Highlights

This report presents State estimates for 23 measures of substance use or mental health problems based on the 2006 and 2007 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), NSDUH is an ongoing survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States aged 12 years or older. Interview data from 135,672 persons were collected in 2006-2007 (Table A.9). Separate estimates have been produced for four age groups: 12 to 17, 18 to 25, 26 or older, and all persons 12 or older. Also in this report are estimates for persons aged 12 to 20 for two of the measures—past month alcohol use and binge alcohol use. Although estimates for persons 18 or older are not a part of this report, they are available at http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/states.cfm. For each measure, States have been ranked and categorized into quintiles, or fifths, in order to simplify the discussion. Estimates presented in this report are based on a hierarchical Bayes estimation method that combines survey data with a national model. Note that these estimates are benchmarked to the national design-based estimates (for details, see Section A.4 in Appendix A).

In addition to presenting State estimates for 2006-2007, this report compares the 2005-2006 prevalence rates with the 2006-2007 prevalence rates and determines whether the differences between the two are statistically significant for all measures. Please note that the difference between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 prevalence rates can be viewed as the average annual change between 2005 and 2007; therefore, the total change for that period is approximately twice the average annual change. Changes are discussed only if they are significant at the 0.05 level.

Illicit Drug Use

In 2006-2007, 8.1 percent of the U.S. population aged 12 or older had used an illicit drug in the past month; the percentage was similar in 2005-2006 (8.2 percent). Estimates of past month use of illicit drugs ranged from a low of 5.2 percent in Iowa to a high of 12.5 percent in Rhode Island for all persons aged 12 or older. (Tables B.1 and C.1)
Nationally in 2006-2007, 10.2 percent of all persons aged 12 or older reported marijuana use in the past year. Eight States showed significant changes in the past year use of marijuana among all persons aged 12 or older between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007: Connecticut, Kansas, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Utah had decreases, whereas Kentucky, North Dakota, and Virginia had increases. Iowa had the lowest rate of past month use of marijuana in 2006-2007 (3.8 percent) in the 12 or older population, and Rhode Island had the highest rate (10.3 percent). Nine of the 10 States in the top fifth for past month use of an illicit drug among persons aged 12 or older also were ranked in the top fifth for past month use of marijuana. (Tables B.2, B.3, and C.2; Figures 2.1 and 2.9)
The national percentage of persons aged 12 or older perceiving a great risk of using marijuana once a month remained unchanged between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 (both at 38.9 percent). Seven States showed a significant change in perceived risk of using marijuana once a month among persons 12 or older: Arkansas, Colorado, and South Dakota showed decreases, whereas Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin had increases. (Table C.4)
For the combined years 2006-2007, the national marijuana incidence rate for all persons aged 12 or older was 1.6 percent. Vermont had the highest rate, 2.5 percent, and Utah had the lowest rate, 1.2 percent. Seven States showed significant changes in marijuana incidence rates among persons 12 or older between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007: Delaware and Utah showed declines, and Colorado, Kentucky, North Dakota, Ohio, and Rhode Island showed increases. (Tables B.5 and C.5)
The national estimate of past month use of illicit drugs other than marijuana among persons aged 12 or older was 3.8 percent for 2006-2007 combined. Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota had the lowest rate (2.6 percent) of past month use of an illicit drug other than marijuana among persons 12 or older, and Arizona and Rhode Island had the highest rate (5.5 percent). The rate of past month use of illicit drugs other than marijuana decreased between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 among all persons aged 18 to 25 (from 8.8 to 8.5 percent). (Tables B.6 and C.6)
The 2006-2007 national prevalence rate for cocaine use in the past year among all persons aged 12 or older was 2.4 percent. The District of Columbia had the highest rate of past year cocaine use (5.1 percent) among persons aged 12 or older; Mississippi had the lowest rate (1.6 percent) in that population. (Table B.7)
In 2006-2007, 5.1 percent of all persons aged 12 or older reported having used pain relievers nonmedically in the past year, a percentage that remained relatively unchanged from 2005-2006 (5.0 percent). Nine States showed significant changes in the nonmedical use of pain relievers in the past year between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007: Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah had declines, and Arizona, Arkansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin showed increases. (Table C.8)

Alcohol Use

In 2006-2007, the rate of past month alcohol use in States among all persons aged 12 or older ranged from a low of 30.9 percent in Utah to a high of 63.1 percent in Rhode Island. Two States showed significant increases from 2005-2006 to 2006-2007 in the percentage of all persons aged 12 or older who used alcohol in the past month: Delaware and Massachusetts; and four States showed a significant decrease: Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, and Texas. (Tables B.9 and C.9)
Nationally, almost a quarter (23.2 percent) of all persons aged 12 or older participated in binge use of alcohol in the past month in 2006-2007. Four States showed significant changes in binge alcohol use between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 among persons 12 or older. Of these, Delaware was the only State to have a significant increase, whereas Idaho, Nebraska, and Texas had declines. (Tables B.10 and C.10)
In 2006-2007, 42.1 percent of all persons aged 12 or older perceived a great risk of binge drinking. Seven of the 10 States (Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) with the highest rates of binge use of alcohol in 2006-2007 among persons 12 or older also were States with the lowest perceived risk of binge drinking for the population aged 12 or older. Between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007, there was an increase in the Northeast region among young adults aged 18 to 25 in the perception of great risk of binge drinking from 29.7 to 30.9 percent. (Tables B.11 and C.11, Figures 3.5 and 3.9)
Past month use of alcohol among persons aged 12 to 20 (underage use of alcohol) ranged from a low of 17.3 percent in Utah to a high of 40.0 percent in North Dakota. Utah (13.3 percent) also had the lowest rate for past month underage binge use of alcohol, and North Dakota also had the highest rate for this measure (29.5 percent). (Table B.12)

Tobacco Use

Tobacco is the second most commonly used substance in the United States next to alcohol. Nationally among persons aged 12 or older, the rate for past month use of tobacco in 2006-2007 was 29.1 percent. Eight States showed changes in past month tobacco use among persons 12 or older between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007: Colorado had an increase (from 26.5 to 29.8 percent), while Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New York, Utah, and West Virginia had declines. The Northeast region had a decrease in tobacco use as well (from 28.1 to 27.1 percent). (Tables B.13 and C.13)
In 2006-2007, the national rate for past month cigarette use among persons aged 12 or older was 24.6 percent, which was similar to the national rate in 2005-2006 (25.0 percent). West Virginia had the highest rate of past month cigarette use in the Nation (31.1 percent), and Utah had the lowest rate (17.5 percent) for all persons aged 12 or older. (Tables B.14 and C.14)
The rates of perception of great risk of smoking one or more packs of cigarettes a day remained almost the same from 74.1 percent in 2005-2006 to 73.9 percent in 2006-2007 among persons 12 or older. Montana had a significant increase from 71.3 to 74.5 percent, whereas Ohio had a decrease from 70.6 to 69.0 percent. (Table C.15)

Substance Dependence, Abuse, and Treatment Need

In 2006-2007, 7.6 percent of the population aged 12 or older was classified with dependence on or abuse of alcohol nationwide in the past year. At the State level, the District of Columbia had the highest rate (10.1 percent) among persons aged 12 or older, and West Virginia had the lowest rate (6.1 percent). (Table B.16)
In 2006-2007, 3.4 percent of persons aged 12 or older nationwide were estimated to be dependent on alcohol in the past year. Wyoming's past year alcohol dependence rate increased from 2.7 percent in 2005-2006 to 3.4 percent in 2006-2007 among persons aged 26 or older. The rate for Wisconsin's 12 or older age group increased from 3.2 percent in 2005-2006 to 3.8 percent in 2006-2007. (Tables B.17 and C.17)
In 2006-2007 the highest rates for past year illicit drug dependence or abuse occurred in the 18 to 25 age group (7.9 percent nationally). Among the 18 to 25 year olds, decreases in the rates of past year illicit drug dependence or abuse between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 occurred in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Increases occurred in Kentucky and Ohio. (Tables B.18 and C.18)
The percentage of persons aged 12 or older in 2006-2007 estimated to be dependent on illicit drugs in the past year was 1.9 percent. The District of Columbia had the highest percentage of persons aged 12 or older who were dependent on illicit drugs in the past year (3.1 percent). Hawaii and South Dakota had the lowest rate (1.4 percent). (Table B.19)
Among all persons aged 12 or older, the rate of past year dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs nationwide remained nearly constant at 9.2 and 9.1 percent, respectively, in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. The only significant national change occurred among young adults aged 18 to 25, where there was a decrease from 21.6 percent in 2005-2006 to 21.0 percent in 2006-2007. At the State level, decreases were noted among this age group in Connecticut, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas. (Table C.20)
In 2006-2007, Rhode Island had the highest percentage of persons aged 12 or older (3.7 percent), 12 to 17 (5.2 percent), and 18 to 25 (12.1 percent) who were needing but not receiving treatment for an illicit drug use problem. Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, and North Dakota shared the lowest rate among persons 12 or older (1.9 percent). North Dakota had the lowest rate among youths aged 12 to 17 (3.4 percent), among young adults aged 18 to 25 (5.3 percent), and among persons 26 or older (0.9 percent). (Table B.21)
States in the top fifth for needing but not receiving treatment for alcohol problems among persons aged 12 or older in 2006-2007 were primarily Midwestern (Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) or Western (Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming). The District of Columbia and Massachusetts rounded out the top 10. Among persons aged 12 or older needing but not receiving treatment for an alcohol problem, there was no significant change between 2005-2006 (7.3 percent) and 2006-2007 (7.2 percent) for the Nation as a whole; however, there was a significant decrease in Texas and a significant increase in Hawaii. (Table C.22, Figure 5.25)

Mental Health Problems

In 2006-2007, serious psychological distress (SPD) was present in 11.1 percent of the population aged 18 or older, which was statistically unchanged from the rate in 2005-2006 (11.3 percent). Hawaii, Vermont, and Washington showed significant declines in SPD between 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 among young adults aged 18 to 25. (Table C.23)
In 2006-2007, 7.3 percent of all persons aged 18 or older experienced having major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year, a rate that remained unchanged from the one in 2005-2006. For the 18 or older population, Tennessee had the highest rate (9.8 percent) of having MDE in the past year in 2006-2007, and Hawaii had the lowest rate (5.0 percent). Nationally, there was a decrease among persons aged 18 to 25 who experienced MDE in the past year from 2005-2006 (9.4 percent) to 2006-2007 (9.0 percent). (Tables B.24 and C.24)