Alcohol Use - Adults
Self-report of excessive alcohol use among adults in San Juan County is slightly below, but not significantly different than New Mexico and the U.S.
in 2020, 12.5% of adults in San Juan County reported past month binge drinking, compared to New Mexico's rate of 15.6%, and the U.S. rate of 15.7%.
Chronic heavy drinking is reported by 4.1% of adults in San Juan, compared to 7.1% across New Mexico and 6.7% in the U.S.
Binge Drinking, Adults
Chronic Heavy Drinking
Trends, Adult Alcohol Use
Overall, alcohol use rates among adults have not changed significantly over time.
Alcohol Use - High School
Self-report measures of alcohol use among high school age students in San Juan County are slightly below, but not statistically different from NM and the U.S. Measures are self-report of past 30-days from the most recent NM YRRS. (See Source and Notes below.)
Binge Drinking, HS Youth
Current (Past 30-day) Drinking
Trends, High School Aged Youth Alcohol Use
Data for most alcohol use indicators among high school aged youth have reached a plateau, leveling off after 2013. Prior to 2013, there were significant decreases in all measures of alcohol use and related risk behaviors.
Early initiation of alcohol use, as measured by the YRRS indicator, “First drink before age 13,” is an important indicator that is a predictor of alcoholism later in life. This indicator among youth in San Juan County decreased from 31.7% in 2003 to 15.8% in 2015, and then increased somewhat to 18.6% in 2019. This rate is similar to New Mexico's 20.5%, which is the 3rd highest rate in the U.S.
Early initiation of alcohol use, as measured by the YRRS indicator, “First drink before age 13,” is an important indicator that is a predictor of alcoholism later in life. This indicator among youth in San Juan County decreased from 31.7% in 2003 to 15.8% in 2015, and then increased somewhat to 18.6% in 2019. This rate is similar to New Mexico's 20.5%, which is the 3rd highest rate in the U.S.
Alcohol Use - Middle School
Below are the alcohol use indicators for middle school students from the YRRS. Approximately one-fourth (24%) of middle school students report having ever used alcohol (lifetime use), and 9.5% report current, past 30-day use.
These rates are similar to rates for middle school students across the state. Across the New Mexico, 26.9% of middle school students report lifetime use, 11.5% report current use of alcohol and 5.9% report binge drinking in the past month.
These rates are similar to rates for middle school students across the state. Across the New Mexico, 26.9% of middle school students report lifetime use, 11.5% report current use of alcohol and 5.9% report binge drinking in the past month.
Ever Drank Alcohol
Current (Past 30-day) Drinking
Binge Drinking, MS Youth
Trends, Middle School Alcohol Use
Lifetime use of alcohol (Ever Drank) has decreased among middle school aged youth, from 30.9% in 2009 to 24% in 2019.
INFOGRAPHIC
Download an infographic about alcohol use and consequences in San Juan County.
Resilience at Home
As the name suggests, the New Mexico YRRS (Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey) not only asks about "risk" factors, such as substance use and related behaviors, it also asks about "resilience" factors. Two examples of resilience factors are shown below.
Youth who experience these resilience factors are less likely to use substances (drugs, alcohol) or engage in related behaviors, such as drinking and driving. These represent strengths; for both of these resilience factors, San Juan County is in the top 10 of New Mexico's 33 counties.
Youth who experience these resilience factors are less likely to use substances (drugs, alcohol) or engage in related behaviors, such as drinking and driving. These represent strengths; for both of these resilience factors, San Juan County is in the top 10 of New Mexico's 33 counties.
Data for alcohol use are from two self report surveys, one for youth and one for adults:
Youth Data:
Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS), NM Dept of Health.
Current (2019) County Report: www.youthrisk.org.
Historical YRRS trend data (currently for 2013, 2015 and 2017) from New Mexico's Indicator-Based Information System (NM-IBIS): https://ibis.health.state.nm.us/query/selection/yrrs/_YRRSSelection.html
Adult Data:
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), CDC.
Retrieved from New Mexico's Indicator-Based Information System (NM-IBIS).
https://ibis.health.state.nm.us/query/selection/brfss/_BRFSSSelection.html
Additional information and national data are available from the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/
Youth Data:
Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS), NM Dept of Health.
Current (2019) County Report: www.youthrisk.org.
Historical YRRS trend data (currently for 2013, 2015 and 2017) from New Mexico's Indicator-Based Information System (NM-IBIS): https://ibis.health.state.nm.us/query/selection/yrrs/_YRRSSelection.html
Adult Data:
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), CDC.
Retrieved from New Mexico's Indicator-Based Information System (NM-IBIS).
https://ibis.health.state.nm.us/query/selection/brfss/_BRFSSSelection.html
Additional information and national data are available from the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/
**Binge drinking (youth and adults) is defined as 5 or more drinks (for males or 4 or more drinks for females) on one occasion. Among adults, chronic heavy drinking refers to more than two drinks per day for males and more than one drink per day for females.
The YRRS is administered across New Mexico with high school and middle school students in the Fall of odd-numbered years, by the New Mexico Dept. of Health in collaboration with the New Mexico Public Education Dept. It was most recently done in Fall 2019.
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the National CDC system of health-related telephone surveys. The years 2004 to 2010 are land-line only; 2011 to 2019 represent the use of combined land-line and cell-phone data collection protocols.
The YRRS is administered across New Mexico with high school and middle school students in the Fall of odd-numbered years, by the New Mexico Dept. of Health in collaboration with the New Mexico Public Education Dept. It was most recently done in Fall 2019.
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the National CDC system of health-related telephone surveys. The years 2004 to 2010 are land-line only; 2011 to 2019 represent the use of combined land-line and cell-phone data collection protocols.