Iowa Has Lowest Drug Use Rate
Past-month illegal drug use by state reached a low of 6.1 percent in Iowa for persons
age 12 and older, according to a new report based on SAMHSA's 2002 National Survey
on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Across the Nation in 2002, an estimated 19.5 million
Americans (8.3 percent of the population age 12 and older) had used an illicit drug
in the past month. The NSDUH survey is conducted annually by the Agency's Office of
Applied Studies (OAS).
The report, State Estimates
of Substance Use from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, estimates
state rates of use of illegal drugs, binge drinking, serious mental illness, and tobacco
use.
"State-by-state data are powerful tools for policymakers at the Federal, state,
and local levels to identify state prevention and treatment needs," said SAMHSA
Administrator Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W. "These data will take on greater
value over time, as more data are accumulated and trends can be assessed in greater
detail, at both the national and the state levels."
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Treatment Need
Regarding treatment for substance abuse, 2.7 percent of persons age 12 or older nationwide
(about 6.3 million persons) needed but did not receive treatment for an illicit drug
problem, and 7.3 percent needed but did not receive treatment for an alcohol problem
in 2002.
States with the highest rates of individuals needing but not receiving substance
abuse treatment were mainly in the West, and the states with the highest rates of individuals
needing but not receiving alcohol treatment were mainly in the Midwest and West.
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Marijuana
Alabama had the lowest rate—4.4 percent—of past-month use of marijuana
among persons age 12 and older in 2002. Other states in the lowest fifth for current
use of marijuana among persons age 12 and older included Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi,
New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
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Other Illicit Drugs
In the category of past-month use of any illicit drug other than marijuana, Alaska,
Arizona, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Rhode Island, and Washington comprised the highest tier, with Arizona having the highest
prevalence rate, 4.9 percent, among all persons age 12 and older. In the 18-to-25 age
group, the rate of past-month use of any illicit drug other than marijuana was highest
in Rhode Island (14.1 percent).
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Binge Alcohol
Utah had the lowest rate of binge alcohol use among all persons age 12 and older
(16.6 percent), while North Dakota had the highest rate (30 percent). North Dakota
also had the highest rate among those age 18 to 25 (55.8 percent) and among youth age
12 to 17 (16.4 percent). Binge alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks
on one or more occasions in the past month.
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Serious Mental Illness
The 2002 NSDUH report estimates that 8.3 percent of the population age 18 and older
had serious mental illness in the past year. Oklahoma reported the highest rate in
the Nation, 11.4 percent, while New Jersey reported the lowest rate, 6.5 percent.
For a copy of the report, contact SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and
Drug Information at P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847-2345. Telephone: 1 (800) 729-6686
(English and Spanish) or 1 (800) 487-4889 (TDD). The report is also available on SAMHSA's
Web site at www.oas.samhsa.gov/
nhsda2k2.htm.
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