Health Indicator Report of Drug Use - Illicit Drugs - Adolescents (Ages 12-17) (NSDUH)

Notes

** NA. Starting in 2015, respondents were classified as needing treatment for an illicit drug problem if they met the criteria for an illicit drug use disorder as defined in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) or received treatment for illicit drug use at a specialty facility (i.e., drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility [inpatient or outpatient], hospital [inpatient only], or mental health center). Illicit Drug Use includes the misuse of prescription psychotherapeutics or the use of marijuana, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or methamphetamine. Misuse of prescription psychotherapeutics is defined as use in any way not directed by a doctor. Data are from the [http://pdas.samhsa.gov/saes/state Interactive NSDUH State Estimates] for 2002-2003 through 2013-2014 and the [https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHsaeExcelTabs2016/NSDUHsaeExcelTabs2016.xlsx NSDUHsaeEscelTabs2016.xlsx] for 2015-2016.

Data Source

[https://www.samhsa.gov/data/population-data-nsduh National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)], Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Data Interpretation Issues

The [https://nsduhweb.rti.org/respweb/project_description.html National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)] is a nationally standardized survey that has been performed since 1971. The NSDUH is completed annually using a sample from the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 12 or older. In 1999, the sample design expanded to include all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In 2002, the name of the survey was changed from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) to the NSDUH. Information on background and methodology of the NSDUH, managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), can be found at [http://www.samhsa.gov/]. The NSDUH questionnaire underwent a partial redesign in 2015, in which methodological changes were made to the measurement of 7 of the 10 illicit drug categories--hallucinogens, inhalants, methamphetamine, and prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. Due to these changes, data for lifetime, past year, and past month measures of any illicit drug use and the use of any illicit drug other than marijuana are not comparable to data prior to 2015. As a result, trends going back to 2002 for these overall illicit drug measures will not be available and new baselines will begin with 2015.^1^[[br]][[br]] ---- {{class .SmallerFont 1. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. SMA 16-4984, NSDUH Series H-51). [http://www.samhsa.gov/data/]. Accessed February 14, 2017. }}

Definition

Percentage of adolescents (ages 12-17) who reported ever (lifetime incidence) having used an illicit drug (marijuana, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and methamphetamine, as well as the misuse of prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives) on the [https://nsduhweb.rti.org/respweb/project_description.html National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)]. Responses of having used alcohol only were not considered positive responses for illicit drug use.

Numerator

Weighted number of adolescents (ages 12-17) who reported having ever used an illicit drug in their lifetime on the NSDUH. Responses of having used alcohol only were not considered positive responses for illicit drug use.

Denominator

Weighted number of adolescents (ages 12-17) with complete and valid responses for the illicit drug use questions on the NSDUH.

Healthy People Objective: Increase the proportion of high school seniors never using substances--Illicit drugs

U.S. Target: 58.6 percent

How Are We Doing?

In 2015-2016, 13.2% of Alaska adolescents aged 12 through 17 reported using an illicit drug in the past 30 days on the NSDUH. The most commonly used illicit drug among Alaska youth was marijuana, with 10.4% of adolescents reporting past month marijuana use compared to 3.6% reporting the use of illicit drugs other than marijuana. In 2015-2016, 4.0% of Alaskan adolescents reported misuse of prescription pain relievers, 0.9% reported using cocaine, and 0.1% reported using heroin.^5^ [[br]][[br]] ---- {{class .SmallerFont 5. 2013-2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Model-Based Prevalence Estimates (50 States and the District of Columbia). [https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHsaeExcelTabs2014.xlsx]. Accessed March 1, 2017. }}

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

In 2015-2016, illicit drug use among Alaskan adolescents aged 12 through 17 was significantly higher than among adolescents nationwide. In Alaska. 13.2% of adolescents reported past month illicit drug use compared to 8.3% of adolescents in the U.S. as a whole. Marijuana use was also significantly higher in Alaska than in the U.S. as a whole, with 10.4% of Alaskan adolescents aged 12-17 reporting past month marijuana use compared to 6.8% of adolescents nationwide. There was no significant difference between Alaska and the U.S. in the percentage of adolescents reporting nonmedical pain reliever use, cocaine use, or heroin use in 2015-2016.

What Is Being Done?

The State of Alaska Epidemiologic Profile on Substance Use, Abuse and Dependency from 2013 is available at: [http://dhss.alaska.gov/dbh/Documents/Prevention/EPI2013.pdf]. This profile provides a more detailed report on the state of substance use and abuse in Alaska. The State of Alaska also provides more detailed information on marijuana use and the use of heroin and opioids in Alaska at the following websites. Heroin and opioids: [http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Director/Pages/heroin-opioids/default.aspx] Marijuana: [http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/director/pages/marijuana/default.aspx].

Evidence-based Practices

There are multiple sources for research on interventions to prevent and reduce the use of illicit drugs in the adolescent population. Alaska is partnering with other states, the [http://www.cdc.gov/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)], and the [http://www.samhsa.gov/ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)] to develop a series of public health strategies gleaned from the evidence base. SAMHSA maintains a website that collects the latest in substance abuse prevention evidence-based practices. The link to the information can be found here [http://www.samhsa.gov/ebp-web-guide/substance-abuse-prevention].