Texas Teens Cover - Senate

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY JANUARY 2001
According to the Texas Journal of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hispanic
adolescents tend to initiate alcohol use earlier than their counterparts, engage in
higher misuse levels, and continue to be at higher risk for alcohol abuse and
dependence as adults. In addition, a Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
survey found that Hispanic teens reported the highest levels of use for the five
most abused illegal substances.
Policy Implication: Substance abuse prevention efforts should begin when children are
young, target the five predominant substances, and reinforce successful prevention
programs.
Statistics on the average age at which Texas children use harmful substances
paint a disturbing portrait of early abuse. On average, Texas children first use
inhalants at 12.2 years, alcohol and tobacco at 12.3 years, marijuana at 13.5 years,
and cocaine at 14.4 years. While teens’ use of these substances is declining, their
abuse now begins at younger ages than in previous years. Texas middle and
high school students abuse substances at a rate that equals or exceeds the
national consumption rate for each of the top five substances, with the exception
of marijuana use by 12 th graders.
Chapter 3
Other Health Issues:
Risky Behavior the No. 1 Problem
In 1998, the leading cause of death in the United States for 15-to-20-year olds was
motor vehicle crashes, with 3,427 deaths and 348,000 injuries. Since many
reaction provisions relating to teenage driving and drinking are in place, Texas
could now focus on prevention provisions. The Texas Alliance Against Underage
Drinking is a promising new effort.
In 1997, teenage drivers constituted less than 7 percent of the total U.S.
population, but accounted for 13 percent of all motor vehicle deaths. Of those
fatalities, 21 percent involved alcohol and in 14 percent the underage driver’s
blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level was above 0.10 grams per deciliter .
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SENATE RESEARCH CENTER
Safe Passages: Texas Teens on the Road to Adulthood - xii