| Key Findings on Adolescent Alcohol Use From the National Household
Survey on Drug Abuse and the Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education Survey
National Household Survey of Drug Abuse (NHSDA),
20001
Overview: Conducted since 1971, NHSDA is an
annual survey of the United States population age 12 and older. The survey measures the
prevalence of illicit drug, alcohol, and tobacco use in America. In 2000, more than 70,000
people were interviewed, including residents of households, noninstitutional groups (i.e.,
individuals residing in shelters, rooming houses, dormitories), and civilians living on
military bases.
Key Findings:
Nearly 42 percent of youth age 12 to 17 report using
alcohol in their lifetime, 33 percent reported past year use and more than 16 percent
report using alcohol in the past month.
For current alcohol use, binge drinking, and heavy
alcohol use, 21 is the age of peak prevalence.
The prevalence of current alcohol use escalates as
youth grow older, from 2.4 percent at age 12 to a peak of 65.2 percent for persons 21
years old.
About 9.7 million persons age 12 to 20 report
drinking alcohol in the month prior to the survey. Of these, 6.6 million were binge
drinkers and 2.1 million were heavy drinkers.
Past Month Alcohol Use,
"Binge" Alcohol Use, and Heavy Alcohol Use by Young People Age 12-20* |
Age |
Any Alcohol Use |
"Binge" Alcohol
Use |
Heavy Alcohol Use |
12 |
2.4% |
1.0% |
0.1% |
13 |
6.7 |
3.0 |
0.3 |
14 |
11.1 |
6.0 |
1.0 |
15 |
20.4 |
12.6 |
2.5 |
16 |
26.4 |
17.9 |
4.9 |
17 |
32.1 |
22.9 |
7.3 |
18 |
42.1 |
30.9 |
10.3 |
19 |
50.0 |
34.8 |
13.6 |
20 |
55.6 |
38.5 |
14.2 |
| * The National House Survey of Drug Use
defines "binge" use as five or more drinks on the same occasion at least once in
the 30 days prior to the survey and heavy use as five or more drinks on the same occasion
on at least five different days in the past 30 days. |
Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education
(PRIDE) Survey, 2000-20012
Overview: PRIDE measures the prevalence of
alcohol, tobacco, and drug use by young people in the United States. More than 75,000
students, grades 6-12, participated in the 2000-2001 survey.
Key Findings:
75.1 percent of students who report carrying a gun to
school use liquor.
64 percent of students who report taking part in gang
activities use liquor.
61.5 percent of students who report thinking about
committing suicide use liquor.
62.9 percent of students who report getting into
trouble with police use liquor.
More students who report alcohol use first drank
between the ages 12-13. 12.9 percent of students who report drinking beer, 13.1 percent of
students who report drinking wine, and 11.4 of students who report drinking liquor, first
drank between the ages of 12-13.
Students report that it is "fairly easy" to
"very easy" to get alcohol. 55.3 percent of students report that it is
"fairly easy" or "very easy" to get beer. 52.2 percent of students
report that it is "fairly easy" or "very easy" to get wine coolers,
and 47.6 percent of students report that it is "fairly easy" or "very
easy" to get liquor.
Percentage of Students
Who Report Using Alcohol, by Beverage Type |
Grade |
Beer |
Wine Coolers |
Liquor |
Any Alcohol |
Junior High
Annual Use
Monthly Use |
24.5
7.9 |
27.4
7.7 |
17.3
6.0 |
36.5
11.0 |
Senior High
Annual Use
Monthly Use |
54.5
30.9 |
50.6
22.3 |
52.8
28.7 |
67.5
37.0 |
12th Grade
Annual Use
Monthly Use |
62.4
40.1 |
54.4
25.3 |
62.5
37.0 |
74.6
46.4 |
Total
Annual Use
Monthly Use |
39.7
19.5 |
39.1
15.0 |
35.2
17.4 |
52.1
24.1 |
References
1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration. (2001). Summary of Findings From the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.
DHHS Publication Number (SMA) 01-3549. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
2. Parents' Resource
Institute for Drug Education. (July 2001). Pride Questionnaire Report: 2000-01
National Summary, Grades 6 Through 12. Bowling Green, KY: Author.
November 2001 |
