Addiction Medicine: Closing the Gap between Science and Practice

5.8

(14.6 M)

5.8

(1.4 M)

14.2

(4.8 M)

4.3

(8.4 M)

Total 12 to 17 18 to 25 26+

P E R C E N T

* In the past 30 days.

Source: CASA Columbia analysis of The National Survey on

Drug Use and Health(NSDUH), 2010.

Figure 3.G

Current* Risky Illicit Drug Use

Among Individuals Ages 12+, 2010

Percent (Number in Millions)

6.1

(10.3 M)

6.7

(2.0 M)

4.6

(1.7 M) 3.6

(0.6 M)

White Black Hispanic Other

P E R C E N T

* In the past 30 days.

Source: CASA Columbia analysis of The National Survey on

Drug Use and Health(NSDUH), 2010.

Figure 3.H

Current* Risky Illicit Drug Use

Among Individuals Ages 12+ by Race/Ethnicity,

2010

Percent (Number in Millions)

 Binge drinking, from 16.9 percent to 17.7
percent; and

 Heavy binge drinking from 3.8 percent to
4.0 percent.^32

Risky Illicit Drug Use ..................................................................................................

In 2010, 5.8 percent of the U.S. population ages
12 and older (14.6 million) reported current
risky use of illicit drugs,* primarily marijuana:^33

 Marijuana/hashish: 5.6 percent (14.2
million);

 Cocaine/crack: 0.3 percent (0.8 million);

 Hallucinogens: 0.3 percent (0.8 million);

 Ecstasy: 0.2 percent (0.4 million); and

 Inhalants: 0.2 percent (0.5 million).† 34

Nearly all risky illicit drug users (81.6 percent)
also are risky users of tobacco, alcohol or
controlled prescription drugs. While not having
addiction involving illicit drugs, 40.3 percent
has addiction involving nicotine, alcohol and/or
controlled prescription drugs.^35

Risky use of illicit drugs is highest among 18- to
25-year olds; adolescents ages 12 to 17 are more
likely to be risky users of illicit drugs than adults
ages 26 and older. (Figure 3.G) Risky
marijuana use follows the same pattern, with
13.6 percent (4.7 million) of 18- to 25-year olds,
4.9 percent (1.2 million) of 12 to 17-year-olds
and 4.0 percent of those ages 26 and older (7.9
million) engaging in risky use of marijuana.‡ 36

• Used an illicit drug in the past 30 days but do not

have addiction involving illicit drugs. Data on the
risky use of methamphetamine and heroin cannot be
reported separately due to small sample size.
† These percentages do not add up to the total of 5.8

percent because of multiple substance use.
‡ Data on the risky use of other types of illicit drugs

cannot be reported separately by age, gender or
race/ethnicity due to small sample sizes.

Men are nearly twice as likely as women to be

risky users of illicit drugs (7.5 percent, 9.3

million vs. 4.1 percent, 5.3 million). Men also

are nearly twice as likely as women to be risky

marijuana users (7.1 percent, 8.8 million vs. 3.8

percent, 4.9 million).^37

Blacks and whites are more likely to engage in

risky use of illicit drugs than Hispanics or

persons of other races/ethnicities.^38 (Figure 3.H)