When discussing the patterns of use of alcohol and other drugs, the nurse should include...

Recent research reveals that 83% of all persons in the United States, age 12 or older, report using alcohol sometime in their lives. Use of alcohol and illicit drugs appears to increase into the mid-20s, and then levels off and decreases with age. Both lifetime prevalence and intensity of alcohol use are greater in males. Caucasians report higher levels of alcohol use than African Americans or Hispanics. Those with more education are more likely to use alcohol, but heavy use is more common among the less educated and the unemployed.Psychosocial Integrity