	Site Map \| FAQ in Daily Almanac for Jul 5, 2009 Search White Pages
Skip Navigation Home Summer Guide Atlas Encyclopedia Dictionary Thesaurus Features Quizzes Timelines Countries Slideshows

Fact Monster Kid's reference,
games, quizzes

Help us improve Infoplease!
Start Survey

Editor's Favorites

Health

Drug Use by Americans, 12 Years and Older

The following table shows the number of Americans 12 years and older who have ever used and or currently use drugs, by year and type of drug.

Type of drug	Ever used							Current user
Type of drug	1979	1990	2000	2004	2005	2006	2007	1979	1990	2000	2004	2005	2006	2007
Any illicit drug¹	n.a.	n.a.	38.9%	45.8%	46.1%	45.4%	46.1%	n.a.	n.a.	6.3%	7.9%	8.1%	8.3%	8.0%
Marijuana and hashish	27.9%	30.5%	34.2	40.2	40.1	39.8	40.6	13.2%	5.4%	4.8	6.1	6.0	6.0	5.8
Cocaine	8.6	11.2	11.2	14.2	13.8	14.3	14.5	2.6	0.9	0.5	0.8	1.0	1.0	0.8
Crack	n.a.	n.a.	2.4	3.3	3.3	3.5	3.5	n.a.	n.a.	0.1	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.2
Hallucinogens	8.9	7.9	11.7	14.3	13.9	14.3	13.8	1.9	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4
LSD	n.a.	n.a.	8.8	9.7	9.2	9.5	9.1	n.a.	n.a.	0.2	0.1	0.0	0.1	0.1
PCP	n.a.	n.a.	2.6	2.8	2.7	2.7	2.5	n.a.	n.a.	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Ecstasy	n.a.	n.a.	2.9	4.6	4.7	5.0	5.0	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Heroin	1.3	0.8	1.2	1.3	1.5	1.5	1.5	0.1	n.a.	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Stimulants²	n.a.	5.5	6.6	8.3	7.8	8.2	9.1	n.a.	0.6	0.4	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.4
Methamphetamine	n.a.	n.a.	4.0	4.9	n.a.	5.8	5.3	n.a.	n.a.	0.2	0.2	n.a.	0.3	0.2
Sedatives²	n.a.	2.8	3.2	4.1	3.7	3.6	3.4	n.a.	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.1
Tranquilizers²	n.a.	4.0	5.8	8.3	8.7	8.7	8.2	n.a.	0.6	0.4	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7

NOTE: Current users are those who used drugs at least once within month prior to this study. n.a. = not available.

1. Any illicit drug indicates use at least once of marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens (including LSD and PCP), inhalants, or any prescription-type psychotherapeutic used nonmedically.

2. Nonmedical use; does not include over-the-counter drugs.

Source: U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2006 and 2007. Web: www.oas.samhsa.gov.

Overview of Drug Use in the United States

Health

Decline in Drug Use among American Adolescents

More on Drug Use by Americans 12 Years and Older from Infoplease:

Health & Nutrition - Personal Health, Nutrition, Disease and Mortality, Drugs and Alcohol

Premium Partner Content

Related content from HighBeam Research on: Drug Use by Americans, 12 Years and Older

NDMA study targets older Americans. (Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association) (Brief Article) (Chain Drug Review)

Americans' mental health needs unmet, report says.(NEWS)(National Survey on Drug Use and Health) (Internal Medicine News)

DTC advertising gets the green light: the past 12 months have seen seismic increases in DTC spending, and even the FDA has conceded that this form of promotion is good for the well-being of Americans. Mark Tosh reports on the latest boom in DTC advertising.(Direct-To-Consumer, Food and Drug Administration )(Cover Story) (Medical Marketing & Media)

Performance of a self-report measure of the level of response to alcohol in 12- to 13-year-old adolescents *. (Journal of Studies on Alcohol)

The meanest streets in Washington: a tale of the American dream that shattered. (Drake Place, drug-related crime in Washington D.C.) (U.S. News & World Report)

Drugs and driving by American high school seniors, 2001-2006 *.(Report) (Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs)

Drug survey finds decline in illicit use.(National Survey on Drug Use and Health)(Brief Article) (Law Enforcement Technology)

Drug use falls among teens, but increases among baby boomers: parental attitude a predictor of drug use. (The Nation's Health)

Medical use, illicit use, and diversion of abusable prescription drugs. (Journal of American College Health)

Recognizing illicit drug use in your patients; Primary-care clinicians are being asked to diagnose substance use disorder with increasing frequency. Find out what tools are available to assist you.(FEATURE:)(Interview) (Clinical Advisor)

Infoplease Tools