A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle. ~Benjamin Franklin
The rate of alcohol use for blacks over the age of 18 is significantly lower than the national average. A new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also reveals that black adults have a lower rate of binge drinking than the rest of the country (21.7 percent versus 24.5 percent). Young black adults are less likely to be involved in binge drinking than young adults in the general population (25.3 percent versus 41.6 percent).
The rate of binge drinking among pregnant black women aged 18 to 44 is higher than the national average for pregnant women in that age group (8.1 percent versus 3.6 percent). The study shows that black adults have a higher rate of current illegal drug use than the national average (9.5 percent versus 7.9 percent). The difference is sharper among males over the age of 26.
“The study provides important insight into the difference affecting various populations across our country,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. “As a nation we must strive to reach out to every part of our population and provide services that are best tailored to effectively promote the benefits of prevention, treatment and good health.”
The study was part of a series examining substance use patterns among different ethnic, racial and demographic groups. The hope is that this information will help public health experts, treatment providers and communities understand and tackle the issues affecting different segments of the population.
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