Substance abuse in Sheridan County

Substance abuse remains a serious problem among Sheridan County youth, according to the 2008 Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA).

  • 47% of 12th graders reported use of marijuana in their lifetime.
  • 54% of 12th graders reported use of cigarettes in their lifetime.
  • 11% of 12th graders reported use of inhalants in their lifetime.

Alcohol is the most widely used drug among this group, according to this data.

  • 64% of 10th graders reported use of alcohol in their lifetime, while nearly 80% of 12th graders reported the same.
  • 38% of 10th graders reported using alcohol in the past 30 days, while 48% of 12th graders reported the same.

The prevalence of underage drinking increases with age, making it more important than ever to begin teaching youth at an early age about the dangers of alcohol. Early onset of drinking can be a marker for future problems, including alcohol dependence and other substance abuse, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Those who begin drinking alcohol before the age of 15 are five times more likely than those who start at age 21 and older to develop alcohol problems.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that:

  • Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking. This figure includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes; 1,600 as a result of homicides; 300 from suicide; and hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns, and drownings.
  • Underage alcohol use increases the risk of being involved in physical and sexual assault and can lead to risky sexual behavior. It also is associated with academic failure, illicit drug use, tobacco use, and a range of physical consequences ranging from hangovers to deaths from alcohol poisoning.
  • Alcohol can cause alterations in the structure and function of the developing brain, which continues to mature into a person’s twenties, and may have consequences reaching far beyond adolescence.

Alcohol abuse is also a problem among Sheridan County adults, according to 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data.

  • 15.4% of adults binge drink in a 30-day period, and 5.6% of adults drink heavily.

Alcohol abuse among adults can lead to poor health, legal problems, and struggles with interpersonal relationships and job performance.