Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

NY STATE STUDENTS DIVISION FOR YOUTH
FIGURE 3. Lifetime substance use: New York State students versus
residents <strong>of</strong> DFY facilities, 1990.
SOURCE: New York State Office <strong>of</strong> Alcoholism and Substance <strong>Abuse</strong>
Services.
even if they are completely accurate, always provide underestimates <strong>of</strong>
the extent <strong>of</strong> substance abuse; for inhalant abuse, the underestimate is
particularly severe.
To address the issue <strong>of</strong> coverage, an attempt has been made to survey an
element <strong>of</strong> the nonhousehold population, those occupying public shelters
and low-price hotels. Table 1 shows a gross comparison <strong>of</strong> recent drug
use rates or use in just the 6 months prior to the survey for transients and
household residents in New York City and in the rest <strong>of</strong> the State.
Overall, the transient population survey showed relative rates that were
much higher than the household. Three percent <strong>of</strong> the New York City
sample <strong>of</strong> transients had reported using inhalants in the last 6 months,
compared to less than 0.5 percent <strong>of</strong> New York City household residents;
the comparable rates in the rest <strong>of</strong> the State were 4 percent versus less
than 0.5 percent, respectively (New York State Division <strong>of</strong> Substance
<strong>Abuse</strong> Services 1988).
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