October 4, 2011 |
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Combined 2004 to 2009 NSDUH data indicate that an annual average of 4.6 million persons aged 12 to 17—18.2 percent of the total population in this age group—identified themselves as Hispanic.3 Two thirds (67.8 percent) of Hispanic adolescents were of Mexican origin, 10.2 percent were of Central or South American origin, and 10.0 percent were of Puerto Rican origin. The majority of Hispanic adolescents (81.8 percent) were born in the United States.4
Compared with adolescents in the Nation as a whole, Hispanic adolescents were more likely to be living in poverty5 (31.8 vs. 18.1 percent) and were less likely to have health insurance coverage (81.4 vs. 92.0 percent).
Among Hispanic adolescents, marijuana use increased from 6.1 percent in 2008 to 8.1 percent in 2009, and remained steady at 8.0 percent in 2010; nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs6 increased from 2.2 percent in 2008 to 3.3 percent in 2009, and remained steady at 3.4 percent in 2010 (Figure 1). Cigarette use decreased among Hispanic adolescents between 2002 and 2010. Alcohol use declined from 16.6 percent in 2002 to 13.9 percent in 2010.
Demographic Characteristics | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alcohol Use | 16.6% | 16.2% | 18.0% | 16.7% | 15.3% | 15.2% | 14.8% | 15.2% | 13.9% |
Cigarette Use | 10.0% | 8.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 7.5% | 8.0% |
Marijuana Use | 6.8% | 6.8% | 6.7% | 6.3% | 5.8% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 8.1% | 8.0% |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs |
3.9% | 3.6% | 3.9% | 2.9% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 3.3% | 3.4% |
Source: 2002 to 2010 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Combined 2004 to 2009 data indicate that rates of past month substance use generally were lower among Hispanic adolescents compared with the national average for adolescents (Figure 2). The rate of past month cigarette use was lower among Hispanic adolescents than the national average for adolescents (8.1 vs. 10.2 percent). Statistically significant differences were found for past month marijuana use (6.5 vs. 6.9 percent) and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs (2.9 vs. 3.3 percent). The rate of past month alcohol use among Hispanic adolescents was similar to the national average for adolescents.
Demographic Characteristics | Alcohol Use |
Cigarette Use* |
Marijuana Use* |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription- Type Drugs* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hispanics | 15.8% | 8.1% | 6.5% | 2.9% |
National Average | 16.0% | 10.2% | 6.9% | 3.3% |
* The difference between Hispanic adolescents and the national average is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Among Hispanic adolescents, cigarette and alcohol use varied by Hispanic subgroup (Figure 3). Past month cigarette use ranged from 12.1 percent among adolescents of Spanish origin to 4.6 percent among adolescents of Dominican origin. Past month alcohol use ranged from 21.6 percent among adolescents of Spanish origin to 13.8 percent among adolescents of Puerto Rican origin.
Hispanic Subgroup | Alcohol Use |
Cigarette Use |
---|---|---|
Spanish (Spain) | 21.6% | 12.1% |
Cuban | 19.2% | 9.6% |
Two or More | 17.7% | 9.2% |
Puerto Rican | 13.8% | 8.7% |
Mexican | 15.7% | 7.8% |
Central or South American | 14.9% | 7.2% |
Dominican | 16.1% | 4.6% |
Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Past month marijuana use varied across Hispanic subgroups, but there was little variation in nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs (Figure 4). Marijuana use ranged from 9.6 percent among adolescents of Spanish origin to 3.2 percent among adolescents of Dominican origin, and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs ranged from 4.6 percent among adolescents of Spanish origin to 2.1 percent among adolescents of Dominican origin.
Hispanic Subgroup | Marijuana Use |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs |
---|---|---|
Spanish (Spain) | 9.6% | 4.6% |
Cuban | 7.7% | 3.2% |
Two or More | 8.0% | 2.5% |
Puerto Rican | 8.4% | 3.3% |
Mexican | 6.2% | 2.9% |
Central or South American | 5.2% | 2.4% |
Dominican | 3.2% | 2.1% |
Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Hispanic adolescents born in the United States had higher rates of past month alcohol use, cigarette use, and marijuana use than those who were not born in the United States (Figure 5). The difference in rates of nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs was not statistically significant.
Nativity | Alcohol Use* |
Cigarette Use* |
Marijuana Use* |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription- Type Drugs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Born in the United States | 16.6% | 8.6% | 7.1% | 3.0% |
Not Born in the United States | 12.3% | 5.7% | 3.6% | 2.6% |
* The difference between Hispanic adolescents born in the United States and those not born in the United States is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
For adolescents aged 12 to 14, there were statistically significant differences between rates for Hispanic youths and the national averages for youths for past month cigarette use and past month alcohol use, with cigarette use being slightly lower and alcohol use being slightly higher among Hispanics (Table 1). Among adolescents aged 15 to 17, rates of past month cigarette use, marijuana use, and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs among Hispanics were significantly lower than the national averages, while there was no statistically significant difference in rates of alcohol use.
Age Group | Alcohol Use | Cigarette Use | Marijuana Use | Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hispanics (%) |
National Average (%) |
Hispanics (%) |
National Average (%) |
Hispanics (%) |
National Average (%) |
Hispanics (%) |
National Average (%) |
|
Aged 12-14 | 6.9%* | 6.2% | 3.0%* | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.0% |
Aged 15-17 | 24.9% | 25.4% | 13.3%* | 16.5% | 10.7%* | 11.6% | 3.7%* | 4.4% |
* The difference between Hispanic adolescents and the national average is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Compared with the national averages for adolescent females, adolescent Hispanic females had lower rates of past month cigarette use and marijuana use (Figure 6). Differences in rates of alcohol use and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs were not statistically significant. Adolescent Hispanic males had a lower rate of past month cigarette use than the national average for adolescent males; however, there were no statistically significant differences in rates for alcohol use, marijuana use, or nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs.
Gender | Hispanic | National Average |
---|---|---|
Male | ||
Alcohol Use | 15.7% | 15.8% |
Cigarette Use* | 8.7% | 10.0% |
Marijuana Use | 7.4% | 7.6% |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs |
2.7% | 2.9% |
Female | ||
Alcohol Use | 15.9% | 16.3% |
Cigarette Use* | 7.4% | 10.3% |
Marijuana Use* | 5.5% | 6.3% |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs |
3.2% | 3.6% |
* The difference between Hispanic adolescents and the national average is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Recent increases in rates of marijuana use and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs among Hispanic adolescents suggest a need for prevention and treatment programs that target this population. Although substance use among Hispanic adolescents was generally lower than among adolescents in the Nation as a whole, certain subgroups of the Hispanic adolescent population had rates of use that exceeded the rates in the general population, and Hispanic adolescents born in the United States were more likely to use illicit substances than Hispanic adolescents born elsewhere. While Hispanic adolescents had lower prevalence rates than national averages for certain substances, prevention and treatment strategies targeting this population need to account for the variations by age, gender, and nativity to help assist Hispanic adolescents maintain or achieve a healthier lifestyle.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2004 to 2009 data used in this report are based on information obtained from 135,311 persons aged 12 to 17, including 22,195 Hispanics. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence. The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following two-volume publication: Office of Applied Studies. (2010). Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Volume I. Summary of national findings (HHS Publication No. SMA 10-4586Findings, NSDUH Series H-38A). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Office of Applied Studies. (2010). Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Volume II. Technical appendices and selected prevalence tables (HHS Publication No. SMA 10-4586Appendices, NSDUH Series H-38B). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. |
The NSDUH Report is published periodically by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (formerly 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 Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality are available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov.
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This page was last updated on October 11, 2010. |
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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