First Specific Drug Associated with Initiation of Illicit Drug Use among Past Year Illicit Drug Initiates Aged 12 or Older: 2009

Figure 5.1

Note: The percentages do not add to 100 percent due to rounding or because a small number of respondents initiated multiple drugs on the same day. The first specific drug refers to the one that was used on the occasion of first-time use of any illicit drug.

Comparison, by Drug

  • In 2009, the specific drug categories with the largest number of recent initiates among persons aged 12 or older were marijuana use (2.4 million) and nonmedical use of pain relievers (2.2 million), followed by nonmedical use of tranquilizers (1.2 million), Ecstasy (1.1 million), inhalants (0.8 million), stimulants (0.7 million), and cocaine (0.6 million)


Source:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Office of Applied Studies