Introduction
The national data show Rhode Island with higher than average substance use.
According to the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (SAMHSA), Rhode Island youth ages 12-17 were more likely to report illicit drug use (15.1%), cigarette use (6.2%), and binge alcohol use (21.2%) in the past month than the national average in 2012-13. Meanwhile, according to the 2013 Youth Risky Behavior Survey (YRBS), Rhode Island students in grades 9-12 were also above the national average in the percentage reporting they had at least one drink of alcohol on on at least one day in the past month (31%).
