October 4, 2011 |
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Combined 2004 to 2009 NSDUH data indicate that an annual average of 3.8 million persons aged 12 to 17—15.2 percent of the total population in this age group—identified themselves as non-Hispanic blacks of one race. Black adolescents were similar to the national average in terms of age and gender distributions. Compared with the national average, however, black adolescents were nearly twice as likely to be living in poverty (35.4 vs. 18.1 percent) and were more likely to live in large metropolitan areas (65.1 vs. 53.5 percent).5
The rate of past month cigarette use among black adolescents decreased from 6.6 percent in 2002 to 4.5 percent in 2010 (Figure 1). Past month alcohol use was fairly stable from 2002 to 2010. Nonmedical use of prescription type drugs among black adolescents was also relatively stable from 2002 to 2007. However, after a drop to 2.1 percent in 2008, the rate of nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs among black adolescents rose to 3.5 percent in 2009; the difference between the rate in 2009 and 2010 was not statistically significant.6 Finally, following a steady decline from 7.2 percent in 2005 to 5.9 percent in 2008, the rate of past month marijuana use among black adolescents increased to 7.5 percent in 2010.
Substance Use | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alcohol Use | 10.9% | 10.1% | 9.8% | 11.6% | 10.5% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 10.6% | 10.8% |
Cigarette Use | 6.6% | 6.9% | 6.0% | 6.5% | 6.0% | 6.1% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 4.5% |
Marijuana Use | 6.9% | 5.9% | 6.4% | 7.2% | 6.5% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 7.3% | 7.5% |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs |
3.0% | 3.4% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 3.5% | 2.6% |
Source: 2002 to 2010 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Rates of substance use among black adolescents were lower than national averages (Figure 2). The greatest differences were for rates of past month alcohol use (10.5 vs. 16.0 percent) and cigarette use (5.8 vs. 10.2 percent). Smaller (but statistically significant) differences were found for marijuana use (6.5 vs. 6.9 percent) and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs (2.9 vs. 3.3 percent).
Demographic Characteristics | Alcohol Use* |
Cigarette Use* |
Marijuana Use* |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription- Type Drugs* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blacks | 10.5% | 5.8% | 6.5% | 2.9% |
National Average | 16.0% | 10.2% | 6.9% | 3.3% |
* The difference between blacks 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 younger black adolescents aged 12 to 14, the rates of past month alcohol use and cigarette use were lower than the national averages (Table 1). Similarly, rates of alcohol and cigarette use also were lower among black adolescents aged 15 to 17 than the national averages. The rate of past month nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs among adolescents aged 12 to 14 was higher for blacks than the national average (2.9 vs. 2.0 percent); however, among adolescents aged 15 to 17, rates were lower among black adolescents than the national average (3.0 vs. 4.4 percent).
Age Group | Alcohol Use | Cigarette Use | Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blacks (%) |
National Average (%) |
Blacks (%) |
National Average (%) |
Blacks (%) |
National Average (%) |
|
Aged 12-14 | 4.5%* | 6.2% | 1.9%* | 3.5% | 2.9%* | 2.0% |
Aged 15-17 | 16.1%* | 25.4% | 9.5%* | 16.5% | 3.0%* | 4.4% |
* The difference between blacks and the national average is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Figure 3 shows the dynamic interaction taking place between age and race/ethnicity for marijuana use. Black adolescents aged 12 to 14 had a rate of past month marijuana use that was similar to the national average for that age group (1.8 vs. 2.0 percent). The rate was lower among black adolescents aged 15 to 17 than the national average for that age group, and the black and national average rates were similar for young adults aged 18 to 23. However, marijuana use rates among blacks exceeded the national average for adults aged 24 to 26, 27 to 29, and 30 to 39.
Age Group | Blacks | National Average |
---|---|---|
12 to 14 | 1.8% | 2.0% |
15 to 17* | 10.9% | 11.6% |
18 to 20 | 17.7% | 18.7% |
21 to 23 | 16.3% | 16.6% |
24 to 26* | 14.7% | 12.6% |
27 to 29* | 13.2% | 10.1% |
30 to 39* | 8.7% | 6.2% |
40 to 49 | 5.3% | 4.8% |
50 to 59 | 3.6% | 3.3% |
60 or Older* | 1.5% | 0.6% |
* The difference between blacks 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 black females had lower rates of past month substance use (Figure 4). Black male adolescents also were less likely than male adolescents in the Nation as a whole to have used alcohol (10.2 vs. 15.8 percent) and cigarettes (6.3 vs. 10.0 percent) in the past month, but differences in rates of marijuana use and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs were not statistically significant.
Substance Use | Black | National Average |
---|---|---|
Male | ||
Alcohol Use* | 10.2% | 15.8% |
Cigarette Use* | 6.3% | 10.0% |
Marijuana Use | 7.8% | 7.6% |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs |
2.7% | 2.9% |
Female | ||
Alcohol Use* | 10.7% | 16.3% |
Cigarette Use* | 5.3% | 10.3% |
Marijuana Use* | 5.2% | 6.3% |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription-Type Drugs* |
3.2% | 3.6% |
* The difference between blacks and the national average is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2004 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
The rates of past month cigarette use and alcohol use among black adolescents living in poverty were lower than the national averages for adolescents living in poverty (6.8 vs. 10.6 percent and 10.7 vs. 13.5 percent, respectively). Rates of past month marijuana use and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs, however, did not differ significantly from the national averages for adolescents living in poverty (Figure 5).
Demographic Characteristics | Alcohol Use* |
Cigarette Use* |
Marijuana Use |
Nonmedical Use of Prescription- Type Drugs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 10.7% | 6.8% | 6.9% | 3.8% |
National Average | 13.5% | 10.6% | 7.0% | 3.6% |
* The difference between blacks and the national average is statistically significant at the .05 level. Source: 2005 to 2009 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
This report confirms that substance use rates are generally lower among black adolescents than national rates for adolescents; however, the recent increases in marijuana use and in the nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs among black adolescents highlight the need for treatment programs and prevention strategies that target black adolescents. Those designing and implementing prevention programs should also be aware of the higher rates of marijuana use among blacks aged 24 or older compared with the national averages, suggesting the need for efforts specifically tailored to the prevention of marijuana initiation for black adolescents.
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 18,341 blacks or African Americans. 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.
NSDUH_004 |
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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