Community Assessment - Health & Quality of Life in San Mateo
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key findings

Addictions and substance abuse are major concerns. San Mateo County hospitalization rates for substance abuse increased since 1992-93, and in 1994-95 resulted in an annual average of more than $39 million in hospital charges (a majority of which was publicly funded). Hospitalization rates are highest among African-American residents. Furthermore, overall drug-related deaths in San Mateo County remain above the Year 2000 objective.

Compounding the problem, San Mateo County maintains a low number of treatment slots for substance abuse, leading to excessive wait times, and many residents are uncertain how to obtain services, or see this as difficult.

Qualitative research (focus group) findings corresponding to this section can be found beginning on the Appendix A: Substance Abuse page.

substance abuse

Tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs are serious contributing factors to numerous leading causes of death, disease and disability, including: cancer, motor vehicle crashes, maternal and infant complications and many more. Substance abuse also carries a significant social impact, contributing to such social ills as homelessness, violence and poverty.

Survey findings reveal that:

• During the past year, 2.3% of survey respondents acknowledge having taken a prescription medication without doctor's orders, similar to the 2.1% recorded nationally. In San Mateo County, this percentage increases among Asians/Pacific Islanders (5.5%) and persons aged 18 to 39 (3.6%). ⁷⁰⁶

• A total of 4.9% acknowledge having taken an illegal drug in the past year, higher than the U.S. finding (2.6%). In San Mateo County, responses were higher among young adults 18 to 39 (8.6%), men (6.5%) and Whites (5.9%).⁷⁰⁷

• A total of 2.6% report that they have ever sought professional help for a drug-related problem. Among African-Americans in San Mateo County, this percentage increases to 7.5%. ⁷⁰⁸

• One-third (33.1%) of San Mateo County adults report that they do not know where to access treatment for a drug-related problem if they or someone in their family needed it. Higher responses are recorded among:
  * Those in households with incomes less than $28,000 (53.3%)
  * Asians/Pacific Islanders (50.2%)
  * Those aged 65 and older (47.9%)
  * Those with a high school education or less (43.3%)
  * Hispanics (39.9%) ⁷⁰⁹

drug use among adolescents

• 52% of high school males and 43.2% of high school females report that they have used or tried marijuana in their lifetime. Approximately one in five has used another illegal drug. ⁷¹⁰

alcohol abuse

Alcohol and drugs are closely associated to a host of social and health problems such as liver disease, early unwanted pregnancy, delinquency, and school failure. Alcohol is a factor in about half of all homicides, suicides, and motor vehicle fatalities. Nationally, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the leading preventable cause of birth defects. It has been estimated that one in four American adolescents is at a very high risk of alcohol and other drug use.

• Two-thirds (66.1%) of respondents currently drink alcohol (having had at least one beverage in the past month). Alcohol use is more prevalent among higher-income households (73.1% among those greater than $78,000; 42.4% among those less than $28,000). Statewide, current alcohol use is 61.4%; Nationally, it is 53.6%.⁷¹¹

• A total of 5.1% of responding adults are "chronic" drinkers, averaging more than two drinks per day (greater than 60 alcoholic beverages in the past month). This compares to a similar 5.3% response nationwide. In San Mateo County, chronic alcohol abuse is highest among:

* Those aged 65 and older (9.7%)

* Those in households with annual incomes less than $28,000 (8.1%)

* Men (7.6%)

* Those with a high school education or less (6.7%)⁷¹²

 

 

• A total of 14.1% are classified as "binge" drinkers, having consumed five or more alcoholic beverages on a single occasion at least once in the preceding month (identical to the national finding, and close to the 15.2% found statewide). In San Mateo County, "binge" drinking is highest among:

* Men (21.6%)

* Those aged 18 to 39 (21.5%)

* Hispanics (18.8%) ⁷¹³

 

driving under the influence (DUI) arrests

• The number of arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) has significantly decreased in the past 10 years (a 38% decrease from 6,740 arrests in 1995 to 4,200 arrests in 1996). ⁷¹⁴

substance abuse treatment

• 1994-95 substance use-related hospitalization rates in San Mateo County were highest among African-Americans in most age groups (especially in the 35-54 age groups). Whites, who generally had the second-highest rates, did have higher rates among those under the age of 25 and those aged 75 to 84. ⁷¹⁵

• The 1994-95 substance use-related hospitalization rate in San Mateo County was 637 per 100,000 from men, 402 per 100,000 for women. These rates are higher among African-American residents for both men (1,033 per 100,000) and women (902 per 100,000). ⁷¹⁶

• In 1994 and 1995, substance use-related hospitalizations resulted in annual average charges of $39,079,428 or 4.8% of all hospitalization charges. Over one-third (35.2%) of these charges were paid through Medicare. The distribution among other payment sources are as follows: Medi-Cal (20.8%), HMO (19%), private insurance (10.2%), other government sources (6.7%), self-payment (6.6%), other non-government sources (0.8%) and worker's compensation (0.7%).⁷¹⁷

• Possibly due to funding cutbacks and reallocation, the total number of people treated for drug and alcohol abuses has declined from 3,749 unduplicated persons in county-sponsored drug and alcohol treatment services in 1995 to 3,034 unduplicated participants in 1996 (a 19% decrease).  ⁷¹⁸

• The percentage of youth receiving substance abuse treatment remained steady between 1995 and 1996. ⁷¹⁹

• In San Mateo County, there are 11 drug/alcohol treatment slots for every 10,000 residents. This is considerably below the statewide average of 28 slots per 10,000 population. ⁷²⁰

• The locations of alcohol and drug treatment facilities are outlined in the following map.⁷²¹

• Furthermore, the average wait time to receive substance abuse services in San Mateo County is 50 days. This is more than twice the average for Bay Area counties, and more than four times the median for all counties. Only Monterey County and Kern County have longer wait times. ⁷²²

Community perceptions regarding access to substance abuse services can be found on the Health Insurance Coverage page.

722  Internet site: www.lao.ca.gov/0598_california_counties_part_2.html.

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