NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY ON DRUG ABUSE: trends 1996-1997

1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse

Discussion

Comparing 1996 and 1997, there were no statistically significant differences in the rates of use for any of the three time frames (i.e., lifetime, past year, past month) among the total household population for any substance. Several differences, however, were significant between these 2 years for specific age groups. Measures of past year and past month use of several substances decreased among younger and middle adults, and they increased among youths aged 12 to 17. These differences often were a reversal of significant differences that were observed between the 1995 and 1996 surveys (see OAS, 1998a). These up and down patterns suggest the importance of reviewing trends over a longer period of time in order to assess underlying and more general features of societal trends in substance abuse.

In this chapter, comparisons have been noted between the 1996 and 1997 surveys, but considerable attention also has been focused on the trend characteristics across recent years since 1991. This approach helped lead to the conclusion that for the adult population, the prevalence of use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes remained fairly stable over the past several years of the NHSDA. Possible exceptions were hallucinogens and heroin, which for the total population were used at higher rates in 1997 than in years earlier in the decade. The high rates of past year and past month use of heroin were as high or higher than any year in the entire series (since 1979) and thus are especially troubling.

It also is apparent that the higher rates of illicit drug use among youths aged 12 to 17 in 1997, relative to 1996, were consistent with a more general trend of increasing drug use rates for this age group since about 1992. Thus, the significant decrease in past month use of any illicit drugs observed in 1996 (from 11% in 1995 to 9% 1996) may have been an anomaly, or a pause, in the midst of a generally increasing trend. Findings from the 1998 NHSDA will help to clarify whether the increases in illicit drug use among youths observed in the 1997 survey, or the decreases observed in the 1996 survey, better predicted current (i.e., 1998) levels of use.

Another significant finding noted in this chapter was the generally increasing rates of lifetime use of illicit drugs among older adults. This finding reflects the aging of a cohort that used drugs at particularly high rates in the 1980s and portends a continuing gradual increase in lifetime use among older adults in coming years. Conversely, the data also reflected lower rates of lifetime use among middle adults, for the same reason that increasing rates among the older adults were observed. These patterns help to elucidate the long-term impacts of "period" effects on lifetime use estimates, particularly for specific age groupings. Rates of past year and past month use are not influenced in this way by previous surges in use, and thus provide more useful measures for assessing current drug use levels and comparing levels of drug use across age groups.

Table 2.1 Percentage and Estimated Number of Users (in Thousands) of Illicit Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco in the U.S. Civilian, Noninstitutionalized Population Aged 12 or Older in Their Lifetime, the Past Year, and the Past Month: 1997


	Time Period
Drug	Lifetime		Past Year		Past Month
Drug	%	Number of Users (in 1,000s)	%	Number of Users (in 1,000s)	%	Number of Users (in 1,000s)

Any Illicit Drug Use¹	35.6	76,960	11.2	24,189	6.4	13,904
Marijuana/hashish	32.9	71,112	9.0	19,446	5.1	11,109
Cocaine	10.5	22,597	1.9	4,169	0.7	1,505
Crack	1.9	4,208	0.6	1,375	0.3	604
Inhalants	5.7	12,335	1.1	2,329	0.4	883
Hallucinogens	9.6	20,656	1.9	4,063	0.8	1,632
PCP	3.0	6,480	0.2	369	0.1	190
Heroin	0.9	2,019	0.3	597	0.2	325
Nonmedical use of any psychotherapeutic²	9.1	19,671	2.8	6,112	1.2	2,665
Stimulants	4.5	9,781	0.8	1,687	0.3	612
Sedatives	1.9	4,080	0.3	638	0.1	187
Tranquilizers	3.2	6,931	1.0	2,122	0.4	845
Analgesics	4.9	10,677	1.9	4,210	0.7	1,591
Any illicit drug other than marijuana¹	18.9	40,948	5.5	11,896	2.6	5,525

Alcohol	81.9	177,112	64.1	138,500	51.4	111,071

Cigarettes	70.5	152,476	32.7	70,709	29.6	64,056

Smokeless Tobacco	17.3	37,445	4.7	10,065	3.2	6,947

Note: Due to improved survey procedures implemented in 1994, these estimates are not comparable with those presented in NHSDA Main Findings prior to 1994.

Table 2.2 Trends in Percentage of Respondents Aged 12 or Older Reporting Drug Use in Their Lifetime: 1979-1997


Drug (Unweighted n)	1979 (7,224)	1982 (5,624)	1985 (8,021)	1988 (8,814)	1991 (32,594)	1992 (28,832)	1993 (26,489)	1994 (17,809)	1995 (17,747)	1996 (18,269)	1997 (24,505)

Any Illicit Drug Use¹	31.3^b	--	34.4	34.0	34.1	33.3	34.2	34.4	34.2	34.8	35.6

Marijuana/hashish	27.9^b	28.6^a	29.4^a	30.6	30.5	30.2	31.0	31.1	31.0^a	32.0	32.9
Cocaine	8.6^a	11.7	11.2	10.6	11.5	10.9	11.3	10.4	10.3	10.3	10.5
Crack	--	--	--	1.3^a	2.1	1.5^a	1.9	1.9	1.8	2.2	1.9
Inhalants	--	--	7.9^b	6.4	6.1	5.3	5.9	5.8	5.7	5.6	5.7
Hallucinogens	8.9	9.1	6.9^b	7.6^a	8.4	8.3	9.0	8.7	9.5	9.7	9.6
Heroin	1.3	1.0	0.9	0.9	1.2	0.8	1.0	1.0	1.2	1.1	0.9
Nonmedical use of any psychotherapeutic²	--	--	15.3^b	11.2^a	11.9^b	11.0^a	10.5	10.0	10.1	9.5	9.1
Stimulants	--	--	7.3^b	5.7	5.6	5.0	4.8	4.6	4.9	4.7	4.5
Sedatives	--	--	4.8^b	2.6	3.2^b	2.6	2.6	2.6^b	2.7^b	2.3	1.9
Tranquilizers	--	--	7.6^b	4.4^a	5.1^b	4.7^b	4.2^a	4.0^a	3.9^a	3.6	3.2
Analgesics	--	--	7.6^b	5.8	6.8^b	6.1	6.4^a	6.0^a	6.1^a	5.5	4.9
Any illicit drug other than marijuana¹	--	--	22.4^b	19.3	19.8	18.9	19.7	18.8	19.1	18.9	18.9

Alcohol	88.5^a	85.5	84.9	84.0	83.6	81.9	82.6	84.2^a	82.3	82.6	81.9

Cigarettes	--	--	78.0^a	77.4^a	74.9	73.1	73.3	73.3^b	71.8	71.6	70.5

Smokeless Tobacco	--	--	--	18.4	17.5	18.2	15.9	17.2	17.0	17.0	17.3

Note: Estimates here for 1979 through 1993 may differ from estimates for these survey years that were published in other NHSDA reports. The estimates shown here for 1979 through 1993 have been adjusted to improve their comparability with estimates based on the new version of the NHSDA instrument that was fielded in 1994 and subsequent NHSDAs. See Appendix E for further discussion of adjustment procedures.

--Estimate not available.

^aDifference between this estimate and 1997 estimate is statistically significant at the .05 level.

^bDifference between this estimate and 1997 estimate is statistically significant at the .01 level.

Source: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1979-1997.

Table 2.3 Trends in Percentage of Respondents Aged 12 or Older Reporting Drug Use in the Past Year: 1979-1997


Drug (Unweighted n)	1979 (7,224)	1982 (5,624)	1985 (8,021)	1988 (8,814)	1991 (32,594)	1992 (28,832)	1993 (26,489)	1994 (17,809)	1995 (17,747)	1996 (18,269)	1997 (24,505)

Any Illicit Drug Use¹	17.5^b	--	16.3^b	12.4	11.1	9.7	10.3	10.8	10.7	10.8	11.2

Marijuana/hashish	16.6^b	15.9^b	13.6^b	9.8	8.9	7.9	8.5	8.5	8.4	8.6	9.0
Cocaine	4.8^b	5.6^b	5.1^b	3.6^b	2.6	2.1	1.9	1.7	1.7	1.9	1.9
Crack	--	--	--	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.6
Inhalants	--	--	1.4	1.2	1.2	0.9	0.9	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1
Hallucinogens	2.9^a	2.2	1.7	1.6	1.3^a	1.2^b	1.2^b	1.3^b	1.6	1.7	1.9
Heroin	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.1^a	0.1^a	0.2	0.2	0.3
Nonmedical use of any psychotherapeutic²	--	--	6.2^b	4.6^b	3.6	3.0	3.1	2.9	2.9	3.1	2.8
Stimulants	--	--	2.9^b	1.9^b	1.0	0.7	0.9	0.7	0.8	0.9	0.8
Sedatives	--	--	1.1^b	0.7	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3
Tranquilizers	--	--	3.2^b	2.1^a	1.5	1.4	1.1	1.1	1.0	1.1	1.0
Analgesics	--	--	3.6^b	2.7	2.5	2.4	2.2	2.0	1.9	2.1	1.9
Any illicit drug other than marijuana¹	--	--	9.7^b	7.5^b	6.2	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.4	5.4	5.5

Alcohol	72.9^b	67.9	72.9^b	68.1	68.1	64.7	66.5	66.9^a	65.4	64.9	64.1

Cigarettes	--	--	40.5^b	38.5^b	36.2	35.2	33.2	31.7	32.0	32.3	32.7

Smokeless Tobacco	--	--	--	5.6	5.3	5.5	4.4	4.8	4.6	4.7	4.7

--Estimate not available.

^aDifference between this estimate and 1997 estimate is statistically significant at the .05 level.

^bDifference between this estimate and 1997 estimate is statistically significant at the .01 level.

Source: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1979-1997.

Table 2.4 Trends in Percentage of Respondents Aged 12 or Older Reporting Drug Use in the Past Month: 1979-1997


Drug (Unweighted n)	1979 (7,224)	1982 (5,624)	1985 (8,021)	1988 (8,814)	1991 (32,594)	1992 (28,832)	1993 (26,489)	1994 (17,809)	1995 (17,747)	1996 (18,269)	1997 (24,505)

Any Illicit Drug Use¹	14.1^b	--	12.1^b	7.7	6.6	5.8	5.9	6.0	6.1	6.1	6.4
Marijuana/hashish	13.2^b	11.5^b	9.7^b	6.2	5.1	4.7	4.6	4.8	4.7	4.7	5.1
Cocaine	2.6^b	2.4^b	3.0^b	1.6^b	1.0	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.7
Crack	--	--	--	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3
Inhalants	--	--	0.6	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4
Hallucinogens	1.9^a	0.9	1.2	0.6	0.5	0.4^a	0.4^b	0.5^b	0.7	0.6	0.8
Heroin	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.0^a	0.0^a	0.0^a	0.0^a	0.1^a	0.1	0.1	0.2
Nonmedical use of any psychotherapeutic²	--	--	3.8^b	2.1	1.9	1.5	1.5	1.2	1.2	1.4	1.2
Stimulants	--	--	1.8^b	1.2^b	0.4	0.3	0.5	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.3
Sedatives	--	--	0.5^a	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2^a	0.1	0.1
Tranquilizers	--	--	2.2^b	1.3^a	1.1^a	0.8	0.6	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4
Analgesics	--	--	1.4	0.7	0.8	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.9	0.7
Any illicit drug other than marijuana¹	--	--	6.1^b	3.4	3.0	2.4	2.4	2.3	2.6	2.7	2.6

Alcohol	63.2^b	56.6	60.2^b	54.9	52.2	49.0	50.8	53.9	52.2	51.0	51.4
"Binge" alcohol use³	--	--	20.2^b	15.0	15.5	14.5	14.6	16.5	15.8	15.5	15.3
Heavy alcohol use³	--	--	8.3^b	5.8	6.8	6.2	6.7	6.2	5.5	5.4	5.4

Cigarettes	--	--	38.7^b	35.3^b	33.0	31.9	29.6	28.6	28.8	28.9	29.6

Smokeless Tobacco	--	--	--	3.9	3.7	4.0	3.2	3.3	3.3	3.2	3.2

Note 1: Estimates here for 1979 through 1993 may differ from estimates for these survey years that were published in other NHSDA reports. The estimates shown here for 1979 through 1993 have been adjusted to improve their comparability with estimates based on the new version of the NHSDA instrument that was fielded in 1994 and subsequent NHSDAs. See Appendix E for further discussion of adjustment procedures.
Note 2: Estimates for "binge" and heavy alcohol use in this table differ from the corresponding estimates in Chapter 7 because of different treatment of missing values. In this table, respondents who had a missing response to the item "In the past 30 days, on how many days did you have five or more drinks on the same occasion?" were excluded from the analysis. Conversely, in Chapter 7, those who had a missing response on this "days of use" item were essentially treated as nonbinge or nonheavy users.

--Estimate not available.

^aDifference between this estimate and 1997 estimate is statistically significant at the .05 level.

^bDifference between this estimate and 1997 estimate is statistically significant at the .01 level.

¹ Any illicit drug indicates use at least once of marijuana or hashish, cocaine (including crack), inhalants, hallucinogens (including PCP and LSD), heroin, or any prescription-type psychotherapeutic used nonmedically. Any illicit drug other than marijuana indicates use at least once of any of these listed drugs, regardless of marijuana use; marijuana users who have also used any of the other listed drugs are included.
² Nonmedical use of any prescription-type stimulant, sedative, tranquilizer, or analgesic; does not include over-the counter drugs.
³ "Binge" alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. By "occasion" is meant at the same time or within a couple hours of each other. Heavy alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days; all heavy alcohol users are also "binge" alcohol users.

Source: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1979-1997.

Table 2.5 Trends in Percentage Reporting Drug Use in Their Lifetime, by Age Group: 1979-1997


Drug/Age Group (Unweighted n)	1979 (7,224)	1982 (5,624)	1985 (8,021)	1988 (8,814)	1991 (32,594)	1992 (28,832)	1993 (26,489)	1994 (17,809)	1995 (17,747)	1996 (18,269)	1997 (24,505)

Any Illicit Drug¹
12-17	31.8^b	--	27.4	22.8	18.4^b	15.1^b	16.4^b	20.3^b	22.2	22.1	23.7
18-25	69.0^b	--	62.9^b	58.1^b	53.9^a	50.9	50.2	46.3	45.8	48.0	45.4
26-34	49.0	--	59.5^a	61.2^b	58.9^a	57.9^a	58.2^a	56.1^b	54.8^b	53.1	50.8
35+	11.8^b	--	18.1^b	20.0^b	23.7^b	24.4^b	26.1^a	27.7^b	27.9^b	29.0	31.5
Marijuana/Hashish
12-17	26.7^b	23.2	20.1	15.0^a	11.1^b	9.1^b	9.9^b	13.6^b	16.2^a	16.8	18.9
18-25	66.1^b	61.3^b	57.6^b	54.6^b	48.8	46.6	45.7	41.9	41.4	44.0	41.5
26-34	45.0	51.5	54.1	57.6^b	55.2^a	54.3^a	54.9^a	52.7^b	51.8^b	50.5