Definition of the Problem

Alcohol and substance abuse/addiction is a major threat to the future of Oklahomans and Oklahoma, impacting the lives of individuals, families, business organizations and the economy of the state. To solve this problem the public must be educated and then motivated to take action.

Goal 1: to raise the profile of the substance abuse problem in Oklahoma and the toll it is taking on our state.

Goal 2: to motivate people of all ages to action by giving them practical and specific things they can do individually and collaboratively.

(Source: OKLAHOMA EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE · 2009 UPDATE)

http://www.ok.gov/odmhsas/documents/2007.pdf

Alcohol consumption by youth is a significant problem in Oklahoma and across the United States. It is not only dangerous due to the risks associated with the impairment that results from alcohol consumption, but also from the social and economic costs. In 2005 it was estimated that underage drinking cost the citizens of Oklahoma $778 million (Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation 2006)

Episodic heavy drinking by youth is associated with outcomes such as death and disability due to injury. Youth binge drinking is also associated with poor academic performance and other risk behaviors such as increased number of sexual partners and use of illegal drugs (CDC 2006). Sixteen percent of OPNA participants in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 reported binge drinking in the past two weeks (OPNA 2008). Young male OPNA participants were more likely to report engaging in binge drinking than young female OPNA participants
As seen in Figure 8, the age groups with the highest percentage of current drinking were 21 to 29 year-olds and 30 to 34 year-olds at 56% and 50% respectively (OSBI 2007).
Alcohol-related arrests, which consist of driving under the influence, drunkenness, and other liquor law violations, accounted for 32% of all arrests in 2007. This percentage represents 45,226 arrests (OSBI 2007).
According to the latest estimates from the CDC, almost 50% of homicides and more than 20% of suicides are alcohol-related (CDC, 2006). Likewise, alcohol consumption is the primary causal factor in roughly 50% of motor vehicle crash deaths among males age 20 to 44; and in more than one-third of motor vehicle crash deaths among females in this age range (CDC).
In Oklahoma, the top three drugs of choice for persons served in ODMHSAS-funded substance abuse treatment facilities during FY 2008 were alcohol, marijuana/hashish and methamphetamine.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC), Oklahoma leads the nation in the rate of female offender incarceration at 131 per 100,000 population, which is much higher than the national average of 69 per 100,000 population. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2002), 52% of the nation’s female inmates are dependent on drugs or alcohol. Of all the offenses listed for incarcerated women between 2001 and 2007 in Oklahoma, a large percentage (approximately 70%) was associated with a controlled substance, alcohol or both.