A majority of teens do not engage with drugs. This fact is supported by data from a 50-year-old governmental study which could currently be at risk.
The complete 17-person U.S. governmental squad tasked with conducting the National Survey on Drug Use and Health was assigned
layoff notices
On Tuesday, as part of the restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
It remains unclear if there is another strategy for examining the data that local and state authorities utilize to create preventive strategies and treatment programs. The federal administration allocates grant funds to combat this issue.
opioid addiction
Researchers rely on it to examine patterns of depression, alcoholism, and tobacco consumption.
Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for HHS, stated that the survey, which was required by Congress, will proceed “as an essential component in advancing America’s behavioral health.” He mentioned that the department’s restructuring would put them “in a better position to fulfill Congress’s legal requirements.”
The nationwide representative survey is carried out face-to-face by an
independent research group
approximately 70,000 individuals annually. This offers a more comprehensive view than
trends in overdose deaths
Lindsey Vuolo from the Partnership to End Addiction mentioned that these solutions address merely a tiny portion of the issue.
“We utilize its findings almost every day in our research, educational programs and resources, as well as in our communication materials,” Vuolo stated regarding the survey.
Prior to the layoffs, the governmental team had been set to examine the 2024 data, which marks the initial year when trends could once more become dependable following the disruption caused by the pandemic in collecting information. This statement came from Jennifer Hoenig, who used to lead the Office of Population Surveys before being let go.
She mentioned that the information might just end up collecting dust on a shelf without skilled analysts to decipher it.
Hoenig stated, “Everyone involved with it was dismissed.” This particular office is affiliated with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an entity slated to merge into a newly formed Administration for a Healthy America as per Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s proposal.
“My team and I feel very strongly about this data because we believe it’s crucial for people to comprehend what we stand to lose in our nation without it,” Hoenig stated.
Recently, the survey has revealed:
— Nine out of ten teenagers refrained from using illegal substances or consuming alcohol in 2023.
— Males aged 60 and above were more prone to having a substance use disorder compared to females in the same age bracket; however, women were more likely than men to experience a major depressive episode during 2021 and 2022.
In 2023, lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were approximately two times more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience a substance use disorder.
— The number of individuals reporting cannabis use within the last year has almost doubled over the span of two decades, increasing from 11% in 2002 to 21.9% in 2022.
In tackling any public health issue, data plays a crucial role,” stated Andrew Kessler from Slingshot Solutions, a consultancy focusing on addiction and mental health concerns. “This information enables us to push for and implement policies that bridge significant gaps in care, ultimately helping save lives along the way.
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The Associated Press’ Health and Science Division is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. However, the AP maintains full responsibility for all editorial content.