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Illicit Drug Use among Older Adults

The NSDUH Report - Illicit Drug Use among Older Adults

An estimated 4.8 million adults used 50 or older, or 5.2 percent of adults in that age range, had used an illicit drug in the past year. Marijuana use was more common than nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs among adults aged 50 to 59 (5.9 vs. 3.6 percent), while nonmedical use of prescriptiontype drugs was as common as use of marijuana among adults aged 60 or older (1.2 vs. 1.1 percent). Marijuana use was more common than nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs among males aged 50 or older (4.7 vs. 2.5 percent); rates of marijuana use and nonmedical use of prescription-type drugs were similar among females aged 50 or older (1.9 and 2.1 percent, respectively).

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This Short report The NSDUH Report - Illicit Drug Use among Older Adults, is based on SAMHSA's  National Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted by SAMHSA's Office of Applied Studies (OAS) in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health is the primary source of information on the prevalence, patterns, and consequences of drug and alcohol use and abuse in the general U.S. civilian non institutionalized population, age 12 and older.   SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use & Health also provides estimates for drug use by State.

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SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.

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