MINNEAPOLIS, April 23, 2008—A report titled "State Estimates of Adults Driving under the Influence of Alcohol and Illicit Drugs" reveals that almost a quarter of Minnesota drivers drove drunk at least once in the past year.

In the report released yesterday by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the state ranked among the very worst for drunk driving.

Nationwide, an estimated 30.5 million people aged 12 or older drove under the influence of alcohol at least once in the past year.

Driving under the influence ranged from the highs of 26.4 percent in Wisconsin, 24.9 percent in North Dakota and 23.5 percent in Minnesota, to a low of 9.5 percent in Utah.

"State Estimates of Adults Driving under the Influence of Alcohol and Illicit Drugs" is based on the combined data from the 2004 to 2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and provides state-level estimates for the pervasiveness of driving under the influence of alcohol and driving under the influence of illicit drugs.

The report also shows that nationwide nearly one in 20 adult drivers aged 18 or older drove under the influence of illicit drugs such as marijuana/hashish, cocaine/crack, inhalants, hallucinogens, heroin or prescription drugs used non-medically.

The full report is available http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/stateDUI/stateDUI.cfm .