MORE DRUG, ALCOHOL USE FOUND

WASHINGTON -- A redesigned survey of who uses and abuses drugs in the United
States has found millions of "missed" users and addicts, with an estimated 22
million Americans abusing alcohol or drugs.

The study, released Friday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, found that 19.5 million Americans used illicit drugs in 2002.
Last year's survey found that 15.9 million Americans had used an illegal drug
in 2001.

SAMHSA stressed that the 2002 data aren't comparable with data from previous
surveys because the latest survey used new methods and turned up many hidden
drug users.

"We know that for a number of years, we've undercounted," said John Walters,
director of the White House Office on National Drug Control Policy.

The new survey of more than 68,000 people used stricter questioning methods and
included a $30 incentive payment, which SAMHSA said resulted in more people
agreeing to be surveyed.

The survey found that marijuana remains the most widely used illegal drug; an
estimated 14.6 million admitted to using it within the past month.

"In 2002, an estimated 2 million persons were current cocaine users," the
report said. Hallucinogens such as ecstasy were used by 1.2 million.

The report found that based on survey projections, 54 million people would have
been binge drinkers in the previous month. A binge drinker is one who has five
or more drinks on the same occasion. Nearly 16 million people were heavy
drinkers, downing five or more drinks a day for five days in the past month.

But drug and alcohol abusers are not getting the help they need, the report
found, partly because they often do not recognize they have a problem.