Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jan 2006
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA)
Copyright: 2006 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Contact:  http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/408
Referenced: The SAMHSA reports http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh.htm
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Seattle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

SUBSTANCE ABUSE: SEATTLE'S HIGH

War on drugs? Please. This is Seattle. You know how we roll. You 
don't? According to one recent nationwide survey, we're not the sorts 
to be high on life.

If you live here, you're among the country's second-most-frequent 
users of some illicit substance or the other. The National Survey on 
Drug Use and Health released this month shows that among the 15 
largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country, Seattle ranks 
second in drug use. Note that the study considers marijuana an 
illicit drug, along with the likes of crack and heroin.

Done between 2002 and 2005, the study asks respondents ages 12 and up 
to report past-month substance (ab)use, and 9.6 percent of us 
reported that we'd used something naughty. The national average was 
8.1 percent. Yup. We get high, then we rob banks (Seattle had the 
fourth-highest number of bank robberies in the U.S. last year). If 
you're wondering who out-toked, -smoked, -popped and -snorted us, it 
was San Francisco, at 12.7 percent.

When it came to drinking and tobacco use, we're a far more demure 
city. Seattle tied Miami for eighth place. So 21.7 percent of us 
reported a binge-drinking episode in the past month. And you thought 
we'd never have anything in common with Floridians. The study defines 
binge drinking as having five or more drinks on the same occasion -- 
for example, lunch -- within a couple of hours. We're also eighth for 
tobacco use at 21.4 percent. Need something to feel smug about? Here 
it is: At least we don't binge-drink as much as Chicago (25.6 
percent) or smoke as much as Detroit (27.4 percent). And if that 
doesn't make you feel better, there's always happy hour. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake