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- Federal Resources
Federal Resources
A Day in the Life of Young Adults: Substance Use Facts
This report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration presents facts about substance use among young adults (PDF, 7 pages), ages 18-25, including initiation, treatment, and visits to the emergency department for substance use on an average day. According to the report, on a typical day, 3.2 million young adults use marijuana, 57,304 use heroin, 51,319 use cocaine, 46,179 use hallucinogens, and 17,868 use inhalants.
A Circle of Healing for Native Children Endangered by Drugs
“A Circle of Healing for Native Children Endangered by Drugs” is a seven-part video series that highlights best practices for meeting the needs of drug-endangered youth in tribal communities. Produced in collaboration with tribal and federal partners, the videos feature testimonials and examples of cultural practices that tribal communities can use to help traumatized children who are healing from drug endangerment.
Access 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Data
Public access data and documentation files for the 2013 NSDUH are now available. New variables include military status, marijuana usage, height and weight, screening questions during health care visits, and geography.
Alcohol Policy Information System
The Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) provides detailed information on a wide variety of alcohol-related policies in the United States at both State and Federal levels.
Alcohol and Drug Combinations Are More Likely to Have a Serious Outcome Than Alcohol Alone in Emergency Department Visits Involving Underage Drinking
This report from SAMHSA shows that underage drinkers (PDF, 1 page), ages 12‑20, who were treated in hospital emergency departments were more than twice as likely to wind up with a serious health outcome if they also used drugs at the same time. The report shows that of the hospital emergency department visits involving underage drinkers which resulted in serious health outcomes, 12 percent involved underage drinking alone, and 33 percent involved both underage drinking and concurrent drug use.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the world’s largest, ongoing telephone health survey system, tracking health conditions and risk behaviors in the United States yearly since 1984. Currently, data are collected monthly in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.
Alcohol Use Among Pregnant Women
The latest issue of SAMHSA’s FASD in Review features a summary of an article, published in Annals of Epidemiology, that examines the relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure and birth outcomes. The article discusses the effect of alcohol use during pregnancy on birth weight, preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, and selected neonatal outcomes.
Age of Substance Use Initiation Among Treatment Admissions Aged 18 to 30
A report from SAMHSA indicates that the risk of developing drug dependence or abuse is greater for individuals who start using substances during adolescence, compared with those who start during adulthood. The report, which draws from a national data system of annual admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities, also shows that people who start using substances at a young age are at greater risk of needing treatment later and are more likely to be using more than one substance when they are admitted for treatment.
Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A Practitioner's Guide
This tool helps healthcare professionals identify youth at risk for alcohol-related problems, counsel or advise them, and connect them to external sources of treatment. It contains a risk assessment survey and links to motivational interviewing resources.
American Indian and Alaska Native Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Are More Likely Than Other Admissions to Report Alcohol Abuse
A report released by SAMHSA reveals that about one-third of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) who are admitted to substance abuse treatment report alcohol abuse, while only about one-fifth of all other races give similar reports. Additionally, a higher percentage of AI/ANs begin using alcohol or drugs at age 11 or younger.
Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs
This publication was designed to help states plan and establish effective tobacco control programs to prevent and reduce tobacco use, including among school age youth. School program activities include implementing CDC's Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction, which call for tobacco-free policies, evidence-based curricula, teacher training, parental involvement, and cessation services; implementing evidence-based curricula identified through CDC's Research to Classroom Project; and linking school-based efforts with local community coalitions and statewide media and educational campaigns.
Browse NCSACW From Your Phone or Tablet
NCSACW has updated its website to a responsive web design approach. Users can now easily navigate to tools, resources, and online tutorials related to substance abuse using mobile phones and tablets.
Bureau of Justice Assistance Training and Technical Assistance
This resource provides technical assistance to practitioners in state, local, and tribal justice systems.
Beyond Addiction: Understanding and Treating Substance Abuse in Young People
This report series from the National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth provides an overview on substance abuse in youth and young adults. Find information on how drug use can affect the teen brain, how the development of the teen brain makes young people susceptible to trying drugs, the benefits and things to be aware of when hiring youth workers in substance abuse recovery, and some best-known evidence-based practices for treating adolescent substance abuse.
Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies
This is the national website of the CAPTs. The CAPTs are regional technical assistance providers for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), an agency of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The CAPTs assist states and jurisdictions and community based organizations in the application of evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs, practices, and policies
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works to protect public health and safety by providing information to enhance health decisions, and it promotes health through partnerships with state health departments and other organizations.
Child Health USA
The Child Health USA Databook is an annual report of the health status, well-being and service needs of America's children and youth. Coalitions, program planners and policy makers can identify national trends by examining and comparing data from one year to the next. Indicators for youth, or adolescents, cover multiple issues, including childbearing, substance abuse, violence, mental health treatment, and mortality from traffic and firearms injuries. The section, Population Characteristics, provides information about poverty status and school dropouts. Each topic includes a written summary and at least one graph that clearly depicts key statistical facts.
College Drinking: Changing the Culture
College Drinking: Changing the Culture, created by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov is your one-stop resource for comprehensive research-based information on issues related to alcohol abuse and binge drinking among college students.
Coverage of Behavioral Services for Youth with Substance Use Disorders
”Coverage of Behavioral Services for Youth with Substance Use Disorders,” (PDF, 16 pages) aims to help states (a) design a benefit that will meet the needs of youth with substance use disorders (PDF, 16 pages) and their families and (b) comply with their obligations under Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment requirements. This guidance is based on research and results of a SAMHSA-supported technical expert panel.
Contribution of Excessive Alcohol Consumption to Deaths and Years of Potential Life Lost in the United States
This study aimed to update the national estimates of alcohol-attributable deaths (AAD) and years of potential life lost (YPLL) in the United States. The results show that excessive drinking accounted for 1 in 10 deaths among working-age adults and remains a leading cause of premature mortality nationwide. About 5% of all average annual AAD and 10% of average annual YPLL involved individuals under 21 years of age.
Cigarette Smoking Among U.S. High School Students at Lowest Level in 22 Years
According to the results of the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), rates of cigarette smoking among high school students have dropped (PDF, 1 page) to the lowest levels since the YRBS began in 1991. By achieving a teen smoking rate of 15.7 percent, the United States has met its national Healthy People 2020 objective of reducing adolescent cigarette use to 16 percent or less.
Current Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2011
As illustrated in this report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, data from the 2011 National Youth Tobacco Survey reveals that during 2000–2011, there was a linear downward trend observed in the prevalence of current tobacco use, current combustible tobacco use, and current cigarette use among middle and high school students.
Culture Leads Native Youth in Prevention
This article shares the highlights from the 2014 SAMHSA Native Youth Conference, which included youth-focused empowerment workshops, a cultural Pow-Wow, youth/federal panel discussions, performances, and spotlights of SAMHSA tribal grantees who have developed best and promising practices.
Critical Dialogue With Native Youth About Underage Drinking: Our Culture Is Prevention
This video features conversations with Native youth and elders about the prevalence and consequences of underage drinking among Native youth, as well as the ways Native cultures and traditions help prevent substance use and promote resilience.
Data Spotlight: Children Living with Alcoholics
In a study conducted in conjunction with Children of Alcoholics Week (February 12-18, 2012), the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 7.5 million children under age 18 live with a parent who has experienced an alcohol use disorder in the past year.