Preliminary Results from the 1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse

148 Pages·1998·8.3 MB·English

by  Office of Applied Studies

SAMHSA
National Household Survey on Drug Abuse Series: H-6
Preliminary Results from the
1997 National Household Survey
on Drug Abuse
Office of Applied Studies
/*HfcmftvHafl
Vfe
swv,cs^,
J.*
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

('if i^oisip^
j i
OFFICE OF APPLIED STUDIES
Preliminary Results from the
1997 National Household Survey
on Drug Abuse
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This report was prepared by the Division ofPopulation Surveys, OAS, SAMHSA, and the Research
Triangle Institute (RTI), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Work by RTI was performed under
ContractNo.: 283-96-0001. Significant contributors at RTI include Lisa E. Packer, Teresa R. Davis,
Larry A. Kroutil, Brenda K. Porter, Michael B. Witt, L. Lynn Guess, and Tom Virag (Project Director).
Significant contributors from SAMHSA include Joseph Gfroerer, Doug Wright, Joe Gustin, Janet
Greenblatt, Joan Epstein, and Peggy Barker. Graphics and formatting ofthe reportwere done by
Maria T. Rivero.
PUBLIC DOMAIN NOTICE
All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without
permission from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Citation ofthe source
is appreciated.
OBTAINING ADDITIONAL COPIES OF PUBLICATION
Copies may be obtained, free ofcharge, from theNational Clearinghouse forAlcohol and Drug
Information (NCADI). TheNCADI is a service ofthe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA). For copies ofpublications, please write or call:
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)
P.O. Box 2345
MD
Rockville, 20847-2345
[phone] 1-800-729-6686 TDD 1-800-487-4889
ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO PUBLICATION
This publication can be accessed electronically through the Internet World Wide Web connections listed
below.
World Wide Web Internet Connections: http://www.samhsa.gov
http://www.health.org
ORIGINATING OFFICE
SAMHSA, Office ofApplied Studies
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 16-105
MD
Rockville, 20857
August 1998
n
. . ::
TABLE OF CONTENTS
List ofTables iv
Highlights 1
1 Introduction 5
Summary ofNHSDA Methodology
Revised Methodology and Adjustment of 1979-1993 Estimates
Format ofReport and Explanation ofTables
NHSDA
Other Reports
2. Any Illicit Drug Use 9
3. Marijuana and Hashish Use 16
4. Cocaine Use 17
5. Other Illicit Drug Use 19
6. Alcohol Use 21
7. Tobacco Use 23
8. Trends in Initiation ofUse 25
9. Women ofChildbearing Age 30
10. Perceived Risk ofHarm and Other Measures 31
1 1 California and Arizona . 33
12. Discussion ofResults 35
Appendices:
Appendix 1 Description ofthe Survey 38
Appendix 2: Limitations ofthe Data 40
Appendix 3 Other Sources ofData 46
Appendix 4: References 51
Appendix 5: Detailed Tables 57
in
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1A Estimated Numbers ofPersons (in Thousands) in the U.S. Population Aged 12
and Older, by Age Group, Race/Ethnicity, and Sex: 1979-1997 58
IN Survey Sample Sizes for All Respondents Aged 12 and Older, by Age Group,
Race/Ethnicity, and Sex: 1979-1997 59
2A Estimated Numbers ofPersons (in Thousands) in the U.S. Population Aged 12
and Older, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 60
2N Survey Sample Sizes for All Respondents Aged 12 and Older, by Age Group and
Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 61
3A Estimated Numbers (in Thousands) ofLifetime Users ofIllicit Drugs, Alcohol, and
Tobacco in the U.S. Population Aged 12 and Older: 1979-1997 62
3B Percentages Reporting Lifetime Use ofIllicit Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco in the
U.S. Population Aged 12 and Older: 1979-1997 63
4A Estimated Numbers (in Thousands) ofPast YearUsers ofIllicit Drugs, Alcohol, and
Tobacco in the U.S. Population Aged 12 and Older: 1979-1997 64
4B Percentages Reporting Past Year Use ofIllicit Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco in the
U.S. Population Aged 12 and Older: 1979-1997 65
A
5 Estimated Numbers (in Thousands) ofPast Month Users ofIllicit Drugs, Alcohol, and
Tobacco in the U.S. Population Aged 12 and Older: 1979-1997 66
5B Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco in the
U.S. Population Aged 12 and Older: 1979-1997 67
6 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco in the U.S. Population Aged 12 and Older: 1996 and 1997 68
Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco in the U.S. Population Aged 12 to 17: 1996 and 1997 69
8 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco in the U.S. Population Aged 18 to 25: 1996 and 1997 70
9 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco in the U.S. Population Aged 26 to 34: 1996 and 1997 71
10 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco in the U.S. Population Aged 35 and Older: 1996 and 1997 72
iv
731
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofAny Illicit Drug, by Age Group, Race/
Ethnicity, and Sex: 1979-1997 73
12 Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofMarijuana, by Age Group, Race/Ethnicity,
and Sex: 1979-1997 74
1 Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofCocaine, by Age Group, Race/Ethnicity,
and Sex: 1979-1997 75
14 Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofAlcohol, by Age Group, Race/Ethnicity,
and Sex: 1979-1997 76
15 Percentages Reporting Past Month "Binge" Alcohol Use, by Age Group, Race/
Ethnicity, and Sex: 1979-1997 77
16 Percentages Reporting Past Month Heavy Alcohol Use, by Age Group, Race/
Ethnicity, and Sex: 1979-1997 78
1 Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofCigarettes, by Age Group, Race/Ethnicity,
and Sex: 1979-1997 79
18A Estimated Numbers (in Thousands) ofMarijuana, Cocaine, and Alcohol Users in the
U.S. Population Aged 12 and Older, by Past YearFrequency ofUse: 1985-1997 80
18B Percentages Reporting Marijuana, Cocaine, and Alcohol Use in the U.S. Population
Aged 12 and Older, by Past Year Frequency ofUse: 1985-1997 81
19 Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofAny Illicit Drug, by Age Group and
Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 82
20 Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofMarijuana, by Age Group and Demographic
Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 83
21 Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofCocaine, by Age Group and Demographic
Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 84
22 Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofAlcohol, by Age Group and Demographic
Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 85
23 Percentages Reporting Past Month "Binge" Alcohol Use, by Age Group and
Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 86
24 Percentages Reporting Past Month Heavy Alcohol Use, by Age Group and
Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 87
v
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
25 Percentages Reporting Past Month Use ofCigarettes, by Age Group and Demographic
Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 88
26 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofAny Illicit Drug,
by Detailed Age Categories: 1996 and 1997 89
27 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofMarijuana, by
Detailed Age Categories: 1996 and 1997 90
28 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofCocaine, by
Detailed Age Categories: 1996 and 1997 91
29 Percentages Reporting Past Month Alcohol Use, Past Month "Binge" Alcohol Use,
and Past Month Heavy Alcohol Use, by Detailed Age Categories: 1996 and 1997 .... 92
30 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofCigarettes, by
Detailed Age Categories: 1996 and 1997 93
31A Estimated Numbers (in Thousands) ofLifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Users
ofIllicit Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco in the U.S. Population ofFemales Aged
15 to 44, by Pregnancy Status and Parental Status: Annual Averages Based on
1996 and 1997 Samples 94
3IB Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco in the U.S. Population ofFemales Aged 15 to 44, by
Pregnancy Status and Parental Status: Annual Averages Based on 1996 and
1997 Samples 95
32 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofAny Illicit
Drug in the U.S. Population ofFemales Aged 15 to 44, by Pregnancy Status and
Demographic Characteristics: Annual Averages Based on 1996 and 1997 Samples ... 96
33 Percentages Reporting Past Month Alcohol Use, Past Month "Binge" Alcohol Use,
and Past Month Heavy Alcohol Use in the U.S. Population ofFemales Aged 15 to
44, by Pregnancy Status and Demographic Characteristics: Annual Averages Based
on 1996 and 1997 Samples 97
34 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofCigarettes in
the U.S. Population ofFemales Aged 15 to 44, by Pregnancy Status and
Demographic Caracteristics: Annual Averages Based on 1996 and 1997 Samples 98
35 Percentages ofPast Month Users ofCigarettes or Alcohol in the U.S. Population
Aged 12 and Older Reporting Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs, Alcohol, and
Tobacco, by Levels ofPast Month Cigarette and Alcohol Use: 1996 and 1997 99
vi
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
36 Percentages ofPast Month Users ofCigarettes or Alcohol in the U.S. Population
Aged 12 to 17 Reporting Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco,
by Levels ofPast Month Cigarette and Alcohol Use: 1996 and 1997 100
37A Estimated Numbers (in Thousands) ofLifetime Users ofSpecific Hallucinogens,
Inhalants, Methamphetamine, Needles, and Heroin by Smoking or Sniffing/Snorting
in the U.S. Population Aged 12 and Older, By Age Group: 1996 and 1997 101
37B Percentages Reporting Lifetime Use ofSpecific Hallucinogens, Inhalants,
Methamphetamine, Needles, and Heroin by Smoking or Sniffing/Snorting in the
U.S. Population Aged 12 and Older, by Age Group: 1996 and 1997 102
38 Estimated Number (in Thousands) ofPersons Who First Used Marijuana During
Each Year 1965-1996, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Annual Age-Specific Rates
ofFirst Use (per 1000 Person-Years ofExposure), Based on 1994-1997 NHSDAs ... 103
39 Estimated Number (in Thousands) ofPersons Who First Used Cocaine During Each
Year 1965-1996, TheirMean Age at First Use, and Annual Age-Specific Rates of
First Use (per 1000 Person-Years ofExposure), Based on 1994-1997 NHSDAs 104
40 Estimated Number (in Thousands) ofPersons Who First Used Any Inhalant During
Each Year 1965-1996, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Annual Age-Specific Rates
ofFirst Use (per 1000 Person-Years ofExposure), Based on 1994-1997 NHSDAs ... 105
41 Estimated Number (in Thousands) ofPersons Who First Used Any Hallucinogen
During Each Year 1965-1996, TheirMean Age at First Use, and Annual Age-Specific
Rates ofFirst Use (per 1000 Person-Years ofExposure), Based on 1994-1997
NHSDAs
106
42 EstimatedNumber (in Thousands) ofPersons Who First Used Heroin During Each
Year 1965-1996, TheirMean Age at First Use, and Annual Age-Specific Rates of
First Use (per 1000 Person-Years ofExposure), Based on 1994-1997 NHSDAs 107
43 Estimated Number (in Thousands) ofPersons Who First Used Alcohol During Each
Year 1965-1995, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Annual Age-Specific Rates of
First Use (per 1000 Person-Years ofExposure), Based on 1994-1997 NHSDAs 108
44 Estimated Number (in Thousands) ofPersons Who First Used A Cigarette During
Each Year 1965-1995, TheirMean Age at First Use, and Annual Age-Specific Rates
ofFirst Use (per 1000 Person-Years ofExposure), Based on 1994-1997 NHSDAs ... 109
45 Estimated Number (in Thousands) ofPersons Who Began Daily Cigarette Use During
Each Year 1965-1996, Their Mean Age at First Daily Use, and Annual Age-Specific
Rates ofFirst Daily Use (per 1000 Person-Years ofExposure), Based on 1994-1997
NHSDAs 110
vii
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
46 Percentages Reporting About Risk and Availability ofDrugs in the U.S. Population
Aged 12 and Older: 1985-1997 Ill
47 Percentages Reporting About Risk and Availability ofDrugs in the U.S. Population
Aged 12 to 17: 1985-1997 112
48 Percentages Reporting Perceptions ofGreat Risk ofSmoking One or More Packs of
Cigarettes Per Day, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 113
49 Percentages Reporting Perceptions ofGreat Risk ofSmoking Marijuana Once a
Month, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 114
50 Percentages Reporting Perceptions ofGreat Risk ofSmoking Marijuana Once or
Twice a Week, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 .... 115
51 Percentages Reporting Perceptions ofGreat Risk ofUsing Cocaine Once a Month, by
Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 116
52 Percentages Reporting Perceptions ofGreat Risk ofUsing Cocaine Once or Twice a
Week, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 117
53 Percentages Reporting Perceptions ofGreat Risk ofHaving Four or Five Drinks Nearly
Every Day, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 118
54 Percentages Reporting Perceptions ofGreat Risk ofHaving Five or More Drinks Once
or Twice a Week, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1996 and 1997 .119
55 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco in the Population Aged 12 and Older for California, Arizona,
and the Remainder ofthe U.S.: 1997 (Q2-Q4) 120
56 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco in the Population Aged 12 to 17 for California, Arizona, and
the Remainder ofthe U.S.: 1997 (Q2-Q4) 121
57 Percentages Reporting Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month Use ofIllicit Drugs,
Alcohol, and Tobacco in the Population Aged 18 and Older for California, Arizona,
and the Remainder ofthe U.S.: 1997 (Q2-Q4) 122
58 Percentages Reporting About Risk and Availability ofDrugs in the Population
Aged 12 and Older for California, Arizona, and the Remainderofthe U.S.:
1997 (Q2-Q4) 123
vin