Drug and AlcoholDrug and AlcoholStatisticsStatistics

Is this a problem???Is this a problem???

• Alcohol is a leading cause of death Alcohol is a leading cause of death among youth, particularly teenagers. among youth, particularly teenagers. It contributes substantially to It contributes substantially to adolescent motor vehicle crashes, adolescent motor vehicle crashes, other traumatic injuries, suicide, date other traumatic injuries, suicide, date rape, and family and school rape, and family and school problems.problems.

• More than 1,700 college students in More than 1,700 college students in the U.S. are killed each year—about the U.S. are killed each year—about 4 a day—as a result of alcohol-4 a day—as a result of alcohol-related injuries. related injuries.

• Children who are drinking alcohol by Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade7th grade are more likely to report are more likely to report academic problems, substance use, academic problems, substance use, and delinquent behavior in both and delinquent behavior in both middle school and high school. middle school and high school. 

• Alcohol kills 6 ½ times more teenagers Alcohol kills 6 ½ times more teenagers than all other illicit drugs combined than all other illicit drugs combined (Illicit Drugs include marijuana, (Illicit Drugs include marijuana, cocaine (including crack), heroin, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription. prescription.

• By the 8th grade, 52% of adolescents By the 8th grade, 52% of adolescents have consumed alcohol, 41% have have consumed alcohol, 41% have smoked cigarettes, and 20% have smoked cigarettes, and 20% have used marijuana. used marijuana.

• Cigarette smoking remains the Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing an in the United States, causing an estimated 443,000 deaths - or about estimated 443,000 deaths - or about 1 out of every 5 - each year. 1 out of every 5 - each year.

• In the United States, approximately In the United States, approximately 50,000 deaths each year are caused 50,000 deaths each year are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.by exposure to secondhand smoke.

• In 2006, approximately 6% of middle In 2006, approximately 6% of middle school students in this country were school students in this country were current cigarette smokers,with current cigarette smokers,with estimates of 6% for females and 6% estimates of 6% for females and 6% for males. for males.

• Half (50%) of American young people Half (50%) of American young people have tried cigarettes by 12th gradehave tried cigarettes by 12th grade

• In 2007, 20% of high school students In 2007, 20% of high school students in the United States were current in the United States were current cigarette smokers—approximately cigarette smokers—approximately 19% of females and 21% of males.19% of females and 21% of males.

• Nationally, an estimated 4% of all Nationally, an estimated 4% of all middle school students were current middle school students were current smokeless tobacco users in 2006. smokeless tobacco users in 2006.

• Marijuana is the most commonly Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the nation. (14.6 used illicit drug in the nation. (14.6 million past month users). million past month users).

• Marijuana is considered the Marijuana is considered the “gateway drug” to other drug use.“gateway drug” to other drug use.

• The increase in the use of marijuana has been The increase in the use of marijuana has been especially pronounced. Between 1992 and 2006, especially pronounced. Between 1992 and 2006, past-month use of marijuana increased from: past-month use of marijuana increased from: – 12% to 18% among high school seniors. 12% to 18% among high school seniors. – 8% to 14% among 10th graders. 8% to 14% among 10th graders.

– 4% to 7% among 8th graders.4% to 7% among 8th graders.

• Alcohol is a leading cause of death Alcohol is a leading cause of death among youth, particularly teenagers. among youth, particularly teenagers. It contributes substantially to It contributes substantially to adolescent motor vehicle crashes, adolescent motor vehicle crashes, other traumatic injuries, suicide, date other traumatic injuries, suicide, date rape, and family and school rape, and family and school problems.problems.

• More than 1,700 college students in More than 1,700 college students in the U.S. are killed each year—about the U.S. are killed each year—about 4 a day—as a result of alcohol-4 a day—as a result of alcohol-related injuries. related injuries.

• Children who are drinking alcohol by Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade7th grade are more likely to report are more likely to report academic problems, substance use, academic problems, substance use, and delinquent behavior in both and delinquent behavior in both middle school and high school. middle school and high school. 

• Alcohol kills 6 ½ times more teenagers Alcohol kills 6 ½ times more teenagers than all other illicit drugs combined than all other illicit drugs combined (Illicit Drugs include marijuana/hashish, (Illicit Drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription). prescription).

• By the 8th grade, 52% of adolescents By the 8th grade, 52% of adolescents have consumed alcohol, 41% have have consumed alcohol, 41% have smoked cigarettes, and 20% have smoked cigarettes, and 20% have used marijuana. used marijuana.

• Cigarette smoking remains the Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing an in the United States, causing an estimated 443,000 deaths - or about estimated 443,000 deaths - or about 1 out of every 5 - each year. 1 out of every 5 - each year.

• In the United States, approximately In the United States, approximately 50,000 deaths each year are caused 50,000 deaths each year are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.by exposure to secondhand smoke.

• In 2006, approximately 6% of middle In 2006, approximately 6% of middle school students in this country were school students in this country were current cigarette smokers,2 with current cigarette smokers,2 with estimates of 6% for females and 6% estimates of 6% for females and 6% for males. for males.

• Half (50%) of American young people Half (50%) of American young people have tried cigarettes by 12th gradehave tried cigarettes by 12th grade

• In 2007, 20% of high school students In 2007, 20% of high school students in the United States were current in the United States were current cigarette smokers—approximately cigarette smokers—approximately 19% of females and 21% of males.19% of females and 21% of males.

• Nationally, an estimated 4% of all Nationally, an estimated 4% of all middle school students were current middle school students were current smokeless tobacco users in 2006. smokeless tobacco users in 2006.

• Marijuana is the most commonly Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the nation. (14.6 used illicit drug in the nation. (14.6 million past month users). million past month users).

• Marijuana is considered the Marijuana is considered the “gateway drug” to other drug use.“gateway drug” to other drug use.

• The increase in the use of marijuana has been The increase in the use of marijuana has been especially pronounced. Between 1992 and 2006, especially pronounced. Between 1992 and 2006, past-month use of marijuana increased from: past-month use of marijuana increased from: – 12% to 18% among high school seniors. 12% to 18% among high school seniors. – 8% to 14% among 10th graders. 8% to 14% among 10th graders.

– 4% to 7% among 8th graders.4% to 7% among 8th graders.

• Magnitude of Alcohol-Related Mortality and Morbidity Among U.S. College Students Ages 18-24: Magnitude of Alcohol-Related Mortality and Morbidity Among U.S. College Students Ages 18-24: Changes from 1998 to 2001; Ralph Hingson, Timothy Heeren, Michael Winter, Henry Wechsler; Changes from 1998 to 2001; Ralph Hingson, Timothy Heeren, Michael Winter, Henry Wechsler;

Annual Review of Public HealthAnnual Review of Public Health, April 2005, Vol. 26: pp. 259-279., April 2005, Vol. 26: pp. 259-279. • Ninth Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health from the Secretary of Health and Ninth Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health from the Secretary of Health and

Human Services.Human Services.   Rockville, MD: USDHHS, Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental    Rockville, MD: USDHHS, Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Jun 1997.  Kann, L., Health Administration, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Jun 1997.  Kann, L., Warren, C., et al., Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 1995.    Warren, C., et al., Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 1995.    Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Morb Mortal Wkly Rep CDC Surveillance Summaries,CDC Surveillance Summaries, 45(4):1-84, Sep 27, 1996. 45(4):1-84, Sep 27, 1996.

• Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance – United States, 1999. June 09, 2000 / 49(SS05);1-96 Kann, L., S. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance – United States, 1999. June 09, 2000 / 49(SS05);1-96 Kann, L., S. Kinchen, B. Williams, J. Ross, R. Lowry, J. Grunbaum, and L. Kolbe., Kinchen, B. Williams, J. Ross, R. Lowry, J. Grunbaum, and L. Kolbe.,

www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss4905a1.htm accessed June 19, 2001. accessed June 19, 2001.