The Epidemiology of Substance Use Among Adolescents in the United States

Author(s):  
Megan E. Patrick ◽  
Patrick M. O'Malley

This chapter describes the epidemiology of substance use among adolescents in the United States, with a primary focus on rates of use of illicit and licit drugs among nationally representative samples of adolescents in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades in the Monitoring the Future study. Prevalence rates of alcohol use, tobacco use, marijuana use, other illegal drug use, nonmedical use of prescription drugs, and use of unregulated substances (e.g., synthetic marijuana, inhalants) are reported. Subgroup differences by grade, gender, race/ethnicity, parental education, and college plans are examined. In addition, historical trends in substance use and attitudes regarding substance use are described. Documenting the rates of substance use in the adolescent population and monitoring historical changes in public health and behavior are critical for understanding the public health burden of adolescent substance use.

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s63-s63
Author(s):  
M. Reilly

IntroductionRecent studies have discussed major deficiencies in the preparedness of emergency medical services (EMS) providers to effectively respond to disasters, terrorism and other public health emergencies. Lack of funding, lack of national uniformity of systems and oversight, and lack of necessary education and training have all been cited as reasons for the inadequate emergency medical preparedness in the United States.MethodsA nationally representative sample of over 285,000 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics in the United States was surveyed to assess whether they had received training in pediatric considerations for blast and radiological incidents, as part of their initial provider education or in continuing medical education (CME) within the previous 24 months. Providers were also surveyed on their level of comfort in responding to and potentially treating pediatric victims of these events. Independent variables were entered into a multivariate model and those identified as statistically significant predictors of comfort were further analyzed.ResultsVery few variables in our model caused a statistically significant increase in comfort with events involving children in this sample. Pediatric considerations for blast or radiological events represented the lowest levels of comfort in all respondents. Greater than 70% of respondents reported no training as part of their initial provider education in considerations for pediatrics following blast events. Over 80% of respondents reported no training in considerations for pediatrics following events associated with radiation or radioactivity. 88% of respondents stated they were not comfortable with responding to or treating pediatric victims of a radiological incident.ConclusionsOut study validates our a priori hypothesis and several previous studies that suggest deficiencies in preparedness as they relate to special populations - specifically pediatrics. Increased education for EMS providers on the considerations of special populations during disasters and acts of terrorism, especially pediatrics, is essential in order to reduce pediatric-related morbidity and mortality following a disaster, act of terrorism or public health emergency.


Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Wisely ◽  
Gregory Glass

Globally, vector-borne diseases are an increasing public health burden; in the United States, tick-borne diseases have tripled in the last three years. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes the need for resilience to the increasing vector-borne disease burden and has called for increased partnerships and sustained networks to identify and respond to the most pressing challenges that face vector-borne disease management, including increased surveillance. To increase applied research, develop communities of practice, and enhance workforce development, the CDC has created five regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-borne Disease. These Centers are a partnership of public health agencies, vector control groups, academic institutions, and industries. This special issue on tick and tick-borne disease surveillance is a collection of research articles on multiple aspects of surveillance from authors that are affiliated with or funded by the CDC Centers of Excellence. This body of work illustrates a community-based system of research by which participants share common problems and use integrated methodologies to produce outputs and effect outcomes that benefit human, animal and environmental health.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric C. Stecker ◽  
Kyndaron Reinier ◽  
Eloi Marijon ◽  
Kumar Narayanan ◽  
Carmen Teodorescu ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy D. Brener ◽  
Todd W. Wilson

We analyzed nationally representative data from the 1998 National Alternative High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to determine the prevalence of substance use on school property among alternative high school students in the United States, to describe the characteristics of students who use substances on school property, and to examine the interrelationships of substance-use behaviors. During the 30 days preceding the survey, nearly 48 percent of students used at least one substance on school property and 17 percent used more than one substance on school property. Males were more likely than females and white students were more likely than black or Hispanic students to have used substances on school property. The results of this and other studies suggest that school administrators, public health practitioners, and policy makers should work to improve strategies for reducing substance use in this heterogeneous, hard-to-reach population.


2020 ◽  
pp. 21-34
Author(s):  
Pamela K. Keel

Answering “who, when, and where?” establishes the public health burden associated with purging disorder and gives us insight into why someone develops the illness. Right now, over 2 million girls and women in the United States have purging disorder, and they are joined by another half-million boys and men. Cases of hysterical vomiting from the late 1800s resemble purging disorder in some respects, but vomiting in purging disorder is intentional and directed toward influencing weight or shape, supporting the influence of modern idealization of thinness. Finally, we see the emergence of purging to control weight and purging disorder following the introduction of Western cultural ideals into non-Western contexts. Non-Western cultures further shape the clinical presentation of purging disorder with misuse of traditional herbal emetics to produce purging.


2020 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 106047
Author(s):  
Stephanie DeFlorio-Barker ◽  
Dawn Holman ◽  
Robert Landolfi ◽  
Benjamin F. Arnold ◽  
John M. Colford ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 1181-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIAO GUO ◽  
ABHINAV MISHRA ◽  
ROBERT L. BUCHANAN ◽  
JITENDER P. DUBEY ◽  
DOLORES E. HILL ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent protozoan parasite worldwide. Human toxoplasmosis is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in the United States, and meat products have been identified as an important source of T. gondii infections in humans. The goal of this study was to develop a farm-to-table quantitative microbial risk assessment model to predict the public health burden in the United States associated with consumption of U.S. domestically produced lamb. T. gondii prevalence in market lambs was pooled from the 2011 National Animal Health Monitoring System survey, and the concentration of the infectious life stage (bradyzoites) was calculated in the developed model. A log-linear regression and an exponential dose-response model were used to model the reduction of T. gondii during home cooking and to predict the probability of infection, respectively. The mean probability of infection per serving of lamb was estimated to be 1.5 cases per 100,000 servings, corresponding to ~6,300 new infections per year in the U.S. population. Based on the sensitivity analysis, we identified cooking as the most effective method to influence human health risk. This study provided a quantitative microbial risk assessment framework for T. gondii infection through consumption of lamb and quantified the infection risk and public health burden associated with lamb consumption.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document