Skip To Content

Go to the Table Of Contents

Click for DHHS Home Page
Click for the SAMHSA Home Page
Click for the OAS Drug Abuse Statistics Home Page
Click for What's New
Click for Recent Reports and HighlightsClick for Information by Topic Click for OAS Data Systems and more Pubs Click for Data on Specific Drugs of Use Click for Short Reports and Facts Click for Frequently Asked Questions Click for Publications Click to send OAS Comments, Questions and Requests Click for OAS Home Page Click for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Home Page Click to Search Our Site

2003 National Survey on Drug Use & Health:  Detailed Tables

40618

Table  4.1A Numbers (in Thousands) of Persons Who First Used Marijuana in the United States, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Rates of First Use (Per 1,000 Person-Years of Exposure): 1965-2002, Based on 2002 and 2003 NSDUHs
YEAR NUMBER OF INITIATES (1,000s) MEAN
AGE
AGE-SPECIFIC RATES1
All Ages Under 18 18 or Older 12–17 18–25
1965 794 304 490 18.7 14.3 24.5
1966 785 268 517 19.4 11.9 23.5
1967 1,317 463 854 19.2 21.3 35.3
1968 1,961 757 1,204 18.8 34.2 50.6
1969 2,627 985 1,642 19.0 45.3 71.2
1970 2,858 1,306 1,551 18.6 60.0 71.0
1971 2,951 1,333 1,619 18.4 60.2 73.6
1972 3,134 1,666 1,468 18.3 76.5 63.0
1973 3,460 1,735 1,725 18.8 79.0 76.1
1974 3,275 1,912 1,363 18.5 89.7 58.3
1975 3,332 1,880 1,452 18.3 89.6 66.6
1976 3,236 1,943 1,292 18.4 97.1 59.8
1977 3,327 1,891 1,436 18.6 96.5 68.2
1978 3,225 1,925 1,300 18.4 101.1 66.5
1979 3,028 1,733 1,295 19.1 91.9 61.3
1980 2,555 1,565 990 18.5 83.8 50.6
1981 2,518 1,452 1,066 18.3 80.1 58.7
1982 2,412 1,404 1,008 19.4 78.3 47.7
1983 2,365 1,500 865 18.0 83.1 48.5
1984 2,123 1,379 745 17.9 78.4 40.6
1985 2,182 1,374 809 18.0 78.7 47.6
1986 2,046 1,258 788 17.6 73.5 48.5
1987 1,809 1,116 692 17.8 64.6 43.3
1988 1,695 1,087 608 17.8 64.7 38.1
1989 1,702 994 708 18.3 58.4 41.3
1990 1,505 825 680 18.8 47.2 38.2
1991 1,765 1,042 723 17.8 58.6 42.6
1992 2,013 1,159 854 17.5 63.8 53.5
1993 2,148 1,338 810 17.2 71.9 47.6
1994 2,464 1,616 848 16.8 86.2 51.9
1995 2,698 1,726 973 17.0 90.3 58.3
1996 2,448 1,590 857 16.9 82.6 51.9
1997 2,613 1,725 889 17.2 89.0 52.0
1998 2,519 1,702 816 17.0 86.3 50.8
1999 2,715 1,728 987 17.5 86.5 59.8
2000 2,862 1,966 896 16.9 98.2 56.1
2001 2,806 1,872 934 17.3 93.6 56.3
20022 2,573 1,763 810 17.2 87.0 49.4
*Low precision; no estimate reported.
-- Not available.
NOTE: Comparisons between years, particularly between recent estimates and those from 10 or more years prior, should be made with caution due to potential reporting and other biases.
1 The numerator of each rate is the number of persons in the age group who first used the drug in the year, while the denominator is the person-time exposure of persons in the age group measured in thousands of years.
2 Estimated using 2003 data only.
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002 and 2003.

40618

Table  4.2A Numbers (in Thousands) of Persons Who First Used Cocaine in the United States, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Rates of First Use (Per 1,000 Person-Years of Exposure): 1965-2002, Based on 2002 and 2003 NSDUHs
YEAR NUMBER OF INITIATES (1,000s) MEAN
AGE
AGE-SPECIFIC RATES1
All Ages Under 18 18 or Older 12–17 18–25
1965 62 * 49 * * *
1966 35 * 27 * * *
1967 98 * 98 * * *
1968 185 67 118 19.2 2.9 5.0
1969 210 50 160 21.6 2.0 5.0
1970 288 85 204 18.9 3.7 8.0
1971 424 81 343 20.7 3.3 11.0
1972 433 111 322 19.5 4.5 10.8
1973 592 174 418 20.3 7.2 13.5
1974 885 202 683 21.7 8.3 18.1
1975 876 197 679 20.9 8.1 19.6
1976 1,026 212 813 21.2 8.9 24.3
1977 1,102 264 838 21.2 11.3 23.4
1978 1,329 237 1,092 21.3 10.4 31.7
1979 1,360 277 1,083 21.0 12.4 32.9
1980 1,562 296 1,266 22.4 13.6 33.0
1981 1,543 284 1,259 21.5 13.5 36.3
1982 1,502 299 1,203 22.0 14.3 32.7
1983 1,450 235 1,215 22.1 11.4 35.5
1984 1,363 267 1,097 22.1 13.1 30.8
1985 1,371 289 1,082 22.2 14.4 29.6
1986 1,264 231 1,033 23.2 11.7 28.3
1987 1,173 247 926 22.5 12.6 26.8
1988 1,147 166 982 23.1 8.6 28.3
1989 981 163 818 23.1 8.5 22.8
1990 942 195 748 23.5 10.4 19.7
1991 706 115 591 23.1 6.0 16.6
1992 781 166 615 24.5 8.3 14.3
1993 634 150 484 22.1 7.5 14.3
1994 662 151 511 22.6 6.9 14.4
1995 776 222 554 21.1 10.3 17.2
1996 880 272 608 21.9 12.3 18.4
1997 886 252 634 20.8 11.1 21.3
1998 926 278 648 20.8 12.0 20.9
1999 959 283 677 20.8 12.0 21.5
2000 1,019 309 709 20.9 12.8 22.4
2001 1,167 372 795 20.8 15.3 24.1
20022 1,059 323 736 20.3 13.1 22.6
*Low precision; no estimate reported.
-- Not available.
NOTE: Comparisons between years, particularly between recent estimates and those from 10 or more years prior, should be made with caution due to potential reporting and other biases.
1 The numerator of each rate is the number of persons in the age group who first used the drug in the year, while the denominator is the person-time exposure of persons in the age group measured in thousands of years.
2 Estimated using 2003 data only.
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002 and 2003.

40618

Table  4.3A Numbers (in Thousands) of Persons Who First Used Crack in the United States, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Rates of First Use (Per 1,000 Person-Years of Exposure): 1965-2002, Based on 2002 and 2003 NSDUHs
YEAR NUMBER OF INITIATES (1,000s) MEAN
AGE
AGE-SPECIFIC RATES1
All Ages Under 18 18 or Older 12–17 18–25
1965 * * * * * *
1966 * * * * * *
1967 * * * * * *
1968 * * * * * *
1969 * * * * * *
1970 * * * * * *
1971 * * * * * *
1972 * * * * * *
1973 32 * * * * *
1974 * * * * * *
1975 * * * * * *
1976 * * * * * *
1977 50 * 33 18.0 * 1.0
1978 101 * 79 20.7 * 1.9
1979 86 * 77 22.1 * 1.9
1980 140 * 104 22.6 * 2.0
1981 151 * 135 23.2 * 3.2
1982 180 * 156 25.0 * 2.5
1983 174 22 152 24.0 1.0 2.7
1984 249 27 222 23.5 1.3 4.1
1985 399 46 354 25.2 2.2 6.8
1986 264 36 228 25.9 1.8 3.9
1987 284 40 244 23.4 2.0 5.5
1988 358 41 316 25.5 2.0 5.3
1989 396 10 386 25.2 0.5 7.5
1990 413 29 384 26.9 1.5 5.8
1991 376 37 339 26.7 1.9 5.4
1992 433 43 390 28.0 2.1 4.8
1993 383 42 342 28.8 2.0 4.8
1994 379 46 333 27.6 2.1 4.4
1995 430 49 382 27.3 2.2 6.3
1996 384 66 318 25.8 2.9 5.2
1997 392 63 329 26.2 2.7 6.1
1998 390 81 309 24.3 3.4 6.5
1999 386 65 321 25.7 2.7 6.1
2000 429 89 340 26.9 3.6 5.5
2001 375 84 291 25.0 3.4 5.2
20022 331 74 257 22.9 3.0 5.4
*Low precision; no estimate reported.
-- Not available.
NOTE: Comparisons between years, particularly between recent estimates and those from 10 or more years prior, should be made with caution due to potential reporting and other biases.
1 The numerator of each rate is the number of persons in the age group who first used the drug in the year, while the denominator is the person-time exposure of persons in the age group measured in thousands of years.
2 Estimated using 2003 data only.
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002 and 2003.

40618

Table  4.4A Numbers (in Thousands) of Persons Who First Used Heroin in the United States, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Rates of First Use (Per 1,000 Person-Years of Exposure): 1965-2002, Based on 2002 and 2003 NSDUHs
YEAR NUMBER OF INITIATES (1,000s) MEAN
AGE
AGE-SPECIFIC RATES1
All Ages Under 18 18 or Older 12–17 18–25
1965 * * * * * *
1966 * * * * * *
1967 46 * * * * *
1968 87 * * 16.6 * *
1969 45 * 36 19.4 * 1.4
1970 85 34 * 23.1 1.5 *
1971 104 22 82 19.4 0.9 3.1
1972 122 21 101 20.5 0.9 3.4
1973 207 36 172 20.5 1.3 5.2
1974 185 * 147 20.2 * 4.7
1975 78 * 63 21.3 * 1.8
1976 72 * 66 20.8 * 1.8
1977 109 7 101 23.0 0.3 2.5
1978 90 * 70 20.1 * 2.2
1979 77 16 60 21.1 0.7 1.6
1980 70 * 52 20.7 * 1.5
1981 113 16 97 20.8 0.8 2.7
1982 56 * 52 23.0 * 1.2
1983 82 * 78 23.0 * 1.9
1984 103 * 82 22.7 * 1.5
1985 32 * 29 24.5 * 0.5
1986 88 * 61 22.4 * 1.3
1987 91 * 85 25.3 * 1.8
1988 69 * 67 23.7 * 1.7
1989 97 * 89 25.0 * 1.6
1990 60 * 54 26.6 * *
1991 64 * 62 24.9 * 1.1
1992 96 9 87 27.2 0.5 1.3
1993 64 8 56 25.5 0.4 0.7
1994 78 19 59 25.1 0.9 *
1995 121 36 85 23.9 1.6 0.9
1996 140 26 115 24.1 1.2 2.4
1997 126 37 89 23.1 1.6 2.0
1998 164 29 136 23.4 1.2 3.1
1999 132 37 95 22.8 1.5 2.3
2000 137 43 94 20.6 1.6 2.6
2001 162 39 123 23.6 1.6 2.8
20022 122 26 96 21.4 1.0 2.0
*Low precision; no estimate reported.
-- Not available.
NOTE: Comparisons between years, particularly between recent estimates and those from 10 or more years prior, should be made with caution due to potential reporting and other biases.
1 The numerator of each rate is the number of persons in the age group who first used the drug in the year, while the denominator is the person-time exposure of persons in the age group measured in thousands of years.
2 Estimated using 2003 data only.
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002 and 2003.

40618

Table  4.5A Numbers (in Thousands) of Persons Who First Used Hallucinogens in the United States, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Rates of First Use (Per 1,000 Person-Years of Exposure): 1965-2002, Based on 2002 and 2003 NSDUHs
YEAR NUMBER OF INITIATES (1,000s) MEAN
AGE
AGE-SPECIFIC RATES1
All Ages Under 18 18 or Older 12–17 18–25
1965 70 * 64 20.7 * 3.2
1966 145 70 75 20.2 3.1 2.5
1967 300 112 188 19.0 5.0 7.1
1968 361 183 177 18.7 7.8 6.2
1969 890 320 570 19.1 13.9 21.6
1970 996 416 580 18.5 18.2 22.7
1971 988 429 560 18.3 18.6 21.1
1972 1,059 566 493 17.6 24.2 18.5
1973 871 454 417 17.8 19.1 16.1
1974 978 488 491 18.4 20.5 17.3
1975 981 495 486 18.0 20.9 17.4
1976 970 466 504 18.8 20.1 17.6
1977 904 409 495 18.5 17.9 18.3
1978 942 449 493 18.0 19.6 17.8
1979 982 492 490 18.5 22.4 15.8
1980 981 431 550 18.7 20.1 19.0
1981 960 379 581 19.3 18.3 19.1
1982 1,025 384 641 20.2 18.5 19.9
1983 716 288 428 18.7 13.9 15.2
1984 760 298 462 19.4 14.5 15.3
1985 716 286 430 19.0 13.8 14.9
1986 761 310 451 19.5 15.8 14.4
1987 770 351 419 19.2 18.1 14.6
1988 802 315 487 19.2 16.7 17.4
1989 785 299 487 19.0 15.9 17.5
1990 704 279 424 19.6 14.9 14.2
1991 762 329 434 19.1 17.4 15.2
1992 700 324 375 18.9 16.5 13.0
1993 813 379 434 19.2 19.0 14.2
1994 920 476 444 18.0 23.3 17.1
1995 993 492 500 18.2 23.3 19.4
1996 1,079 519 561 19.1 24.0 21.4
1997 1,117 520 597 19.0 23.2 23.2
1998 1,192 533 659 19.0 23.1 24.4
1999 1,449 640 809 18.7 27.6 32.0
2000 1,564 728 835 18.7 30.8 31.9
2001 1,619 725 894 19.3 30.3 31.6
20022 1,110 554 556 18.3 22.6 20.3
*Low precision; no estimate reported.
-- Not available.
NOTE: Comparisons between years, particularly between recent estimates and those from 10 or more years prior, should be made with caution due to potential reporting and other biases.
1 The numerator of each rate is the number of persons in the age group who first used the drug in the year, while the denominator is the person-time exposure of persons in the age group measured in thousands of years.
2 Estimated using 2003 data only.
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002 and 2003.

40618

Table  4.6A Numbers (in Thousands) of Persons Who First Used LSD in the United States, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Rates of First Use (Per 1,000 Person-Years of Exposure): 1965-2002, Based on 2002 and 2003 NSDUHs
YEAR NUMBER OF INITIATES (1,000s) MEAN
AGE
AGE-SPECIFIC RATES1
All Ages Under 18 18 or Older 12–17 18–25
1965 40 * 28 * * 1.4
1966 93 43 50 22.3 2.0 1.3
1967 178 65 113 19.4 2.7 4.0
1968 337 199 138 18.1 9.1 4.6
1969 677 228 448 19.4 9.7 17.0
1970 816 371 445 18.1 16.1 17.6
1971 810 318 492 18.8 13.7 17.2
1972 894 470 424 17.6 20.1 15.7
1973 854 437 417 18.3 18.3 15.0
1974 777 398 380 18.1 16.8 13.8
1975 700 364 336 18.3 15.4 11.2
1976 595 264 330 18.0 11.3 11.8
1977 736 329 406 18.8 14.2 14.3
1978 651 268 383 18.4 11.8 13.1
1979 815 396 419 18.4 17.7 13.1
1980 795 381 414 18.4 17.7 13.8
1981 749 315 434 19.1 15.1 13.9
1982 739 310 430 19.1 14.7 13.2
1983 554 229 326 18.8 11.1 11.2
1984 601 222 379 19.6 10.9 11.9
1985 567 246 320 19.4 11.9 9.9
1986 495 211 285 19.2 10.6 9.2
1987 552 326 226 18.2 16.7 7.4
1988 627 277 350 18.5 14.6 12.5
1989 620 236 384 19.2 12.6 12.4
1990 579 263 316 19.3 14.1 10.5
1991 632 296 337 18.6 15.7 12.3
1992 631 292 340 18.6 15.1 12.1
1993 553 263 290 18.7 13.4 9.9
1994 736 413 323 17.8 20.2 12.0
1995 766 405 361 17.6 19.3 14.6
1996 844 422 422 18.3 19.4 16.2
1997 800 415 384 18.2 18.5 14.9
1998 735 403 332 18.0 17.6 13.1
1999 798 413 385 17.9 17.6 14.5
2000 872 442 430 18.1 18.6 16.0
2001 631 334 296 17.8 13.8 11.0
20022 272 170 102 17.1 6.9 3.9
*Low precision; no estimate reported.
-- Not available.
NOTE: Comparisons between years, particularly between recent estimates and those from 10 or more years prior, should be made with caution due to potential reporting and other biases.
1 The numerator of each rate is the number of persons in the age group who first used the drug in the year, while the denominator is the person-time exposure of persons in the age group measured in thousands of years.
2 Estimated using 2003 data only.
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002 and 2003.

40618

Table  4.7A Numbers (in Thousands) of Persons Who First Used PCP in the United States, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Rates of First Use (Per 1,000 Person-Years of Exposure): 1965-2002, Based on 2002 and 2003 NSDUHs
YEAR NUMBER OF INITIATES (1,000s) MEAN
AGE
AGE-SPECIFIC RATES1
All Ages Under 18 18 or Older 12–17 18–25
1965 * * * * * *
1966 * * * * * *
1967 * * * * * *
1968 * * * * * *
1969 71 49 * 17.7 2.1 *
1970 195 84 111 18.2 3.6 4.0
1971 231 118 113 18.1 5.0 4.3
1972 370 196 174 18.3 8.2 5.4
1973 341 144 197 18.6 6.0 7.0
1974 449 221 228 17.8 9.0 7.5
1975 440 236 205 18.4 9.8 5.9
1976 505 248 257 18.9 10.4 7.5
1977 432 159 273 19.6 6.8 8.0
1978 404 148 256 20.2 6.4 6.8
1979 332 135 197 18.9 6.0 5.9
1980 323 114 208 20.4 5.1 5.5
1981 255 78 177 20.0 3.7 5.1
1982 238 58 180 20.5 2.7 5.2
1983 152 62 90 18.8 3.0 2.7
1984 123 24 99 19.8 1.2 3.1
1985 122 46 75 19.1 2.3 2.2
1986 139 35 104 20.0 1.7 3.0
1987 108 44 64 19.8 2.2 1.8
1988 107 43 65 19.8 2.2 1.7
1989 131 46 85 20.6 2.4 2.1
1990 83 45 38 22.2 2.3 0.6
1991 84 35 49 21.0 1.8 1.2
1992 88 29 59 18.8 1.5 2.1
1993 68 40 28 19.2 2.0 0.5
1994 104 67 36 16.8 3.3 1.3
1995 174 73 100 18.7 3.4 3.5
1996 157 84 73 17.9 3.6 2.2
1997 131 65 67 17.8 2.7 2.4
1998 119 70 48 17.6 3.0 1.5
1999 158 89 68 17.6 3.6 2.4
2000 174 119 55 16.6 4.8 1.9
2001 191 106 85 17.8 4.2 2.5
20022 131 85 46 16.7 3.4 1.5
*Low precision; no estimate reported.
-- Not available.
NOTE: Comparisons between years, particularly between recent estimates and those from 10 or more years prior, should be made with caution due to potential reporting and other biases.
1 The numerator of each rate is the number of persons in the age group who first used the drug in the year, while the denominator is the person-time exposure of persons in the age group measured in thousands of years.
2 Estimated using 2003 data only.
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002 and 2003.

40618

Table  4.8A Numbers (in Thousands) of Persons Who First Used Ecstasy in the United States, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Rates of First Use (Per 1,000 Person-Years of Exposure): 1965-2002, Based on 2002 and 2003 NSDUHs
YEAR NUMBER OF INITIATES (1,000s) MEAN
AGE
AGE-SPECIFIC RATES1
All Ages Under 18 18 or Older 12–17 18–25
1965 * * * * * *
1966 * * * * * *
1967 * * * * * *
1968 * * * * * *
1969 * * * * * *
1970 * * * * * *
1971 * * * * * *
1972 * * * * * *
1973 * * * * * *
1974 * * * * * *
1975 * * * * * *
1976 55 * 45 22.3 * *
1977 * * * * * *
1978 * * * * * *
1979 39 * 36 23.2 * 0.6
1980 32 * 25 23.8 * *
1981 33 * 33 * * 0.9
1982 28 * * * * *
1983 79 * 68 25.8 * 1.2
1984 90 * 90 26.1 * 1.5
1985 148 15 133 22.3 0.7 3.2
1986 152 23 130 23.0 1.1 3.1
1987 197 21 176 22.9 1.0 5.2
1988 206 42 164 23.4 2.2 3.8
1989 200 31 169 22.4 1.6 4.3
1990 228 22 206 23.7 1.1 4.3
1991 165 19 146 22.5 0.9 3.7
1992 202 27 175 22.5 1.3 4.3
1993 199 38 161 22.8 1.8 4.4
1994 258 59 198 23.0 2.8 5.0
1995 371 68 303 21.5 3.1 9.1
1996 406 102 304 23.8 4.4 7.9
1997 566 124 442 22.2 5.4 12.3
1998 819 167 652 21.3 7.1 19.3
1999 1,386 328 1,058 21.5 13.8 31.1
2000 1,737 465 1,272 21.2 19.2 38.0
2001 1,786 530 1,256 21.7 21.9 34.6
20022 1,078 371 707 20.7 14.9 19.9
*Low precision; no estimate reported.
-- Not available.
NOTE: Comparisons between years, particularly between recent estimates and those from 10 or more years prior, should be made with caution due to potential reporting and other biases.
1 The numerator of each rate is the number of persons in the age group who first used the drug in the year, while the denominator is the person-time exposure of persons in the age group measured in thousands of years.
2 Estimated using 2003 data only.
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002 and 2003.

40618

Table  4.9A Numbers (in Thousands) of Persons Who First Used Inhalants in the United States, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Rates of First Use (Per 1,000 Person-Years of Exposure): 1965-2002, Based on 2002 and 2003 NSDUHs
YEAR NUMBER OF INITIATES (1,000s) MEAN
AGE
AGE-SPECIFIC RATES1
All Ages Under 18 18 or Older 12–17 18–25
1965 79 79 * 13.5 3.6 *
1966 198 161 37 15.1 6.6 *
1967 140 88 52 16.9 3.2 1.7
1968 240 163 77 17.3 6.7 *
1969 264 184 80 16.3 8.1 3.0
1970 298 216 81 15.8 7.9 3.0
1971 331 232 99 15.6 9.2 3.8
1972 343 239 104 16.5 9.6 3.3
1973 396 220 176 18.6 9.0 4.7
1974 502 257 245 18.2 9.3 7.4
1975 498 317 181 17.2 12.5 5.9
1976 663 319 344 18.5 13.3 10.1
1977 785 306 479 19.0 12.5 13.7
1978 666 365 302 18.1 15.2 9.2
1979 851 454 398 18.2 20.0 11.2
1980 722 403 320 18.6 18.5 8.7
1981 623 309 314 18.6 13.9 8.5
1982 531 282 249 18.4 12.5 6.3
1983 583 329 254 18.3 14.5 6.4
1984 554 336 218 17.8 15.8 6.2
1985 532 267 265 19.0 13.1 7.6
1986 571 346 225