SAMHSA has released two reports regarding substance abuse. The first indicates that youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are far more likely to start using most substances during the summer than during other parts of the year. The second report shows that the rate of increase in drug-related emergency department visits slowed.
Monthly Variation in Substance Use Initiation Among Adolescents
This report found that, on an average day in June and July, more than 11,000 adolescents age 12 to 17 use alcohol for the first time—December is the only other month with comparable levels. Throughout the rest of the year, the daily average for first-time alcohol use ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 adolescents. The report is based on SAMHSA's 2002 to 2010 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health.
View the Full Report [PDF - 704 KB]
Highlights of the 2010 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Findings on Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits
The DAWN report found there were 4 million drug-related emergency department visits made by patients age 21 or older in 2010. Of these, 1.9 million, or 47.2 percent, involved drug misuse or abuse. Cocaine was found to be the most commonly involved illicit drug among this age group, followed by marijuana, heroin, and amphetamines/methamphetamines. For emergency department visits made by patients age 20 or younger, 45.3 percent involved drug misuse or abuse. Alcohol was the most commonly involved illicit drug for this age group, followed by marijuana.
View the Full Report [PDF - 411 KB]
