A Day in the Life of American Adolescents: Substance Use Facts, Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, October 18, 2007

This report presents facts about adolescent substance abuse, including information on the initiation of substance abuse, past year substance use, and receipt of substance abuse treatment. The data presented in the report is from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the 2005 Treatment Episode Data Set, and the 2005 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services.

• In the U.S. in 2006, one-fifth of adolescents aged 12 to 17 used an illicit drug.
• On an average day in 2006, 4,348 adolescents aged 12 to 17 used an illicit drug for the first time.
• Although the percentage of adolescents using alcohol and drugs declined between 2002 and 2006, the percentage of persons aged 12 to 17 receiving substance abuse treatment has remained relatively stable.
• In 2005, 7.7 percent of all persons admitted to publicly funded treatment facilities were aged 12 to 17.

The full report can be found at http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k7/youthFacts/youth.cfm