Nearly 881,684 U.S. Teens Smoke Cigarettes on an Average day: SAMHSA

Nearly 881,684 U.S. teens smoke cigarettes on an average day. The rate of other substance abuse is also considerably high with  646,707 U.S. teens smoking marijuana and 457,672 teens indulging in alcohol almost daily.

Alcohol and pot abuse among teenagers is an issue that affects countries worldwide. Although there is a decline in adult smoking rate, teen smoking in the U.S. is at its peak. The latest report provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) states that substance use by adolescents in the U.S. on an average day is alarming and almost epidemic.

The new report shows on an average day 81,684 teens aged 12 to 17 smoked cigarettes, 646,707 smoked marijuana, and 457,672 drank alcohol. Though a steady decline in alcohol consumption was noticed since the 1980s, the rate of marijuana smoking among teens is multiplying.

The report puts the number in perspective. The number of U.S. adolescents using marijuana on an average could fill the Indianapolis speedway- with seating capacity 250,000, by two and a half times.

"This data about adolescents sheds new light on how deeply substance use pervades the lives of many young people and their families," SAMHSA administrator Pamela S. Hyde said in a news release. "While other studies indicate that, a significant progress has been made in lowering the levels of some forms of substance use among adolescents in the past decade; this report shows that far too many young people are still at risk."

Based on SAMHSA data, the new report highlights the average day substance abuse behavior and addiction treatment activities that occur among adolescents.

The study presents data of first time teen abusers of substance on an average day: 7,639 drink alcohol for the first time. More than 4000 use illicit drugs and marijuana for the first time, 3,701 teens smoke cigarettes for the first time and 2,151 misuse prescription pain relievers for the first time.  

Focusing on the teens who were receiving treatment for substance abuse problems in a day;  SAMHSA recorded over 71,000 in outpatient treatment, more than 9,302 in non-hospital residential treatment, and over 1,258 in hospital inpatient treatment.