Report maps U.S. drug, mental health issues by state

Reuters ^ | March 6, 2008 | Julie Steenhuysen

[Zakeet]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Vermont leads the United States in marijuana use, while Utah has the highest number of people reporting mental health problems, U.S. government researchers said on Thursday, based on a new state-by-state report.

They said substance abuse and mental health issues vary widely by state, but all struggle with these problems to some degree.

"This report shows that although states may be uniquely affected by serious public health problems like underage drinking, every state and region must confront these issues," said Terry Cline, chief of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which compiled the study.

The report found rates of underage drinking in 2005 and 2006 ranged from a low of 21.5 percent in Utah to a high of 38.3 percent in Vermont.

Yet Utah had the highest rate of adults reporting serious psychological problems at 14.4 percent in the same period, compared with Hawaii, which had the lowest at 8.8 percent.

The report takes a state-by-state look at 23 measures of substance use or mental health problems, based on combined data from national surveys done in 2005 and 2006.

[greyfoxx39]

I live in Illinois, which is Prima facie evidence of my insanity.

Good point, LOL. I live in New Mexico, only our governor is certifiably insane

[greyfoxx39]

[RightWhale]

Alaska? Probably coundn’t find anybody with time for this foolishness.

[Tennessee Nana]

I have a mental block...

I dont understand the numbers for TN...

Is this a test ????

:(

[gathersnomoss]

Dave?

[greyfoxx39]

I had a cousin who, while working as a young Mormon Missionary, supplemented his parent's donations to his mission by working as a mule transporting Marijuana over state lines.

Was he officially tracting on his journeys to and fro?