The
DASIS Report: Age of First Use among Admissions for Drugs: 1993
& 2003
Highlights:
- Among
substance abuse treatment admissions whose earliest reported drug
of abuse at admission was stimulants, opiates, or cocaine, the average
age of first use rose between 1993 and 2003: for stimulants
from age 18.5 to age 19.7; for opiates from age 21.0 to age 22.1;
and for cocaine from age 22.5 to age 22.7.
- For
marijuana, however, it decreased. The average age of first use among
substance abuse treatment admissions whose earliest reported drug
of abuse was marijuana, however, decreased from age 15.1 in 1993 to
age 14.6 in 2003.
- While
the average age at first use of any drug remained the same or decreased
between 1993 and 2003 for all age groups, the percentage of substance
abuse treatment admissions starting drug use before age 13 increased
for all age groups except those age 18-24 at treatment admission.
- Criminal
justice was the only admissions referral source that had a decrease
in the average age of first use of any illicit drug. The average
age of first use of any illicit drug decreased from age 17.6 in 1993
to age 16.8 in 2003.
Reports
on first use
Reports
on alcohol
Reports
on substance abuse treatment
Other
drugs
Other
topics
Other
OAS publications and services
This Short
Report, The DASIS Report: Age
of First Use among Admissions for Drugs: 1993 & 2003, is
based on the Drug and Alcohol Services Information
System (DASIS), the primary source of national data on substance abuse
treatment. DASIS is conducted by the Office
of Applied Studies (OAS) in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA).
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