Substance Abuse
Substance abuse, including the abuse of alcohol and illicit and nonmedical prescription drugs, affects individuals, families and communities.
Among youth, alcohol and other drug use remains a major public health problem; substance use can increase the risk for injuries, violence, HIV infection, and other diseases.1 The 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) estimates that 70.9 percent of students in grades 9 through 12 have consumed alcohol. The survey also estimates that 39.9 percent of students have used marijuana, 20.7 percent have used prescription drugs, and 8.2 percent have used ecstasy.2
However, alcohol use and abuse extends beyond adolescents. Excessive alcohol use, including binge and underage drinking, was estimated to be the third leading preventable cause of death among Americans of all ages in 2000.3 According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is defined as drinking 5 or more alcoholic beverages for a man or 4 or more alcoholic beverages for a woman on a single occasion, generally within about 2 hours.
Binge drinking is associated with many health problems, including:
- injury
- sexually transmitted infections
- liver disease
- neurological damage
- high blood pressure, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases4
In addition to the health impact, excessive alcohol use also has economic consequences. The cost of excessive alcohol consumption in the United States in 2006 from lost productivity, health care, criminal justice, and other costs reached $223.5 billion or about $1.90 per drink, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost three-quarters of these costs were due to binge drinking. So substance abuse prevention, including the prevention of binge drinking, can help reduce economic consequences and improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all.5
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Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going
Binge Drinking in Adults
Since tracking for Healthy People 2020 began, the percentage of adults age 18 and over who engaged in binge drinking in the past month decreased only slightly, from 27.1 percent in 2008 to 26.7 percent in 2011, a change that was not statistically significant. Binge drinking by adults varies by sex, age, race and ethnicity, educational attainment, country of birth, marital status, and veteran status.6
Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use in Adolescents
Over the past decade, the percentage of adolescents age 12 to 17 who used alcohol or illicit drugs in the past 30 days decreased by 18.9 percent from 22.2 percent in 2002 to 18.0 percent in 2011. Past-month use of alcohol or illicit drugs by adolescents varies by age, race and ethnicity, and country of birth.7
Stopping substance abuse before it begins can increase a person’s chances of living a longer, healthier, and more productive life.
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Who’s Leading the Leading Health Indicators?
Reducing Binge Drinking: New Mexico’s Driving While Intoxicated Prevention Campaign
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In 2004, approximately 170,000 New Mexico adults reported binge drinking during the past month, and about 24,000 binge drinkers in the past month reported drinking in a bar or club during their most recent binge drinking episode.8 These findings were used to support the implementation of a prevention campaign against binge drinking and alcohol-impaired driving, including changes in New Mexico’s liquor control regulations. The comprehensive campaign was a multi-agency effort, engaging state agencies and community organizations.
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