(Embargada to the 14: 30 GMT)
MarÃa Peña
Washington, 8 sep (EFE).-the 8.9 per cent of Americans of at least 12 years of age (22.6 million people) he used drugs in 2010, a figure similar to that of 2009, according to an annual report released today.
The Services Administration on substance abuse and Mental Health (SAMHSA) released a national survey that provides an x-ray of the use of illicit substances in people of at least 12 years of age in the United States.UU., there was no “significant” increase from 2009 through 2010 that.
In statements to Efe, the “drug czar” of the White House, Gil Kerlikowske, considered that these results represent “a step in the right direction” but noted that it is not cause for celebration because much remains to be done to combat the problem.
“Would have held it if he had seen a low”. “This tells us that there is much work ahead and that parents need to be more involved to prevent young people from falling into drugs”, said Kerlikowske, holder of the Office of national policy for the Control of drugs (ONDCP) of the House white.
Young people now want to have control, “and when they receive the message that lost it by drug abuse, that serves as a strong warning,” added.
In 2010, 22.6 million persons aged at least 12 consumed drug a month before the national survey, representing a 8.9%, compared to 8.7% in 2009 and 8% in 2008.
Also, 1,5 million people (0.6%) consumed cocaine, its lowest level since 2002 and 39 percent less than their maximum level of 2.4 million in 2006 (1%). In 2009, the figure was 1.9 million (0.7%).
Between 2008 and 2010, whites and Hispanics were “significant” increases in drug use. Among whites, it increased from 8.2% to 9.1% during that period, and among Hispanics, soared from 6.2% to 8.1%, respectively.
Among blacks, it increased from 10.1% in 2008 to 10.7 per cent last year, and among Asians, has dropped from 3.6% to 3.5% in these two years.
The report, which reflects data from 67.500 people, pointed out that, in general, drug use has fallen by nearly a third since 1979, although marijuana use increased significantly and was, in fact, the most common drug in United States.
Between 2007 and 2010, the consumption of cannabis rose from 5.8% to 6.9%, or 14.4 million to its current figure of 17.4 million
On the other hand, 1.2 million (0.5%) used hallucinogens in 2010, including 695.000 who used “Ecstasy”, similar to 2009 figures.
On abuse of psychotherapeutic drugs with prescription in 2010, seven million used without medical purposes, practically the same figure compared to 2009. In 2002, the figure totaled 6.3 million.
According to the document, 55 per cent of those who used pain relievers without medical reasons “free” got them from a friend or relative, while 17.3 per cent it was awarded a doctor, 4.4 per cent of a smuggler or a stranger, and 0.4% turned to internet.
Also, the number of consumers of methamphetamine use fell from 731.000 in 2006 to 353.000 in 2010.
According to the survey, among young people aged 12 to 17 drug intake was 10% in 2009 and 10.1 per cent last year. Between 2002 and 2008, consumption had declined from 11.6% to 9.3%, respectively.
Among those aged between 18 and 25 years, consumption rose from 19.6% in 2008, to 21.2% in 2009 and to 21.5 per cent last year, mainly due to the increase in the consumption of marijuana.
Between the 50 to 59 years of age drug use rose from 2.7% in 2002 to 5.8% in 2010, which, according to the report, partly reflects the aging of the “baby boom” generation, those born after World War II between 1946 and 1964.
This demographic group has had a higher consumption of drugs than the of elderly than them.
The document pointed out that in 2010 51.8% of the population group analyzed, or 131,3 million, swallowed alcoholic beverages while the 27.4 per cent, or 69.6 million consumed tobacco.
In FY 2011, the Government invested 10,400 millions of dollars on education and treatment programs, compared to the 9,200 billion dollars allocated to police measures within the country, according to the report. EFE
