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Alcohol and Substance Use Among Adolescents in Washington State

Results From The 1998-1999 Adolescent Household Survey

Executive Summary

Between December 1998 and July 1999, 1,259 Washington State adolescents living in their parents' homes were interviewed by telephone about their drug and alcohol use and abuse, risk factors, and other topics. Respondents were twelve through seventeen years old when interviewed. Key findings on adolescent alcohol and drug use and problems are as follows:

Lifetime use of alcohol and other drugs

• Almost half (47%) used alcohol or other drugs at least once.

• About one in five (22 %) used marijuana at least once.
• Over one in six (16%) have used some illegal drug other than alcohol or marijuana. This category includes drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

Past month use of alcohol & other drugs

• Almost one in four (23%) used alcohol or other drugs within the past thirty days.

• About one in ten (9%) used marijuana within the past thirty days.
• Almost one in twenty (4%) have used some illegal drug other than alcohol or marijuana within the past thirty days. This includes drugs such as cocaine or heroin.

Six Month Alcohol or Drug Use Disorder

The interview asked questions that generate psychiatric diagnoses of alcohol or other drug abuse or dependence. The diagnostic criteria come from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Version III-Revised (DSM-III-R).

• Over six percent of adolescents had a substance abuse disorder (either abuse or dependence).
• By age seventeen, over one in six (17 %) had a substance abuse disorder.

Need for Treatment

The interview asked questions about very heavy drug use and self-perceived need for treatment. These were combined with the diagnostic criteria to define a group of adolescents who needed alcohol or other drug treatment.

• Nearly eight percent (38,586 adolescents in the first half of Fiscal Year 99) need treatment for alcohol or drug abuse.
• By age seventeen, 21 percent need treatment.

Treatment Penetration among those eligible for public funding

Of those adolescents needing treatment, almost half (19,141 youth), are estimated to be eligible for full or partial DASA funding for substance abuse treatment.

• During the first six months of State Fiscal Year 1999, DASA served 4,795 clients under the age of 18.
• One in four (25%) of adolescents who needed DASA treatment actually received it. (4,795 clients /19,141 in need). 

These young people need and deserve more service than this.

 

Related Information Alcohol and Substance Use Among Adolescents in Foster Care in Washington State. Results From The 1998-1999 Adolescent Foster Care Survey (4.38) Household Survey For Adolescents. Final Version 4. Substance Abuse Prevalence Project (PDF document) Profile of Substance Use and Need for Treatment Services - Washington State Needs Assessment Household Survey (4.52)

 

  

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Modified: Wednesday November 02 2005

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