Drug use patterns
2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
This report presents the first information from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and
Health (NSDUH), an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA). The survey is the primary source of information on the use
of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco in the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United
States aged 12 years old or older. Approximately 67,500 persons are interviewed in NSDUH
each year.
In 2011, an estimated 22.5 million Americans aged 12 or older were current (past month)
illicit drug users, meaning they had used an illicit drug during the month prior to the survey
interview. This estimate represents 8.7 percent of the population aged 12 or older. Illicit
drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants,
or prescription-type psychotherapeutics (pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and
sedatives) used nonmedically.
In 2011, an estimated 22.5 million Americans aged 12 or older were current (past month)
illicit drug users, meaning they had used an illicit drug during the month prior to the survey
interview (Figure 2.1). This estimate represents 8.7 percent of the population aged 12 or
older.
The overall rate of current illicit drug use among persons aged 12 or older in 2011 (8.7
percent) was similar to the rates in 2010 (8.9 percent), 2009 (8.7 percent), and 2002 (8.3
percent), but it was higher than the rates in most years from 2003 through 2008 (Figure 2.2).
In 2011, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug, with 18.1 million current users.
It was used by 80.5 percent of current illicit drug users. About two thirds (64.3 percent) of
illicit drug users used only marijuana in the past month. Also, in 2011, 8.0 million persons
aged 12 or older were current users of illicit drugs other than marijuana (or 35.7 percent of
illicit drug users aged 12 or older). Current use of other drugs but not marijuana was reported
by 19.5 percent of illicit drug users, and 16.2 percent of illicit drug users reported using both
marijuana and other drugs.
The rate of current illicit drug use varied by age. Among youths aged 12 to 17 in 2011, the
rate increased from 3.3 percent at ages 12 or 13 to 9.2 percent at ages 14 or 15 to 17.2
percent at ages 16 or 17 (Figure 2.5). The highest rate of current illicit drug use was among
18 to 20 year olds (23.8 percent), with the next highest rate among 21 to 25 year olds (19.9
percent). Thereafter, the rate generally declined with age, although not all declines were
significant.
Among adults aged 50 to 59, the rate of current illicit drug use increased from 2.7 to 6.3
percent between 2002 and 2011 (Figure 2.9). For those aged 50 to 54, the rate increased from
3.4 percent in 2002 to 6.7 percent in 2011. Among those aged 55 to 59, current illicit drug
use increased from 1.9 percent in 2002 to 6.0 percent in 2011. These patterns and trends
partially reflect the aging into these age groups of members of the baby boom cohort, whose
rates of illicit drug use have been higher than those of older cohorts. The baby boom cohort
refers to persons born in the United States after World War II between 1946 and 1964 (Han,
Gfroerer, & Colliver, 2009).
In 2011, among persons aged 12 or older, the rate of current illicit drug use was lowest
among Asians (3.8 percent) (Figure 2.11). The rates were 8.4 percent among Hispanics, 8.7
percent among whites, 10.0 percent among blacks, 11.0 percent among Native Hawaiians or
Other Pacific Islanders, 13.4 percent among American Indians or Alaska Natives, and 13.5
percent among persons of two or more races
Rate of substance abuse
In 2011, among persons aged 12 or older, the rate of substance dependence or abuse was
lower among Asians (3.3 percent) than among other racial/ethnic groups. The rates for the
other racial/ethnic groups were 16.8 percent for American Indians or Alaska Natives, 10.6
percent for Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, 9.0 percent for persons reporting
two or more races, 8.7 percent for Hispanics, 8.2 percent for whites, and 7.2 percent for
blacks.
Type of substance used ranked
Alcohol
current drinkers 133 million
binge drinkers 58.3 million
heaver drinkers 15.9 million
Tobacco 56 million
Illicit Drugs
Marijuana 18 million
Prescription drugs used nonmedically 6 million
Cocaine 1.4 million
Meth 439,000
Hallucinogens 972,000
Heroin 620,000
In 2011, an estimated 20.6 million persons (8.0 percent of the population aged 12 or older)
were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year based on criteria
specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSMIV).
Of these, 2.6 million were classified with dependence or abuse of both alcohol and illicit
drugs, 3.9 million had dependence or abuse of illicit drugs but not alcohol, and 14.1 million
had dependence or abuse of alcohol but not illicit drugs
Treatment need is defined as having substance dependence or abuse or receiving treatment at
a specialty facility (hospital inpatient, drug or alcohol rehabilitation, or mental health centers)
within the past 12 months. In 2011, 21.6 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment
for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem (8.4 percent of persons aged 12 or older). Of these,
2.3 million (0.9 percent of persons aged 12 or older and 10.8 percent of those who needed
treatment) received treatment at a specialty facility. Thus, 19.3 million persons (7.5 percent
of the population aged 12 or older) needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use
problem but did not receive treatment at a specialty facility in the past year.
Source:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2011 National
Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, NSDUH Series H-44, HHS
Publication No. (SMA) 12-4713. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, 2012.