This report on substance use is the first presenting State estimates from the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). The report presents State estimates for 17 different measures related to substance use. Of those measures, 12 are based on an average for the combined years 1999 and 2000, while the remaining 5 only use the 2000 data. For each measure, States have been ranked and categorized into quintiles, or fifths, in order to simplify the discussion.
Illicit Drug Use (1999-2000)
Massachusetts had the highest estimated rate (11.4 percent) of past month use of illicit drugs among persons aged 12 or older. The highest rates of past month use were found in six Western States and three Northeastern States. (Figure 2.1; Table A.2)
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance by persons aged 12 or older. Seven States (Massachusetts, Delaware, Colorado, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Oregon) ranked in the top fifth for past month marijuana use by all persons aged 12 or older were also in the top fifth for use among youths aged 12 to 17. Eight States in the top fifth for marijuana use were also in the top fifth for use of any illicit substance. (Figures 2.1, 2.5, and 2.6; Table s A.2 and A.4)
Vermont had the lowest rate of "perceived great risk" for monthly use of marijuana among persons aged 12 or older. Eight of the ten States reporting the lowest perceived risk of marijuana use were also in the top fifth for past month use of this substance. (Figures 2.5 and 2.9; Table s A.4 and A.6)
The highest rate of past year cocaine use among persons 12 or older was found in New Mexico (2.8 percent). Four other Western States were also in the top fifth for past year use of cocaine. (Figure 2.20; Table A.12)
Alcohol Use (1999-2000)
Massachusetts had the highest rate of past month alcohol use (60.3 percent) among persons aged 12 or older. Nine other States comprised the top fifth for alcohol use: New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, and Montana. In addition, Massachusetts, Colorado, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Vermont, and North Dakota had the highest prevalence rate for all age groups (12 or older, 12 to 17, 18 to 25, and 26 or older). (Figures 3.1 to 3.4; Table A.14)
Utah reported the lowest prevalence of past month alcohol use among persons 12 or older—28.1 percent. (Figure 3.1; Table A.14)
Prevalence rates of "binge" alcohol use ranged from a low of 13.7 percent in Utah to a high of 29.1 percent in North Dakota for persons aged 12 or older. North Dakota, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Montana ranked in the top fifth for both past month alcohol use and past month "binge" alcohol use among persons 12 or older. Seven States (North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Nebraska) ranked in the top fifth for "binge" alcohol use in two groups—all persons 12 or older and youths aged 12 to 17. (Figures 3.1, 3.5, and 3.6; Table s A.14 and A.16)
Eight States reporting a low perceived risk of "binge" alcohol use were in the top fifth for such use among persons aged 12 or older. Seven States in the lowest fifth for perceived risk among youths aged 12 to 17 were also in the lowest fifth for all persons aged 12 or older. (Figures 3.5, 3.9, and 3.10; Table s A.16 and A.18)
Tobacco Use (1999-2000)
Seven Southern States were ranked as having the highest rates of past month use of tobacco among persons aged 12 or older. In this age group, West Virginia ranked the highest at 39.1 percent, and Kentucky, the largest tobacco-producing State, was second at 37.8 percent. Among individuals aged 18 to 25, Kentucky reported a prevalence of 55.1 percent and West Virginia a rate of 54.5 percent. (Figures 4.1 and 4.3; Table A.20)
Kentucky, Nevada, West Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee ranked in the top fifth both for past month use of tobacco and for past month use of cigarettes among persons aged 12 or older. Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, and North Carolina were also in the top fifth for past month use of cigarettes among youths aged 12 to 17. (Figures 4.1, 4.5, and 4.6; Table s A.20 and A.22)
Dependence on or Abuse of Alcohol or Illicit Drugs (2000)
South Dakota reported the highest rate (7.5 percent) of alcohol dependence or abuse in the 12 or older age group. Other high prevalence rates were found in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Nebraska, North Dakota, Alaska, New Mexico, Colorado, and Montana. North Carolina reported the lowest rate at 4.5 percent. (Figure 5.1; Table A.26)
The highest rate of dependence or abuse of illicit drugs among persons aged 12 or older was found in Arizona (2.9 percent) and the lowest in Iowa (1.4 percent). Alaska, Colorado, and Massachusetts ranked in the top fifth for both alcohol dependence or abuse and for illicit drug dependence or abuse. (Figures 5.1 and 5.9; Table s A.26 and A.30)
This page was last updated on
May 16, 2008.
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.
