British Journal of Addiction (1992) 87, 1481-1485
NEW DATA NOTE SERIES—9
The prevalence of illicit drug use in six metropolitan areas in the United States: results from the 1991 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse ARTHUR L. HUGHES National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall II Building, Suite 615, Rockville, Maryland 20857, USA
The New Data Note Series is edited by Bridget Grant, Chief of Biometry of the NIAAA Abstract National levels and trends of illicit drug use in the general population are well documented. However, little is known about how this phenomenon is distributed among various subnational areas such as state, metropolitan area, and other local areas. The sample design from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) was recently expanded such that estimates from several large metropolitan areas could be produced with reasonable precision. The prevalence of illict drug use is examined in six large metropolitan areas of the United States. These findings indicate that, in some cases, drug use varies considerably by metropolitan area.
Introduction National levels and trends of illict drug use in the general population are well documented. However, little is known about how this phenomenon is distributed among various subnational areas such as state, metropolitan area, and other local areas. The sample design from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) was recently expanded such that estimates from six large metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) could be produced with reasonable precision. This paper presents an assessment of illict drug use in these MSAs. Estimates are also presented for other large MSAs as a whole, as well as small MSAs and non-MSAs.
Description of data source Estimates presented in this paper are based on preliminary data collected from the 1991 NHSDA.' Since 1971 the NHSDA has been conducted period-
ically to provide important information on the level and trends of licit and illicit drug use in the United States. This survey is the primary source of drug abuse data on the civilian non-institutional population in the US. The 1991 NHSDA is a national probability sample of persons age 12 and over from the civilian non-institutional population in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Since the 1985 survey. Blacks and Hispanics have been oversampled so that separate estimates for these groups could be produced. Beginning with the 1991 NHSDA, six large Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) were oversampled in addition to blacks and Hispanics. These areas are Washington DC MSA, Chicago Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA), Denver PMSA, Los Angeles-Long Beach PMSA, MiamiHialeah PMSA, and New York, NY PMSA. The Washington DC MSA consists of the District of
1481
1482
Arthur L. Hughes Table 1. Sample sizes and population estimates by metropolitan area and area segment type Metropolitan area
Low SES
Balance of MSA
Total sample
Population estimate*
Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
1203 1363 1135 1458 1462 1340 NA NA NA 7961
1344 1230 1196 1129 1313 1582 NA NA NA 7794
2547 2593 2331 2587 2775 2922 6332 6575 3932 3 2594
3174000 4927000 1383000 7205000 1685000 7495000 61084000 68086000 47820000 202 859000
NA: Not available since low SES was only defined in the six oversampled MSAs.
Results
Columbia and 15 cities and counties in Maryland and Virginia located nearby. The other five areas were made up of counties located entirely within the respective state. The six MSAs were oversampled such that separate estimation could be made for the lower socio-economic status (SES) portion and the balance of the MSA. Low SES was defined to be housing units belonging to area segments within the urbanized portion of the MSA whose median housing values and median rents fell in the lowest third of all values in the urbanized area.^ Table 1 shows that there were between 2000 and 3000 respondents in each MSA, leaving 6332 respondents in other large MSAs (MSAs with 1 000000 or more persons), 6575 respondents in small MSAs (MSAs with 50000 to 999999 persons), and 3932 respondents living in non-metropolitan areas.
Table 2 shows that use of any illict drug use in the past month appears to be most prevalent in Los Angeles (8.5%) and Denver (7.8%). The low SES portions of these two areas also have the highest rates. The lowest rates occur in Miami and in the non-MSAs. This pattern continues for marijuana use in the past 30 days among 20-34-year-olds (Table 3); the rates for Los Angeles and Denver are 11.5% and 10.3% while rates in Miami and the nonMSAs are 7.7% and 6.9% respectively. Rates of past year cocaine use are virtually the same in all areas. These values range from 2.4% in the non-MSAs to 3.9 in Los Angeles. Past month use of any illict drug also appears to be higher in Los Angeles and Denver for youth, persons over age 26, and whites (Tables 4 and 5).
The interviewing procedure included a combination of open interview and self-administered answer sheet techniques in an attempt to maximize confidentiality while reducing response bias. Questions on more socially deviant drug use were asked after questions on cigarettes, alcohol, and prescriptiontype drugs were presented. Data were collected from 32 459 respondents during the first half of 1991, resulting in an 81.3% response rate. Estimates of any illict drug use, cocaine use, and marijuana use are presented. Any illict drug use includes the use of marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, heroin, or non-medical use of sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants, or analgesics. Cocaine estimates include cocaine in any form, such as powder, 'crack', and free base.
Past month use of any illict drug and past year cocaine use show generally higher prevalence among persons living the low SES area(s) of the MSA (Table 2); however, none of the differences between low SES areas and the remainder of the MSA were statistically significant at the 0.05 level. The smallest /)-values for past month use of any illicit drug were 0.057 in Denver and 0.079 in New York. Nationally, prevalence of past year cocaine use is highest among the 18-25-year-olds (Table 6). This remains to be true among other large MSAs, small MSAs, non-MSAs, and in Denver; however, persons age 26 to 34 in the other five MSAs have similar or slightly higher rates. Rates of past year cocaine use by race/ethnicity are about the same across all areas (Table 7).
Illicit drug use in six US areas
1483
Table 2. Prevalence of past month any illict drug use and past year cocaine use among persons age 12 and over by metropolitan area and area segment type Metropolitan area
Past month any illicit Low Balance SES of MSA Total
Past year cocaine use Low Balance of MSA SES Total
Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
6.3 7.1 11.0 7.9 6.2 8.3 NA NA NA NA
3.2 3.8 5.0 3.2 4.1 4.0 NA NA NA NA
5.4 5.2 7.0 8.8 5.1 6.1 NA NA NA NA
5.7 5.8 7.8 8.5 5.4 6.8 6.9 6.0 5.4 6.2
3.6 2.9 3.7 3.9 3.0 3.5 3.6 3.1 2.4 3.1
3.8 2.5 3.3 4.2 2.6 3.3 NA NA NA NA
NA: Not available since low SES was only defined in the six oversampled MSAs. Table 3. Prevalence ofpast month marijuana use among persons age 20 to 34 by metropolitan area and educational attainment Metropolitan area
Less than high school
Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
14.1 16.3 15.0 8.6 12.4 8.2 15.5 15.5 13.6 14.1
High school graduate
Total
7.2t
7.9 8.8 10.3 11.5 7.7 9.6 10.0 8.7 6.9 8.8
7.6 9.7
12.5t 6.6t 9.9
9.2t 7.6t 5.4t 7.9t
fDifference between 'Less than high school' and 'High school graduate' is statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Totals include persons age 20-34 only. Table 4. Prevalence of past month drug use by metropolitan area and age group (any illict drug) Metropolitan area
12-17
18-25
Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs
4.1 6.3 9.9 9.6 4.5 7.8 6.2 6.9 7.2
13.3 11.7 14.6 15.5 10.7 12.6 15.9 16.7 13.9
Total
6.8
15.4
Los Angeles is the only area where high school graduates have higher rates of current marijuana use than persons that did not complete high school (Table 3). In the other areas, high school graduates
Age group 26-34
35-1-
Total
8.7 8.9 11.5 12.2 10.4 9.4 10.8 8.1 6.3
2.6 2.8 4.8 4.5 2.8 4.3 3.5 2.4 2.6
5.7 5.8 7.8 8.5 5.4 6.8 6.9 6.0 5.4
8.9
3.0
6.2
have lower or similar rates. T h e unemployed use illict drugs at a higher rate than other portions of the population (Table 8). One exception is Los Angeles, where the drug use prevalence among the employed
1484
Arthur L. Hughes Table 5. Prevalence of past month drug use among persons age 12 and over by metropolitan area and race/ethnicity (any illicit drug) Metropolitan area Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
White
Black
5.7 5.2 7.4 11.3 6.1 6.6 6.4 5.5 5.0 5.8
6.8 9.6 * 8.9 6.7 8.4 10.1 9.1 9.4
Race/ethnicity Hispanic
9.4
2.8 2.7 7.3 5.3 4.4 7.0 6.9 7.4 6.1 6.4
Other
Total 5.7 5.8 7.8 8.5
* * 5.0 * 1.9 4.1
5.4 6.8 6.9 6.0 5.4 6.2
it
*
5.9
*Low precision; no estimate reported. Persons classified as white or black are not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics are persons of any race. Race/ethnicity='other' includes non-Hispanic persons who are American Indian, Alaskan native, Asian, or Pacific islander.
Table 6. Prevalence of past year cocaine use by metropolitan area and age group Metropolitan area Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
12-17
18-25
1.4 2.3 1.5 2.7 1.4 2.8 1.0 1.9 1.3 1.5
4.1 5.3 9.9 7.2 5.1 5.9 9.1 8.2 6.1 7.7
Age group 26-34 6.4 5.8 7.1 7.6 5.8 5.7 5.3 4.9 4.2 5.1
35 +
Total
2.7 1.1 1.5 1.3 1.9 2.3 2.2 1.5 1.2 1.6
3.6 2.9 3.7 3.9 3.0 3.5 3.6 3.1 2.4 3.1
Table 7. Prevalence ofpast year cocaine use among persons age 12 and over by metropolitan area and race/ethnicity Metropolitan area Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
White 3.1 2.6 3.6 4.5 2.8 4.2 3.4 3.0 2.3 3.0
Race/ethnicity Black Hispanic 5.9 5.1 6.7 3.6 4.3 3.7 4.2 3.2 3.8 3.9
1.1 3.8 2.9 2.7 2.9 4.8 4.2 4.0 3.8
Totalt 3.6 2.9 3.7 3.9 3.0 3.5 3.6 3.1 2.4 3.1
flndudes race/ethnicity='other' which was not shown due to low precision in each area. *Low precision; no estimate reported. Persons classified as white or black are not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics are persons of any race.
Illicit drug use in six US areas
1485
Table 8. Prevalence of past month drug use among persons age 18 and over by metropolitan area and labor force status (any illicit drug) Metropolitan area
Labour force status Unemployed Other
Employed
Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs
6.1 5.9 8.6 9.8 6.0 7.9 8.0 5.6 4.8
Total
6.5
13.2t 14.lt 16.5 10.7
14.6t 16.2t 17.4t 18.3t 15.5t 16.8t
Total
3.5 3.1 3.0 3.7 2.2 2.3 2.9 4.1 3.7
5.8 5.8 7.6 8.4 5.5 6.7 6.9 5.9 5.1
3.5
6.2
tDifference between 'employed' and 'unemployed' is statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Totals exclude persons age 12-17 years. The unemployed includes persons that are either looking or not looking for work. Labor force status='other' includes persons 18 years old and older who are retired, in school, disabled, homemaker, and other persons not in the labor force.
is about the same as the prevalence estimate for the unemployed.
other demographic characteristics that differ from national patterns. Miami and the non-MSAs as a whole generally exhibit lower rates than other areas.
Conclusion Illicit drug use prevalences among six metropolitan
References
areas were compared using data from the 1991
i_
NATIONAL iNSTmrrEON DRUG ABUSE (1991) Na-
National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Over-
tional Household Survey on Drug Abuse: Population
all, drug use levels and patterns appear to be similar to those observed at the national level. However, a
Estimates 1991, DHHS Publication No. (ADM) '2^-1887 (Washington, DC, US Government Printing
few areas such as Los Angeles and Denver have higher prevalence estimates and exhibit drug use
patterns by race/ethnicity, labor force status, and
j.
S N A L INSTTTUTE ON DRUG ABUSE (1992) Nanonal Household Survey on Drug Abuse: Main
Findings 1991, DHHS document, in press.
NEW DATA NOTE SERIES—9
The prevalence of illicit drug use in six metropolitan areas in the United States: results from the 1991 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse ARTHUR L. HUGHES National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall II Building, Suite 615, Rockville, Maryland 20857, USA
The New Data Note Series is edited by Bridget Grant, Chief of Biometry of the NIAAA Abstract National levels and trends of illicit drug use in the general population are well documented. However, little is known about how this phenomenon is distributed among various subnational areas such as state, metropolitan area, and other local areas. The sample design from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) was recently expanded such that estimates from several large metropolitan areas could be produced with reasonable precision. The prevalence of illict drug use is examined in six large metropolitan areas of the United States. These findings indicate that, in some cases, drug use varies considerably by metropolitan area.
Introduction National levels and trends of illict drug use in the general population are well documented. However, little is known about how this phenomenon is distributed among various subnational areas such as state, metropolitan area, and other local areas. The sample design from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) was recently expanded such that estimates from six large metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) could be produced with reasonable precision. This paper presents an assessment of illict drug use in these MSAs. Estimates are also presented for other large MSAs as a whole, as well as small MSAs and non-MSAs.
Description of data source Estimates presented in this paper are based on preliminary data collected from the 1991 NHSDA.' Since 1971 the NHSDA has been conducted period-
ically to provide important information on the level and trends of licit and illicit drug use in the United States. This survey is the primary source of drug abuse data on the civilian non-institutional population in the US. The 1991 NHSDA is a national probability sample of persons age 12 and over from the civilian non-institutional population in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. Since the 1985 survey. Blacks and Hispanics have been oversampled so that separate estimates for these groups could be produced. Beginning with the 1991 NHSDA, six large Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) were oversampled in addition to blacks and Hispanics. These areas are Washington DC MSA, Chicago Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA), Denver PMSA, Los Angeles-Long Beach PMSA, MiamiHialeah PMSA, and New York, NY PMSA. The Washington DC MSA consists of the District of
1481
1482
Arthur L. Hughes Table 1. Sample sizes and population estimates by metropolitan area and area segment type Metropolitan area
Low SES
Balance of MSA
Total sample
Population estimate*
Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
1203 1363 1135 1458 1462 1340 NA NA NA 7961
1344 1230 1196 1129 1313 1582 NA NA NA 7794
2547 2593 2331 2587 2775 2922 6332 6575 3932 3 2594
3174000 4927000 1383000 7205000 1685000 7495000 61084000 68086000 47820000 202 859000
NA: Not available since low SES was only defined in the six oversampled MSAs.
Results
Columbia and 15 cities and counties in Maryland and Virginia located nearby. The other five areas were made up of counties located entirely within the respective state. The six MSAs were oversampled such that separate estimation could be made for the lower socio-economic status (SES) portion and the balance of the MSA. Low SES was defined to be housing units belonging to area segments within the urbanized portion of the MSA whose median housing values and median rents fell in the lowest third of all values in the urbanized area.^ Table 1 shows that there were between 2000 and 3000 respondents in each MSA, leaving 6332 respondents in other large MSAs (MSAs with 1 000000 or more persons), 6575 respondents in small MSAs (MSAs with 50000 to 999999 persons), and 3932 respondents living in non-metropolitan areas.
Table 2 shows that use of any illict drug use in the past month appears to be most prevalent in Los Angeles (8.5%) and Denver (7.8%). The low SES portions of these two areas also have the highest rates. The lowest rates occur in Miami and in the non-MSAs. This pattern continues for marijuana use in the past 30 days among 20-34-year-olds (Table 3); the rates for Los Angeles and Denver are 11.5% and 10.3% while rates in Miami and the nonMSAs are 7.7% and 6.9% respectively. Rates of past year cocaine use are virtually the same in all areas. These values range from 2.4% in the non-MSAs to 3.9 in Los Angeles. Past month use of any illict drug also appears to be higher in Los Angeles and Denver for youth, persons over age 26, and whites (Tables 4 and 5).
The interviewing procedure included a combination of open interview and self-administered answer sheet techniques in an attempt to maximize confidentiality while reducing response bias. Questions on more socially deviant drug use were asked after questions on cigarettes, alcohol, and prescriptiontype drugs were presented. Data were collected from 32 459 respondents during the first half of 1991, resulting in an 81.3% response rate. Estimates of any illict drug use, cocaine use, and marijuana use are presented. Any illict drug use includes the use of marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, heroin, or non-medical use of sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants, or analgesics. Cocaine estimates include cocaine in any form, such as powder, 'crack', and free base.
Past month use of any illict drug and past year cocaine use show generally higher prevalence among persons living the low SES area(s) of the MSA (Table 2); however, none of the differences between low SES areas and the remainder of the MSA were statistically significant at the 0.05 level. The smallest /)-values for past month use of any illicit drug were 0.057 in Denver and 0.079 in New York. Nationally, prevalence of past year cocaine use is highest among the 18-25-year-olds (Table 6). This remains to be true among other large MSAs, small MSAs, non-MSAs, and in Denver; however, persons age 26 to 34 in the other five MSAs have similar or slightly higher rates. Rates of past year cocaine use by race/ethnicity are about the same across all areas (Table 7).
Illicit drug use in six US areas
1483
Table 2. Prevalence of past month any illict drug use and past year cocaine use among persons age 12 and over by metropolitan area and area segment type Metropolitan area
Past month any illicit Low Balance SES of MSA Total
Past year cocaine use Low Balance of MSA SES Total
Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
6.3 7.1 11.0 7.9 6.2 8.3 NA NA NA NA
3.2 3.8 5.0 3.2 4.1 4.0 NA NA NA NA
5.4 5.2 7.0 8.8 5.1 6.1 NA NA NA NA
5.7 5.8 7.8 8.5 5.4 6.8 6.9 6.0 5.4 6.2
3.6 2.9 3.7 3.9 3.0 3.5 3.6 3.1 2.4 3.1
3.8 2.5 3.3 4.2 2.6 3.3 NA NA NA NA
NA: Not available since low SES was only defined in the six oversampled MSAs. Table 3. Prevalence ofpast month marijuana use among persons age 20 to 34 by metropolitan area and educational attainment Metropolitan area
Less than high school
Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
14.1 16.3 15.0 8.6 12.4 8.2 15.5 15.5 13.6 14.1
High school graduate
Total
7.2t
7.9 8.8 10.3 11.5 7.7 9.6 10.0 8.7 6.9 8.8
7.6 9.7
12.5t 6.6t 9.9
9.2t 7.6t 5.4t 7.9t
fDifference between 'Less than high school' and 'High school graduate' is statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Totals include persons age 20-34 only. Table 4. Prevalence of past month drug use by metropolitan area and age group (any illict drug) Metropolitan area
12-17
18-25
Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs
4.1 6.3 9.9 9.6 4.5 7.8 6.2 6.9 7.2
13.3 11.7 14.6 15.5 10.7 12.6 15.9 16.7 13.9
Total
6.8
15.4
Los Angeles is the only area where high school graduates have higher rates of current marijuana use than persons that did not complete high school (Table 3). In the other areas, high school graduates
Age group 26-34
35-1-
Total
8.7 8.9 11.5 12.2 10.4 9.4 10.8 8.1 6.3
2.6 2.8 4.8 4.5 2.8 4.3 3.5 2.4 2.6
5.7 5.8 7.8 8.5 5.4 6.8 6.9 6.0 5.4
8.9
3.0
6.2
have lower or similar rates. T h e unemployed use illict drugs at a higher rate than other portions of the population (Table 8). One exception is Los Angeles, where the drug use prevalence among the employed
1484
Arthur L. Hughes Table 5. Prevalence of past month drug use among persons age 12 and over by metropolitan area and race/ethnicity (any illicit drug) Metropolitan area Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
White
Black
5.7 5.2 7.4 11.3 6.1 6.6 6.4 5.5 5.0 5.8
6.8 9.6 * 8.9 6.7 8.4 10.1 9.1 9.4
Race/ethnicity Hispanic
9.4
2.8 2.7 7.3 5.3 4.4 7.0 6.9 7.4 6.1 6.4
Other
Total 5.7 5.8 7.8 8.5
* * 5.0 * 1.9 4.1
5.4 6.8 6.9 6.0 5.4 6.2
it
*
5.9
*Low precision; no estimate reported. Persons classified as white or black are not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics are persons of any race. Race/ethnicity='other' includes non-Hispanic persons who are American Indian, Alaskan native, Asian, or Pacific islander.
Table 6. Prevalence of past year cocaine use by metropolitan area and age group Metropolitan area Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
12-17
18-25
1.4 2.3 1.5 2.7 1.4 2.8 1.0 1.9 1.3 1.5
4.1 5.3 9.9 7.2 5.1 5.9 9.1 8.2 6.1 7.7
Age group 26-34 6.4 5.8 7.1 7.6 5.8 5.7 5.3 4.9 4.2 5.1
35 +
Total
2.7 1.1 1.5 1.3 1.9 2.3 2.2 1.5 1.2 1.6
3.6 2.9 3.7 3.9 3.0 3.5 3.6 3.1 2.4 3.1
Table 7. Prevalence ofpast year cocaine use among persons age 12 and over by metropolitan area and race/ethnicity Metropolitan area Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs Total
White 3.1 2.6 3.6 4.5 2.8 4.2 3.4 3.0 2.3 3.0
Race/ethnicity Black Hispanic 5.9 5.1 6.7 3.6 4.3 3.7 4.2 3.2 3.8 3.9
1.1 3.8 2.9 2.7 2.9 4.8 4.2 4.0 3.8
Totalt 3.6 2.9 3.7 3.9 3.0 3.5 3.6 3.1 2.4 3.1
flndudes race/ethnicity='other' which was not shown due to low precision in each area. *Low precision; no estimate reported. Persons classified as white or black are not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics are persons of any race.
Illicit drug use in six US areas
1485
Table 8. Prevalence of past month drug use among persons age 18 and over by metropolitan area and labor force status (any illicit drug) Metropolitan area
Labour force status Unemployed Other
Employed
Washington DC Chicago Denver Los Angeles Miami New York Other large MSAs Small MSAs non-MSAs
6.1 5.9 8.6 9.8 6.0 7.9 8.0 5.6 4.8
Total
6.5
13.2t 14.lt 16.5 10.7
14.6t 16.2t 17.4t 18.3t 15.5t 16.8t
Total
3.5 3.1 3.0 3.7 2.2 2.3 2.9 4.1 3.7
5.8 5.8 7.6 8.4 5.5 6.7 6.9 5.9 5.1
3.5
6.2
tDifference between 'employed' and 'unemployed' is statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Totals exclude persons age 12-17 years. The unemployed includes persons that are either looking or not looking for work. Labor force status='other' includes persons 18 years old and older who are retired, in school, disabled, homemaker, and other persons not in the labor force.
is about the same as the prevalence estimate for the unemployed.
other demographic characteristics that differ from national patterns. Miami and the non-MSAs as a whole generally exhibit lower rates than other areas.
Conclusion Illicit drug use prevalences among six metropolitan
References
areas were compared using data from the 1991
i_
NATIONAL iNSTmrrEON DRUG ABUSE (1991) Na-
National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Over-
tional Household Survey on Drug Abuse: Population
all, drug use levels and patterns appear to be similar to those observed at the national level. However, a
Estimates 1991, DHHS Publication No. (ADM) '2^-1887 (Washington, DC, US Government Printing
few areas such as Los Angeles and Denver have higher prevalence estimates and exhibit drug use
patterns by race/ethnicity, labor force status, and
j.
S N A L INSTTTUTE ON DRUG ABUSE (1992) Nanonal Household Survey on Drug Abuse: Main
Findings 1991, DHHS document, in press.
