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NCSL Substance Abuse Snapshot

Allison Colker, Editor
Matthew Gever, Contributor

May 15, 2007    

Emerging Issues

Heavy Drinking and Heart Disease

New research from the American Heart Association shows that college students who drink heavily are at a greater risk for heart disease. Specifically, heavy drinkers can increase their levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a common biological marker associated with cardiovascular problems. In the study, heavy drinking was defined as three or more drinks at least three nights a week, or five or more drinks two days per week. When these drinkers were compared with more moderate drinkers – defined as having two to five drinks at a time, one or two days a week – CRP levels were double in the heavy drinkers. The research also showed that non-drinkers or those who have no more than one drink per week also had higher levels of CRP when compared to the moderate drinking group, implying that moderate drinking is better for the heart than both heavy drinking and abstaining.

Study Links First-Time Drug Use to Depression

A new report from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has found that youth who face depression are twice as likely to use drugs or drink for the first time than youth without depression. The report references teens ages 12-17 who have had a major depressive episode within the past year. Of those who had depression, 29.2 percent took their first drink, compared to 14.5 percent for those who had not had an episode. Rates of use for other drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants and non-medical use of prescription drugs, were similar. Approximately 9 percent of youth reported experiencing depression in the past year. Rates for girls were triple that of boys – 13.5 percent vs. 4.5 percent. Overall rates were similar across racial/ethnic groups.

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