National Household Survey on Drug Abuse Substance Abuse or Dependence in Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Areas Report
January 3, 2003

Substance Abuse or Dependence in Metropolitan and Non–Metropolitan Areas

In Brief

  • In 2001, persons aged 12 or older who lived in metropolitan areas were more likely than those in non–metropolitan areas to abuse or be dependent on alcohol or illicit drugs during the past year

  • Youths aged 12 to 17 living in non–metropolitan areas were more likely than youths in metropolitan areas to abuse or be dependent on alcohol or illicit drugs during the past year

  • Rates of past year abuse or dependence were similar among males in metropolitan and non–metropolitan areas
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The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) asks persons aged 12 or older to report on their symptoms of abuse of or dependence on alcohol or illicit drugs. Illicit drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), inhalants, hallucinogens, heroin, or prescription–type drugs used nonmedically. In the NHSDA, abuse and dependence are defined using criteria specified in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–IV), which includes such symptoms as physical danger, trouble with the law due to substance use, increased tolerance, and interference with everyday life during the past year (Table 1).1 Responses were analyzed by the type of county in which the respondents lived at the time of the interview. Metropolitan areas include counties that are inside Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) defined by the Office of Management and Budget,2 while non–metropolitan areas include counties that are outside MSAs.

Figure 1. Percentages of Persons Aged 12 or Older Reporting Past Year Abuse of or Dependence on Alcohol or Any Illicit Drug, by County Type: 2001

Figure 2. Percentages of Persons Aged 12 or Older Reporting Past Year Abuse of or Dependence on Alcohol or Any Illicit Drug, by County Type and Age: 2001

Figure 1. Percentages of Persons Aged 12 or Older Reporting Past Year Abuse of or Dependence on Alcohol or Any Illicit Drug, by County Type: 2001 Figure 2. Percentages of Persons Aged 12 or Older Reporting Past Year Abuse of or Dependence on Alcohol or Any Illicit Drug, by County Type and Age: 2001

Prevalence of Abuse or Dependence
The 2001 NHSDA revealed that almost 17 million Americans aged 12 or older (7 percent) abused or were dependent on alcohol or illicit drugs during the year before the survey. Persons who lived in metropolitan areas were more likely than those in non–metropolitan areas to abuse or be dependent on alcohol or illicit drugs during the past year (Figure 1).

Age Differences
Among youths aged 12 to 17, those living in non–metropolitan areas were more likely than youths in metropolitan areas to abuse or be dependent on alcohol or illicit drugs during the past year (Figure 2). Among young adults aged 18 to 25, rates of past year abuse or dependence were similar among those in metropolitan and non–metropolitan areas. Among adults aged 26 or older, the rate of past year abuse or dependence was higher among those in metropolitan areas than non–metropolitan areas.

Gender and Racial/Ethnic Differences
Among females aged 12 or older, those living in metropolitan areas were more likely than females in non–metropolitan areas to abuse or be dependent on alcohol or an illicit drug during the past year (Figure 3). However, rates of past year abuse or dependence were similar among males in metropolitan and non–metropolitan areas. Among whites, those living in metropolitan areas were more likely than persons in non–metropolitan areas to abuse or be dependent on alcohol or illicit drugs (Table 2). Rates of past year substance dependence or abuse were similar by urbanicity for American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asians, blacks, or Hispanics.

Figure 3. Percentages of Persons Aged 12 or Older Reporting Past Year Abuse of or Dependence on Alcohol or Any Illicit Drug, by County Type and Gender: 2001
Figure 3. Percentages of Persons Aged 12 or Older Reporting Past Year Abuse of or Dependence on Alcohol or Any Illicit Drug, by County Type and Gender: 2001

Table 1. DSM–IV Diagnosis of Substance Abuse or Dependence

Table 2. Percentages of Persons Aged 12 or Older Reporting Past Year Abuse of or Dependence on Alcohol or Any Illicit Drug, by County Type and Race/Ethnicity: 2001
Table 1. DSM-IV Diagnosis of Substance Abuse or Dependence Table 2. Percentages of Persons Aged 12 or Older Reporting Past Year Abuse of or Dependence on Alcohol or Any Illicit Drug, by County Type and Race/Ethnicity: 2001

End Notes
  1. American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

  2. Office of Management and Budget. (1995, June 30). Revised Statistical Definitions of Metropolitan Areas (MAs) and Guidance on Uses of MA Definitions. Retrieved December 4, 2002, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/95-04.html

Figure and Table Notes
Note: Abuse or dependence is based on the definition found in the 4th ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–IV).

Note: Any Illicit Drug refers to marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription–type drugs used nonmedically.

Source (Table 1): American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Source (Table 2 and all figures): SAMHSA 2001 NHSDA.

The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2001 data are based on information obtained from 69,000 persons aged 12 or older. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face–to–face interviews at their place of residence.

The NHSDA Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Information and data for this issue are based on the following publications and statistics:

Office of Applied Studies. (2002). Results from the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse: Volume 1. Summary of national findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 02–3758, NHSDA Series H–17). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Epstein, J.F. (2002). Substance dependence, abuse, and treatment: Findings from the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA Series: A–16, DHHS Publication No. SMA 02–3642). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies

Also available on–line: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov.
The NHSDA Report is published periodically by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Office of Applied Studies are available online: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated.

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