 12 to 17 Reporting Persons to Whom They Would Turn for a Discussion About a Serious Problem, by Age: 1999 |
Younger youths more frequently identified adults as confidants than did older youths (Figure 2). Females were more likely than males to turn to others to discuss a serious problem, although males were more likely than females to turn to their fathers (Figure 3). White youths were more likely to turn to parents or other adults than youths from other racial/ethnic groups (Figure 4).
Approximately 92 percent of youths lived with their mothers, and 67 percent of these youths would turn to their mothers to discuss a serious problem compared with 60 percent of youths who did not live with their mothers. Likewise, 76 percent of youths lived with their fathers, and 48 percent of these youths would turn to their fathers to discuss a serious problem compared with 34 percent of youths who did not live with their fathers.
Figure 3. Percentages of Youths Aged 12 to 17 Reporting Persons to Whom They Would Turn for a Discussion About a Serious Problem, by Gender: 1999 |
Figure 4. Percentages of Youths Aged 12 to 17 Reporting Persons to Whom They Would Turn for a Discussion About a Serious Problem, by Race/Ethnicity: 1999 |
Figure 5. Percentages of Youths Aged 12 to 17 Reporting Past Month Alcohol Use, by Age Group and Person to Whom They Would Turn for a Discussion About a Serious Problem: 1999 |
* Other adult includes grandparents, teacher/principal/coach, therapist/psychiatrist, or pastor/clergy/church/church group.
Source (all figures): SAMHSA 1999 NHSDA
The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 1999 data are based on information obtained from nearly 70,000 persons aged 12 or older. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through facetoface interviews at their place of residence.
The NHSDA Report prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Information and data for this issue are based on the following publication and statistics: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2000). Summary of findings from the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (DHHS Publication No. SMA 003466). Rockville, MD: Author Also available online: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov. Tables available upon request. |
The NHSDA 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://www.oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated. |
This page was last updated on December 30, 2008. |
SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.
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