Alcohol abuse is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States (4% of the total deaths in 2000), and is a factor in approximately 41% of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes.

• Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with approximately 75,000 deaths per year.1
   

• Among youth, the use of alcohol and other drugs has also been linked to unintentional injuries, physical fights, academic and occupational problems, and illegal behavior.2
   

• Long-term alcohol misuse is associated with liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological damage as well as psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety, and antisocial personality disorder.3
   

• Current alcohol use among high school students remained steady from 1991 to 1999 and then decreased from 50% in 1999 to 43% in 2005. In 2005, 26% of high school students reported episodic heavy or binge drinking.4
   

• Zero tolerance laws, in all states, make it illegal for youth under age 21 years to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in their system (i.e., with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) ≥0.02 g/dL).5,6
   

• In 2005, 10% of high school students reported driving a car or other vehicle during the past 30 days when they had been drinking alcohol. In addition, 29% of students reported riding in a car or other vehicle during the past 30 days driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol.4
   

Every day about 4,000 American youth aged 12–17 years try their first cigarette. It is estimated that smoking causes 435,000 deaths each year in the United States.

• Tobacco use, including cigarette smoking, cigar smoking, and smokeless tobacco use, is the single leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Each year smoking causes approximately 435,000 premature deaths and over 5 million years of potential life lost.7
   

• Every day, approximately 4,000 American youth aged 12-17 try their first cigarette.8
   

• If current patterns of smoking behavior continue, an estimated 6.4 million of today's children can be expected to die prematurely from a smoking-related disease.9
   

• In 2005, 23% of high schools students reported current cigarette use and 14% reported current cigar use. In addition, 8% of high school students and 18% of white male high school students reported current smokeless tobacco use.10

This information is from the CDC Healthy Youth! Adolescent Health Website.

 

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^References:

1.        CDC. Alcohol-attributable deaths and years of potential life lost—United States, 2001. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2004;53(37):866-870.

2.        Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The relationship between mental health and substance abuse among Adolescents. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1999.

3.        Naimi TS, Brewer RD, Mokdad A, Denny C, Serdula MK, Marks JS. Binge drinking among US adults. JAMA 2003;289:70-75.

4.        CDC. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2005 [pdf 300K]. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2006;55(SS-5):1–108.

5.        National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. States with Zero Tolerance Laws for Drivers Under Age 21 [pdf 22K] Washington D.C.: U. S. Department of Transportation, 2002.

6.        J.H. Hedlund, R.G. Ulmer, D.F. Preusser. Determine Why There Are Fewer Young Alcohol-Impaired Drivers. Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Transportation, 2001 [Report Number DOT HS 809 348].

7.        Fellows JL, Trosclair A, Adams EK, Rivera CC. Annual smoking attributable mortality, years of potential life lost and economic costs: United States 1995-1999. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2002;51:300-303.

8.        Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Summary of findings from the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse: Volume II. Technical appendices and selected data tables. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002;NHSDA Series H-18;DHHS publication no. (SMA) 02-3759.

9.        CDC. Office on Smoking and Health, 2002 calculations based upon: Smoking attributable mortality and years of potential life loss—United States, 1984. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1997;46:444-451.

10.     CDC. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2005 [pdf 300K]. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2006;55(SS-5):1–108.