Addiction Statistics

A significant number of young people are affected by substance use and addiction locally and nationally. Early usage may not only put their health and well-being at risk, but it may also increase their likelihood of developing a drug or alcohol dependency later in their lives. Here are some statistics to put the issue in context.

• 90 percent of all adults with dependence started using under the age of 18. 50 percent started using under the age of 15. (Kessler, 1994; see also Dawson, 1996; Robins & Regier, 1991)
• In a 30-day period, the prevalence of alcohol use among students in grade 8 is 16 percent; for grade 10, it is 33 percent; for grade 12, it is 44 percent.
• 11.6 percent of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 are illicit drug users.
• The annual prevalence of illicit drug use among 12th graders is 36 percent.
• 29 percent of high school students report riding in a car driven by someone who had been drinking.
• 24 percent of motor vehicle deaths among young people between the age of 15 and 20 involve alcohol. 
• About 40 percent of college students reported binge drinking (5+ drinks for men; 4+ drinks for women) in the past month (Wechsler et al, 2008)
• About 20 percent of college students reported binge drinking more than 3 times in the last two weeks (Wechsler et al, 2008)
• There was a report of 1,700 unintentional deaths resulting from an alcohol-related injury among college students aged 18-24 in 2005. This figure showed an increase of 6 percent since 1998. (Hingson et al, 2005)
• Each year, more than 700,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking (TK)
• Nearly 100,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.