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Tobacco. Adults in California are smoking less than adults nationally and in other western states.

The percentage of adult women in the state who smoke fell from 24 percent in 1988 to 17 percent in 1993, while among men it fell from 29 percent to 23 percent.

These are well below estimates of smoking rates among women (22 percent) and men (26 percent) from the 1993 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

Teen smoking rates in California are also consistently below national averages. The early 1990's saw nationwide increases in all types of teenage substance use, including cigarette smoking. But while current smoking (within the last 30 days) by California's 8th graders increased from 8 in percent 1990 to 10 percent in 1992, 6th and 10th grade smoking rates continued to fall.

Daily smoking rates in all three age groups were also down in the early 1990's.

Tobacco sales in California have dropped dramatically. Residents of California consumed the equivalent of 95 packs of cigarettes per person in 1988. By 1994, this figure had fallen to 5 packs, a 38 percent drop.

A significant factor was an increase in excise taxes which rose from 10Y´ per pack in 1988, to 35Y´ in 1989, and rose again to 37Y´ per pack in 1994. Excise tax revenues from the sale of tobacco products in the state have totaled approximately $700 million dollars annually since 1990.

Alcohol. Californians are drinking less alcohol each year, even though the percentage of adults in California who drink alcohol has remained steady about 75 percent since the late 1980s, according to a 1994 RAND Corporation study. In 1988, alcohol sales equaled more than 3 gallons for every person over age 21, surpassing national sales by a 12 percent margin. By 1994, annual sales in the state dropped 20 percent, matching national sales of 2Ç gallons per person.

However, drinking among California youth has risen in recent years. While teen drinking rates are lower than national figures, California's trends reflect the national pattern, with rates of consumption dropping in the late 1980's, only to rise again.

In 1994, 63 percent of 11th graders, 57 percent of 9th graders and 39 percent of 7th graders in the state reported that they drank beer in the last six months.

While binge drinking (at least five drinks at one sitting) is reported by only 17 percent of the population, it is more common among young adults (age 18-25): 26 percent in 1991, more than twice the 1991 national average of 11.5 percent for this age group.
Binge Drinking by Young Adults (18-25) Twice the National Average in 1991.

Binge drinking is more common among Hispanics than in any other ethnic group. Binge drinking rates rose from 14 percent in 1988 to 19 percent in 1991. Among blacks, rates of binge drinking more than doubled from 1988 to 1991 from 5 percent to 12 percent.

These trends underscore the need for focused prevention and education efforts for specific populations.

Illicit Drugs. While 13 percent of people in the United States used illicit drugs in 1991, RAND's California study estimated that 17 percent of Californians used illicit drugs that year. Although illicit drug use in the state dropped among other groups from 1988 to 1991, use among blacks increased 36 percent.

In 1995, cocaine is readily available sold as $2, $5 and $10 rocks in San Francisco, for example with purity up to 60 percent. Heroin can be purchased in $10 bags and $20 balloons, with purity up to 80 percent in some parts of the state. Marijuana has made a comeback, and is far more potent than in the 1970's.

Following a decline from 1989 to 1991, methamphetamine use in California is increasing, particularly among women and teenagers. Whether injected, smoked or snorted, methamphetamine is most popular among whites, especially in San Diego and Northern California. More than 50 percent of female arrestees in San Diego tested positive for methamphetamine in 1994.

Teenage marijuana use is on the rise in California, reflecting national trends. Marijuana use often precedes other illicit drug use. In 1993, rates of marijuana use among 7th, 9th and 11th graders were 11 percent, 30 percent, and 40 percent, respectively. By contrast, cocaine use by 11th graders had dropped from 7 percent in 1989 to 5 percent in 1993. During the same period cocaine use increased among younger teens, up 21 percent in 9th graders and 33 percent in 7th graders.

Inhalant use by California teenagers has jumped alarmingly since 1989. Among 9th graders, rates of inhalant use have doubled, rising from 11 percent in 1989 to 22 percent in 1993.

Most teenagers today report that it is very easy to obtain alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. In 1994, 56 percent of 11th graders and 42 percent of 9th graders said so, up more than 30 percent since 1988.

Substance Abuse by Dropouts. School dropouts use much more alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs than their peers in school. A survey of dropouts was conducted by the Departments of Education, Alcohol and Drug Programs, Health Services and Justice as a companion to the 1993-94 California Student Substance Use Survey conducted in schools.

Dropouts weekly use of beer (30 percent) and marijuana (36 percent) were about twice as high as students rates; daily smoking (35 percent) was three times as high; weekly methamphetamine/amphetamine use (9 percent) was four times as high; and weekly cocaine use (5 percent) was ten times as high. Fifteen percent of dropouts said that alcohol or other drug use affected their decision to drop out of school.

Substance abuse has contributed significantly to prison population growth in California. The state housed 125,411 prison inmates in 1994. Out of all convictions in California, the percentage for drug sales and possession has more than tripled in the last decade, rising from 7 percent in 1983 to 24 percent in 1993. However, drug offenders only represent a fraction of the substance abuse problems facing California's Department of Corrections (CDC). Substance abuse is widespread among felons convicted of all offenses: 77 percent of males and 83 percent of females have serious drug and alcohol problems.

Since 1989, the number of positive drug tests among arrestees in Los Angeles, San Jose and San Diego has dropped, but 50 to 78 percent of all arrestees still test positive for an illicit drug. The state has recognized the connection between crime and substance abuse, and has responded with programs aimed at stopping the cycle.

Drinking and Driving. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) accounts for one in five of all misdemeanor arrests in California (1.1 million arrests in 1993). The number of DUI arrests dropped 31 percent between 1989 (325,611) and 1993 (224,935).

Injuries and deaths related to drunk driving also dropped 33 percent during this period.

A tough, comprehensive program has produced these encouraging declines. California's Department of Justice and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) keep drunk drivers off the road while they receive treatment.

First-time DUI offenders for whom probation is granted serve a minimum of two days in jail and pay fines ranging from $390 to $2,000. They also must complete a minimum of three months of education and counseling before the DMV will reinstate a driver s license. These programs provide weekly education, as well as group and individual counseling at a cost ranging from $250 to $602. In 1993, 85,616 offenders participated in the first offender program.

For multiple offenders, the consequences are more severe. The law requires that multiple offenders have ignition interlock devices installed on their vehicles. The devices prevent vehicles from being driven by a driver with a measurable amount of alcohol in his or her blood. Although the use of ignition interlock devices has varied across the state, over 6,300 were installed on vehicles in 1994.

Each additional DUI offense results in longer treatment, probation and license revocation periods, as well as higher fines, reinstatements fees, and treatment costs. Judges may rule that cases involving an injury, a death or a driver with an extensive history of driving under the influence be designated as felonies. These drivers may be sentenced to prison; the length of the sentence is entirely up to the judge. The system motivates offenders to change their behavior sooner rather than later. In 1993, 22,256 offenders participated in the multiple offender programs in California.

In 1993, California enacted legislation prohibiting persons under age 21 to drive with more than a trace amount of alcohol in their blood (.01 blood alcohol level, BAC). This legislation closed a loophole that permitted drivers under the age of 18 to drive with a BAC up to .04, and those aged 18, 19 or 20 with a BAC up to .07. The Zero Tolerance initiative for persons under 21 was supported by policy recommendations from a statewide symposium of youth. In 1990, California also began the Designated Driver Program, funded by a $5 dollar surcharge on liquor license fees. The program is coordinated by the California Highway Patrol.

The California Department of Corrections (CDC) has found treatment for felons to be more effective when it continues uninterrupted from prison to parole. CDC funds treatment for offenders in prison, and collaborates with ADP to provide continuity of care for parolees leaving prison-based treatment. Parolees who have completed inmate treatment in a therapeutic community may be placed in community-based residential programs for up to six months after leaving prison. The CALDATA study found that treatment decreased criminal activity. Only 20 percent of drug users who participated in treatment were involved in any illegal activity in the twelve months following treatment. In the year prior to treatment, 74 percent of this group was involved in criminal activity. Since as many as 77 percent of inmates may need treatment for drug or alcohol problems, increased availability of effective treatment would significantly reduce criminal activity, recidivism and prison population growth.

Criminal Activity Drops Dramatically After Treatment.

Twelve-step programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and drug education are available in most prisons. However, the CDC s Office of Substance Abuse Programs, which develops and oversees treatment within prisons, believes that effective treatment should include 9 to 12 months of intensive treatment in prison, followed by 4 to 6 months of residential treatment while on parole. Presently, only about 2 percent of the state's prison population can be treated in intensive programs. The Amity at R.J. Donovan Program in San Diego is a prison-based therapeutic community for 200 inmates during the last 9 to 12 months of their prison sentences. A 1993 outcome study found that parolees who completed the program and continued residential care while on parole had lower recidivism rates (26 percent) than those who received only prison-based treatment (42 percent) and those without any treatment (63 percent).

The 120-bed Forever Free program in Frontera's California Institution for Women showed similar results. Only 10 percent of program graduates who received at least 5 months of community treatment were returned to custody. This compared to 38 percent of graduates who received only prison-based treatment, and 62 percent of program dropouts.

Forever Free is an intensive 4 to 6 month prison program which provides treatment, aftercare planning, and placement in residential or outpatient treatment programs upon release from prison.

Jurisdictions across the country have created special drug courts designed to divert non-violent drug offenders from jails into treatment. Those who violate the terms of treatment are returned to the corrections system to serve out their sentences. California has drug courts in Bakersfield, El Monte, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Bernardino, San Francisco, and Santa Ana far more than any other state. New drug courts are planned for Sacramento and Stockton, and applications for two dozen new courts are currently under review by the Office of Justice Programs.

Courts in Santa Maria, Hayward and San Jose use drug court strategies, although formal drug courts have not been established there.

The Oakland drug court, the first in California, cut rearrests by drug offenders by half during 1990. The Oakland court saved Alameda County more than $2 million in reduced incarceration costs over a three-year period; it now rents empty jail cells to neighboring counties.

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