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Participation in Youth Activities and Substance Use Among Youths

NCJ Number
208699
Date Published
August 2004
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Based on selected findings from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this report provides information on youths' (ages 12 to 17) participation in youth activities, past-month cigarette and alcohol use among youths who participated in activities, and their past-month illicit drug use.
Abstract
In 2002, approximately 91 percent of youths ages 12 to 17 participated in one or more activities during the past year. Eighty-one percent participated in school-based activities, 69 percent in community-based activities, 63 percent in faith-based activities, and 37 percent in other activities. Females in this age group were more likely to have participated in youth activities than males. The proportion of youths who participated in activities during the past year decreased as age increased. Youths who participated in any activities during the past year were less likely to have used cigarettes or alcoholic beverages during the past month than youths who did not participate in activities; they were also less likely to have used marijuana or any other illicit drug in the past month. 4 figures and 3 notes