New study reveals Montana has the second highest rate of underage drinking problems in the United States.
The study, conducted by addiction experts at Lantana Recovery, examined alcohol use, binge drinking, alcohol use disorder, alcohol-attributable deaths, and DUI arrests among youth aged 12-20 across all 50 states by analyzing data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Key Points:
- Montana ranked second in the nation with an index score of 3.84 for underage drinking problems.
- Alcohol use among youth in Montana stands at 18.91% (ranked 9th), which is 23.03% higher than the national average.
- Binge drinking rates are alarmingly high, with 12.02% of youth reporting binge drinking in the past month (ranked 5th), 43.10% above the national average.
- Youth alcohol use disorder is at 7.02% (ranked 4th), 22.73% higher than the national rate.
- Youth alcohol-attributable deaths in Montana are at 20.27 per 100k (ranked 1st), 85.48% above the national rate.
- DUI arrests among youth are exceptionally high, with a rate of 282.14 per 100k (ranked 3rd), 192.07% higher than the national average.
Table showing the top 10 states with the most underage drinking problems:
| Rank | State | Alcohol Use (%) | Binge Alcohol Use (%) | Alcohol Use Disorder (%) | Alcohol-Attributable Deaths (per 100k) | DUI Arrests (per 100k) | Overall Score |
| 1 | North Dakota | 20.65 | 14.02 | 7.21 | 13.85 | 326.72 | 3.89 |
| 2 | Montana | 18.91 | 12.02 | 7.02 | 20.27 | 282.14 | 3.84 |
| 3 | Vermont | 22.29 | 15.23 | 6.84 | 8.64 | 201.59 | 3.39 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 21.54 | 13.78 | 6.95 | 9.52 | 162.73 | 3.21 |
| 5 | South Dakota | 16.31 | 10.55 | 5.92 | 14.66 | 490.12 | 3.17 |
| 6 | Colorado | 16.96 | 10.03 | 7.31 | 13.14 | 192.25 | 2.94 |
| 7 | Minnesota | 19.88 | 12.01 | 7.06 | 8.49 | 183.93 | 2.93 |
| 8 | Iowa | 19.82 | 11.05 | 6.90 | 8.98 | 193.87 | 2.83 |
| 9 | Ohio | 18.18 | 11.39 | 6.72 | 11.54 | 41.59 | 2.54 |
| 10 | Oregon | 17.90 | 9.25 | 6.90 | 10.41 | 148.02 | 2.52 |
Lindsay Richerson, addiction expert and Executive Director at Lantana Recovery, commented:
“These findings are deeply concerning and highlight the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address underage drinking in Montana. Youth alcohol consumption poses numerous dangers, from impaired judgment and increased risk of accidents to long-term health problems. Studies show that people who start drinking before age 15 are 3.5 times more likely to develop alcohol use disorder later in life.
The model and actress Cara Delevingne, for instance, has openly discussed her early struggles with alcohol, having started drinking at the age of 8, which had long-lasting effects on her life. Implementing school-based prevention programs, increasing access to counseling, and encouraging open conversations about the dangers of underage drinking can make a significant impact.
We must prioritize education, prevention, and treatment programs to protect our young people and ensure a healthier future for our communities.”
Methodology
Data on alcohol use, binge drinking, and alcohol use disorder among 12-20-year-olds were sourced from the most recent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) survey (2021-2022). Information on alcohol-attributable deaths was obtained from the CDC’s Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI) online application for 2020-2021. Data on DUI arrests was obtained from the 2022 FBI Crime Data Explorer.
Alcohol-attributable deaths and DUI arrests were standardized based on the number of 12-20-year-olds in each state using census data from the U.S. Census Bureau. These metrics were normalized using min-max normalization to ensure comparability across states. The overall index score for each state was then calculated by summing the normalized values of each variable.
Story credit: lantanarecovery.com.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
