From http://www.samhsa.gov/
- “In 2009, an estimated 21.8 million Americans aged 12 or older were current (past month) illicit drug users, meaning they had used an illicit drug during the month prior to the survey interview (Figure 2.1). This estimate represents 8.7 percent of the population aged 12 or older”.
- “The overall rate of current illicit drug use among persons aged 12 or older in 2009 (8.7 percent) was higher than the rate in 2008 (8.0 percent) and higher than the rates in 2004 (7.9 percent), 2005 (8.1 percent), and 2007 (8.0 percent) (Figure 2.2)”.
- “Marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug (16.7 million past month users). In 2009, marijuana was used by 76.6 percent of current illicit drug users and was the only drug used by 58.0 percent of them. Illicit drugs other than marijuana were used by 9.2 million persons or 42.0 percent of illicit drug users aged 12 or older. Current use of other drugs but not marijuana was reported by 23.4 percent of illicit drug users, and 18.6 percent used both marijuana and other drugs.”
- “Almost half (49.9 percent) of youths aged 12 to 17 reported in 2009 that it would be “fairly easy” or “very easy” for them to obtain marijuana if they wanted some. Approximately one in five reported it would be easy to get cocaine (20.9 percent). About one in seven (13.5 percent) indicated that LSD would be “fairly” or “very” easily available, and 12.9 percent reported easy availability for heroin. Between 2002 and 2009, there were declines in the perceived availability for all four drugs.”
