D rug and A lcohol S ervices I nformation S ystem
The DASIS Report
March 2001
Youth Marijuana Admissions
by Race and Ethnicity
M
arijuana was the primary substance of
abuse for more than 126,000 adolescent
and college-age admissions reported to
the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) in 1999.
Admissions aged 12 to 21, labeled “youth” in this
report, made up 8 percent of all substance abuse
treatment admissions in 1999. Marijuana was the
primary substance of abuse for 47 percent of youth
treatment admissions compared with 7 percent for all
other ages.
TEDS is a compilation of data on the demo-
graphic characteristics and substance abuse problems
of those admitted for substance abuse treatment. The
information comes primarily from facilities that
receive some public funding. TEDS records represent
admissions rather than individuals, as a person may
be admitted to treatment more than once.
In Brief
● Marijuana was the primary sub-
stance of abuse for 47 percent of
youth treatment admissions com-
pared with 7 percent for all other
ages
● The largest percentage of youth
marijuana admissions was among
Black youths
The DASIS 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 may be downloaded from http://www.samhsa.gov/oas/facts.cfm. Citation of the source is appreciated. Other
reports from the Office of Applied Studies are also available on-line: http://www.DrugAbuseStatistics.samhsa.gov/.
August 9, 2002
White
In 1999, Whites comprised 66 percent of the U.S.
population aged 12 to 21*; about 66 percent of all
youth treatment admissions (data not shown) and 59
percent of youth marijuana admissions involved
Whites (Figure 1). Marijuana was the primary
substance of abuse for 42 percent of all White youth
admissions (data not shown).
White youth marijuana admissions were 77
percent male and 23 percent female (Figure 2). The
percentage of White youth marijuana admissions rose
steadily until age 16 and declined rapidly until age 21
for both sexes. However, among this group the
average age at admission was about 6 months older
for male admissions than for female admissions (data
not shown).
Black
In 1999, Blacks comprised 15 percent of the U.S.
population aged 12 to 21*; about 16 percent of all
youth treatment admissions (data not shown) and 23
percent of youth marijuana admissions were Black
(Figure 1). About 66 percent of all Black youth
marijuana admissions were for marijuana (data not
shown).
Black youth marijuana admissions were 82
percent male and 18 percent female (Figure 3). For
both males and females the percentage of admissions
rose until age 16, declined until age 18, and leveled off
DASIS REPORT: YOUTH MARIJUANA ADMISSIONS BY RACE AND ETHNICITY August 9, 2002

Figure 1. Youth Marijuana Admissions, by Figure 2. White Youth Marijuana Admissions,

Race/Ethnicity: 1999 by Age and Sex: 1999

2% 24
2%
2%
20
12% White
5 Female
Black 16 4
Male
Hispanic

Percent
12 4
Asian/
Pacific 2 2
Islander 8 2
15 14
3 1
American 10
23% Indian/ 4 8 8 8
Alaska 5 6
.2 1
Native 0 .4 2
59%
Other 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Age

Source: 1999 SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).

until age 21. Among Black youth primary substance

Figure 3. Black Youth Marijuana Admissions,
marijuana admissions, there were no of abuse 47 per-
differences in average age at admis- cent of the time. by Age and Sex: 1999
sion between male and female
Puerto Rican 24
admissions (data not shown).
admissions made
up 27 percent of 20
Hispanic Hispanic youth Female
marijuana 16 3 Male
2
In 1999, Hispanics comprised 14 per-
Percent

admissions in
cent of the U.S. population aged 12 12
1999 and 3
to 21*; about 12 percent of all youth percent of all 8
treatment admissions (data not
youth marijuana
shown) and 12 percent of youth admissions (data 4
marijuana admissions involved .1
not shown). .3 2
Hispanics (Figure 1). Among all Marijuana was
0
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Hispanic youth admissions, mari- the primary
juana was the primary substance of substance of
abuse 48 percent of the time (data not abuse for 52
shown). percent of all Puerto Rican youth
Hispanic youth marijuana admissions in 1999.
admissions were 82 percent male and Puerto Rican youth marijuana
18 percent female (Figure 4). The admissions had the oldest average age
percentage of Hispanic youth at admission (17.4 years of age) (data
marijuana admissions rose until age not shown).
16, declined rapidly until age 18, and
leveled off until age 21.
Mexican admissions made up 48 Asian/Pacific Islander
percent of Hispanic youth marijuana In 1999, Asians and Pacific Islanders
admissions and 6 percent of all youth comprised 4 percent of the U.S.
marijuana admissions in 1999 (data population aged 12 to 21*; more than
not shown). Among all Mexican youth 1 percent of all youth treatment
admissions, marijuana was the admissions (data not shown) and
almost 2 percent of youth marijuana
2 2 2
2 2
14 13
2
10 10
9 9 9
.6 5
Age
admissions were Asian and Pacific
Islander (Figure 1). Among all Asian
and Pacific Islander youth admis-
sions, marijuana was the primary
substance of abuse 49 percent of the
time (data not shown).
Asian youth marijuana admissions
were 73 percent male and 27 percent
female (Figure 5). The percent of
Asian youth marijuana admissions
rose through age 16 for males and
age 15 for females. For both sexes the
percentage of admissions declined
significantly after age 17. Asian youth
marijuana admissions had the
August 9, 2002 DASIS REPORT: YOUTH MARIJUANA ADMISSIONS BY RACE AND ETHNICITY

Figure 4. Hispanic Youth Marijuana Figure 5. Asian Youth Marijuana Admissions,

Admissions, by Age and Sex: 1999 by Age and Sex: 1999

24 24

20 20 6
4
Female 7 Female
16 2 16 4
Male Male
4
Percent

Percent
12 12

17 1 5 17
8 3 15 8
1 1 15 14 1
13 1
4 8 4 1
7 7 6 2 7 6 .7 .6
1 6
.2 3 .2 2 4 3 3
.4 .8
0 0
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Age Age

youngest average age at admission

(16.2 years of age), and the average
age at admission was about 8 months
younger for female admissions than
for male admissions (data not shown).
Figure 6. American Indian/Alaska Native Youth Marijuana
Admissions, by Age and Sex: 1999
24

20
American Indian and 16 6
Female
Alaska Native
Percent

4 Male
6
12
American Indians and Alaska Natives
comprised 1 percent of the U.S. 8 5 2 2
13 2 2
10 12
population aged 12 to 21*; about 3 4 2
6 7 6 6 6
percent of all youth treatment .5
.7 3
admissions (data not shown) and 2 0
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
percent of youth marijuana admis- Age
sions in 1999 involved American
Indians and Alaska Natives (Figure 1).
Among American Indian and
The Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS) is an integrated data system
Alaska Native youth marijuana maintained by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
admissions, the percentage of Administration (SAMHSA). One component of DASIS is the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).
TEDS is a compilation of data on the demographic characteristics and substance abuse problems
admissions rose until age 16, then of those admitted for substance abuse treatment. The information comes primarily from facilities
declined and leveled off between the that receive some public funding. Information on treatment admissions is routinely collected by
State administrative systems and then submitted to SAMHSA in a standard format. Approximately
ages of 18 and 21 (Figure 6). This 1.6 million records are included in TEDS each year. TEDS records represent admissions rather than
individuals, as a person may be admitted to treatment more than once.
group had the lowest percentage of
The DASIS Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA; Synectics for Manage-
male admissions (69 percent) and ment Decisions, Inc., Arlington, Virginia; and RTI, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
conversely the highest percentage of Information and data for this issue are based on data reported to TEDS through April 16, 2001.
female admissions (31 percent). Access the latest TEDS reports at: http://www.samhsa.gov/oas/dasis.htm
Access the latest TEDS public use files at: http://www.samhsa.gov/oas/SAMHDA.htm
Other substance abuse reports are available at: http://www.DrugAbuseStatistics.samhsa.gov

End Note U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
*U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Office of Applied Studies
Bureau (2001). Statistical Abstract of the United www.samhsa.gov
States: 2000. Washington, DC: GPO.