NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY ON DRUG ABUSE: inhalants discussion

1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse

Discussion

In 1997, inhalants, hallucinogens, and heroin continued to be used by a minority of Americans in the civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 12 or older. This chapter shows that (a) inhalants had been used by about 6% of the population at some time in their lifetime and 1% in the past year, (b) hallucinogens had been used by 10% of the population in their lifetime and 2% in the past year, and (c) heroin had been used by approximately 1% of the population at least once in their lifetime.

This chapter also shows that there were important age, gender, racial/ethnic, and regional differences in the prevalence of inhalant, hallucinogen, and heroin use. In general, use of inhalants and hallucinogens was more commonly reported among males, whites, and persons with at least some college education. Heroin use was more commonly reported among males, and less commonly among college graduates. Persons in the "other" employment category were typically the least likely of any other group (full-time, part-time, and currently unemployed persons) to report use of inhalants, hallucinogens, or heroin.

Table 5.1 Percentage Reporting Inhalant Use in Their Lifetime, by Inhalant Type and Age Group: 1997


	Age Group in Years
Inhalant Type	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Any Inhalant	7.2	10.1	8.3	3.8	5.7

Gasoline	2.7	1.8	1.0	0.7	1.1

Lighter Gases	1.2	1.0	0.1	0.1	0.3

Spray Paints	2.2	0.8	0.2	0.3	0.5

Aerosol Sprays	1.9	1.3	0.2	0.2	0.5

Glue	2.7	1.8	1.0	0.7	1.1

Lacquer Thinners	1.3	1.0	0.4	0.2	0.5

Amyl Nitrite	0.8	1.5	4.5	2.0	2.2

Ether	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.1	0.2

Nitrous Oxide	2.3	6.6	3.7	1.1	2.3

Correction Fluids	1.7	1.1	0.4	0.1	0.4

Note: Due to improved procedures implemented in 1994, these estimates are not comparable with those presented in NHSDA Main Findings prior to 1994.
Source: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1997.

Table 5.2 Percentage Reporting Inhalant Use in Their Lifetime, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	7.2	10.1	8.3	3.8	5.7

Gender
Male	7.2	13.8	11.2	5.3	7.7
Female	7.3	6.4	5.4	2.5	3.9
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	8.1	13.4	10.3	4.3	6.6
Black, non-Hispanic	2.8	0.7	2.3	1.4	1.6
Hispanic	6.2	5.0	3.8	2.6	3.8
Population Density
Large metro	6.3	10.8	8.4	4.3	6.1
Small metro	8.5	10.7	9.1	4.3	6.3
Nonmetro	6.9	8.2	6.7	2.3	4.1
Region
Northeast	4.2	6.4	5.9	4.0	4.6
North Central	7.5	12.2	10.3	2.4	5.6
South	6.7	9.2	6.9	3.3	5.0
West	10.1	12.5	10.3	5.9	7.9
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	9.5	6.7	3.6	5.0
High school graduate	N/A	9.3	6.7	3.2	4.7
Some college	N/A	11.7	11.4	5.1	7.6
College graduate	N/A	9.5	8.1	3.7	5.0
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	10.6	8.9	5.6	7.0
Part-time	N/A	12.9	8.8	2.5	6.7
Unemployed	N/A	6.0	7.0	4.7	5.5
Other⁴	N/A	7.9	5.5	1.6	2.6

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

N/A: Not applicable.

¹ The category "other" for race/ethnicity is not included.
² Data on adult education are not applicable for youths aged 12 to 17. Total refers to adults aged 18 or older (unweighted n=16,661).
³ Data on current employment are not applicable for youths aged 12 to 17. Total refers to adults aged 18 or older (unweighted n=16,661).
⁴ Retired, disabled, homemaker, student, or "other."
Source: Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA, National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1997.

Table 5.3 Percentage Reporting Inhalant Use in the Past Year, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	4.4	3.2	0.7	0.1	1.1

Gender
Male	4.4	4.7	1.1	0.2	1.4
Female	4.5	1.6	0.3	0.1	0.7
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	5.2	4.2	0.9	0.1	1.2
Black, non-Hispanic	1.0	0.1	0.2	0.4	0.4
Hispanic	3.7	1.6	0.3	*	1.1
Population Density
Large metro	3.8	4.0	0.6	0.1	1.1
Small metro	5.0	3.6	0.5	0.1	1.2
Nonmetro	4.7	1.2	1.5	0.2	1.0
Region
Northeast	2.9	1.5	0.5	*	0.5
North Central	3.4	3.7	0.6	*	1.0
South	4.2	3.2	0.3	*	0.9
West	7.1	4.0	1.6	0.6	1.9
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	2.7	1.0	0.2	0.7
High school graduate	N/A	2.8	0.4	0.1	0.6
Some college	N/A	4.4	1.1	0.2	1.2
College graduate	N/A	1.8	0.5	*	0.2
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	2.9	0.6	0.1	0.6
Part-time	N/A	5.1	1.6	*	2.0
Unemployed	N/A	1.7	*	*	0.6
Other⁴	N/A	2.4	0.6	0.1	0.4

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

*Low precision; no estimate reported.
N/A: Not applicable.

Table 5.4 Percentage Reporting Hallucinogen Use in Their Lifetime, by Hallucinogen Type and Age Group: 1997


	Age Group in Years
Hallucinogen	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Any Hallucinogen	6.5	15.0	15.1	7.4	9.6

LSD	5.2	13.2	11.8	5.9	7.8

Peyote	0.5	1.0	1.1	1.8	1.4

Mescaline	0.4	1.6	3.2	3.0	2.6

Psilocybin (Mushrooms)	2.6	7.9	7.9	3.5	4.7

PCP	1.4	2.4	3.2	3.3	3.0

Ecstasy (MDMA)	1.3	4.6	3.1	0.5	1.5

Note: Due to improved procedures implemented in 1994, these estimates are not comparable with those presented in NHSDA Main Findings prior to 1994.
LSD=lysergic acid diethylamide; MDMA=methylenedioxy-methamphetamine; PCP=phencyclidine.

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

Table 5.5 Percentage Reporting Use of Any Hallucinogens in Their Lifetime, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	6.5	15.0	15.1	7.4	9.6

Gender
Male	6.5	19.1	19.6	9.6	12.2
Female	6.6	10.8	10.7	5.5	7.1
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	7.9	19.6	19.3	8.5	11.3
Black, non-Hispanic	2.2	1.4	3.9	3.0	2.8
Hispanic	4.5	7.7	6.3	4.9	5.7
Population Density
Large metro	6.0	14.7	14.7	7.8	9.7
Small metro	7.9	15.9	17.2	8.7	10.9
Nonmetro	5.4	14.0	12.4	5.0	7.2
Region
Northeast	4.7	13.9	14.1	5.9	7.9
North Central	5.4	14.1	17.5	7.0	9.6
South	6.9	15.1	12.2	6.2	8.4
West	8.5	16.6	18.0	11.5	12.9
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	16.4	13.4	4.9	7.9
High school graduate	N/A	14.4	13.2	6.0	8.6
Some college	N/A	15.5	18.4	11.2	13.5
College graduate	N/A	12.5	15.0	8.2	9.8
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	16.6	15.9	10.7	12.7
Part-time	N/A	16.9	14.1	6.8	11.0
Unemployed	N/A	12.8	20.3	8.3	12.2
Other⁴	N/A	10.0	10.1	3.2	4.4

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

N/A: Not applicable.

Table 5.6 Percentage Reporting Use of Any Hallucinogens in the Past Year, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	4.7	6.6	1.6	0.5	1.9

Gender
Male	4.5	9.4	2.4	0.9	2.7
Female	4.9	3.7	0.8	0.2	1.1
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	5.6	8.5	1.8	0.5	2.1
Black, non-Hispanic	1.5	0.6	0.4	0.7	0.7
Hispanic	3.3	4.4	0.7	0.6	1.7
Population Density
Large metro	4.1	6.5	1.1	0.3	1.6
Small metro	5.8	7.8	2.1	0.8	2.4
Nonmetro	4.1	4.6	1.9	0.3	1.5
Region
Northeast	3.5	5.3	0.7	0.1	1.1
North Central	4.3	5.6	1.7	0.2	1.6
South	4.6	7.3	1.4	0.6	2.0
West	6.2	7.1	2.5	1.0	2.6
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	6.7	1.1	1.2	2.1
High school graduate	N/A	7.4	1.4	0.4	1.6
Some college	N/A	6.5	2.4	0.3	1.9
College graduate	N/A	3.6	1.2	0.2	0.6
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	6.0	1.6	0.5	1.5
Part-time	N/A	9.0	*	*	3.2
Unemployed	N/A	7.6	2.1	0.9	3.0
Other⁴	N/A	4.8	1.0	0.4	0.9

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

*Low precision; no estimate reported.
N/A: Not applicable.

Table 5.7 Percentage Reporting PCP Use in Their Lifetime, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	1.4	2.4	3.2	3.3	3.0

Gender
Male	1.5	3.0	3.7	4.5	3.9
Female	1.2	1.8	2.6	2.3	2.2
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	1.5	2.9	3.7	3.6	3.4
Black, non-Hispanic	1.2	0.6	1.8	2.2	1.7
Hispanic	0.8	2.2	2.3	2.5	2.1
Population Density
Large metro	1.2	2.5	2.9	3.1	2.8
Small metro	1.6	2.2	4.0	4.5	3.8
Nonmetro	1.3	2.6	2.5	2.0	2.1
Region
Northeast	1.2	2.4	2.6	3.0	2.7
North Central	1.3	2.0	3.4	3.1	2.8
South	1.8	2.3	2.6	2.6	2.5
West	1.0	3.1	4.3	5.2	4.3
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	3.7	6.4	2.7	3.3
High school graduate	N/A	2.2	3.2	3.2	3.1
Some college	N/A	2.3	2.6	5.5	4.3
College graduate	N/A	1.0	2.1	2.3	2.2
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	2.5	2.9	4.3	3.7
Part-time	N/A	2.4	1.8	3.0	2.6
Unemployed	N/A	4.2	7.3	5.5	5.5
Other⁴	N/A	1.5	3.8	2.0	2.1

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

N/A: Not applicable.
PCP=phencyclidine.

Table 5.8 Percentage Reporting LSD Use in Their Lifetime, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	5.2	13.2	11.8	5.9	7.8

Gender
Male	4.9	16.9	15.1	8.1	10.1
Female	5.5	9.4	8.6	4.1	5.6
Race/Ethnicity¹
White, non-Hispanic	6.3	17.5	15.2	6.8	9.3
Black, non-Hispanic	1.5	0.9	2.7	1.9	1.8
Hispanic	4.0	6.7	4.5	3.8	4.5
Population Density
Large metro	4.9	12.9	10.2	6.5	7.8
Small metro	6.2	14.0	14.9	6.6	8.8
Nonmetro	4.2	12.4	10.6	4.0	6.0
Region
Northeast	4.3	12.5	10.2	5.0	6.5
North Central	4.1	12.1	13.3	5.3	7.5
South	5.9	13.8	10.1	5.2	7.2
West	5.9	13.7	14.4	8.8	10.0
Adult Education²
Less than high school	N/A	14.9	12.0	3.9	6.7
High school graduate	N/A	13.2	11.6	5.3	7.6
Some college	N/A	13.3	13.7	8.7	10.6
College graduate	N/A	9.4	10.3	6.1	7.2
Current Employment³
Full-time	N/A	14.8	12.3	8.9	10.5
Part-time	N/A	15.3	10.8	3.8	8.4
Unemployed	N/A	11.5	15.1	7.6	10.3
Other⁴	N/A	8.0	9.1	2.3	3.5

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

N/A: Not applicable.
LSD=lysergic acid diethylamide.

Table 5.9 Percentage Reporting LSD Use in the Past Year, by Age Group and Demographic Characteristics: 1997


Demographic Characteristic	Age Group in Years				Total
Demographic Characteristic	12-17	18-25	26-34	35+	Total

Total	2.9	3.7	0.5	0.1	0.9

Gender