Undate Teens LessLikely To Drink Or Smoke ILLICIT DRUG USE IN THE UNITED STATES 27.0 MILLION PEOPLE Ges 12 AND OLDER USAGE..... 11IN 10 AMERICANS USED ILLICIT SUBSTANCE THIS PERCENTAGE IN 2014 WAS HIGHER THAN THOSE IN EVERY YEAR FROM 2002 THROUGH 2013. 435,000 | Be Li KERR RRR RRR KERR OR 4.3 MILLION 22.2 MILLION MARIJUANA USERS NONMEDICAL PAIN RELIEVER USERS ABOUT SOURCE: AMERICANS AGED 12 AND OLDER WERE CURRENT HEROIN USERS IN 2014. XSAMHSA Data, except as otherwise noted: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (2015). Behavioral Health Trends in the United States: Results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/ (NAPSA)—Good newsfor par- ents and, indeed, anyone whocares about kids in America: Fewer adolescents aged 12 to 17 are smoking or using alcohol than at any time since 2002, according to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The annual report, which is based on a scientific survey of about 67,500 people aged 12 and older, reveals a numberof encour- aging trends about the behavioral health of adolescents and older teens. The Problem It also points to some troubling results, however, particularly regarding adult drug use. The useofillicit drugs by Americans aged 12 or older was 10.2 percent in 2014, up nearly a full percentage point from 2013. The increase was largely driven by an increase in adult marijuanause. @ “Although progress has been made in some areas, especially among young people, there are many challenges we need to meet in addressing the behavioral health issues facing our nation,” said Acting SAMHSA Administrator Kana Enomoto. A Solution She continued, “Fortunately, there is effective action being taken by the administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services...evidence-based approaches for treating mental and substance use disorders provide hope and recovery for people with behavioral health needs.” Learn More The NSDUH surveyis the primary source of information about substance abuse and mental health issues in the United States. The complete findings are at http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/ default/files/NSDUH-FRR12014/NSDUH-FRR1-2014. pdf.
