Many Young People Drink and Drive

About one in five drivers under age 21 reported driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, according to research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Examining data from the 2002 and 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, SAMHSA concluded that 21 percent of 16- to 20-year-olds drove under the influence, or 4 million drivers. Fourteen percent reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs, 17 percent reported driving under the influence of alcohol, and eight percent said they drove under the influence of a combination of alcohol and other drugs.

Just four percent of the young drivers surveyed said they had been arrested and booked for driving under the influence.
More young people in the Midwest drove under the influence compared to those in other regions; rural youth were more likely to drink or drug and drive than those in cities.