Not all of the news was good: the survey showed an increase in the percentage of people experiencing a major depressive event. (Photo: Getty)
New figures on drug use suggest that the fight against opioid epidemic is beginning to deliver results.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that the number of people who started using heroin last year was 50 percent lower than in 2016.
The survey showed a slight decline in overall heroin use. The percentage of people older than 12 who reported using heroin in the past year declined from 0.4 percent to 0.3 percent. The percentage age 18-26 declined from 0.7 percent to 0.6 percent.
The survey estimates that over 11 million Americans misused opioid pain medication last year, but it did not offer a comparison for previous years.
The survey highlighted other positive trends, including the continued decline in tobacco use. In 2002, 26 percent of people over 12 had smoked a cigarette in the past month. In 2017, only 17.9 percent had. The decline was greatest among young adults (age 18-26): the percentage in that age group who smoked in the past month dropped from 40.8 percent in 2002 to 22.3 percent last year.
Not only are far more people abstaining entirely from tobacco, but those who do smoke are much less likely to be heavy smokers than in past years. Of the roughly 50 million people who say they've smoked a cigarette in the past month, 42 percent are not daily smokers and only 22 percent smoke a pack a day or more.
Alcohol use among young people has also continued to decrease. The percentage of people age 12-20 who drank in the past month declined from 28.8 percent in 2002 to 19.7 percent in 2017. The decline in overall alcohol consumption has corresponded with a reduction in alcohol use disorders.
Of course, not all of the news was good. The survey showed an increase in the percentage of people experiencing a major depressive event, including 13.3 percent of teens in the past year. Among adults, 4.5 percent have experienced serious mental illness in the past year, although it's worth noting that there is likely plenty of illness that is undiagnosed.
The survey estimates that 8.1 percent of Americans are living with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues.
In a statement, Health Secretary Alexander Azar said, “President Donald Trump, Assistant Secretary Elinore McCance-Katz and I share a vision for a path forward, one that involves connecting Americans to the evidence-based treatment they need.”
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