Drug Addiction Statistics

Facts And Statistics Regarding Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol is the most often abused drug in the United States, however, alcoholism is frequently left untreated. Alcoholism can have negative effects on a person’s mental, physical, and social health.

• Alcohol is responsible for 5.3 percent of global deaths annually (or 1 in every 20).
• Approximately 300 million people worldwide have an alcohol consumption disorder.
• Every day, on average, 30 US adults die in alcohol-related auto accidents and 6 adults die from alcohol poisoning.
• In the U.S., over 88,000 individuals die annually due to alcohol.
• About 6 percent of American adults, or over 15 million persons, have an alcohol use disorder; however, only about 7 percent of these individuals receive treatment.
• Men aged 18 to 25 are more prone to engage in binge drinking and develop alcoholism.

Facts And Statistics Regarding Opioid Abuse

Opioids are a group of medications that inhibit pain sensations and induce euphoria. They are harmful due to the extremely high risk of overdose and addiction they pose. Opioids are an element in a variety of painkillers.

• Because they are controlled drugs, they are also sold illegally by drug traffickers.
• Opioids, both prescribed and illegal, have contributed to a rise in mortality in the United States during the previous two decades.
• Every day, over 130 Americans die from an opiate overdose.
• Since 1999, sales of opioid painkillers have increased by 300 percent.
• Approximately 20 to 30 percent of those who are prescribed Opioids will abuse them.
• About 10 percent of those who abuse prescription opioids develop an addiction.
• About 2.1 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder.
• Approximately 5 percent of those with an opioid use disorder will experiment with Heroin.

Facts And Statistics Regarding Heroin Abuse

Heroin is a very potent and addictive Opioid. It is an illicit substance that offers grave overdose hazards. Heroin, particularly Heroin combined with Fentanyl (a very potent Synthetic Opioid), has been a key contributor to the United States’ opioid epidemic.

• Approximately 0.3 percent of American adults use Heroin.
• Each year there are approximately 100,000 new heroin users.
• More than 28 percent of 2019’s fatal opioid overdoses were attributable to Heroin.
• As a result of using habits and Narcan, the rate of heroin-related overdose deaths decreased by 6 percent between 2018 and 2019.
• In 2019, there were 14,019 heroin-related overdose deaths.
• Even though the death rate has decreased recently, it nearly quadrupled between 2010 and 2019.

Facts And Statistics Regarding Marijuana Abuse

Marijuana is a psychotropic substance derived from a plant containing THC. It is becoming increasingly permitted in the United States, both for medical and recreational use, but it is not entirely safe because it may be addictive and cause health issues.

• Approximately 30-40 million adults in the US smoke marijuana annually.
• About 43 percent of adult Americans claim to have tried marijuana.
• Approximately 30 percent of frequent Marijuana users have a Marijuana use disorder.
• In 1990, the typical Marijuana batch had less than 4 percent THC, however, that figure is now over 13%.
• Roughly 10 percent of all marijuana users will develop an addiction.
• Approximately 17 percent of those who begin drug use as minors become addicted.

Facts And Statistics Regarding Nicotine Abuse

As of 2019, anyone above the age of 21 in the United States can purchase cigarettes without difficulty. While cigarettes are lawful and easily accessible, they cause numerous fatal diseases and are addictive.

• Approximately 34 million Americans are smokers.
• Every day, approximately 1,600 adolescents consume their first cigarette.
• Approximately 15 percent of American males and 13 percent of American women are cigarette smokers.
• People with disabilities, those living below the poverty line, and those without a college degree are more inclined to smoke cigarettes.
• Over sixteen million Americans suffer from a smoking-related disease.
• In the U.S., cigarette smoking is the reason for about 480,000 deaths every year.

Facts And Statistics About Cocaine Addiction And Abuse 

Cocaine is a prohibited stimulant. Cocaine, whether in powder or crystal form (often referred to as “Crack”), can induce organ damage, mental issues, and respiratory failure. Cocaine is incredibly addicting as well. Some cocaine users may develop an addiction after a single dose.

• About 5 million Americans regularly use cocaine.
• In 2020, just under 2 percent of eighth graders had tried cocaine.
• In 2020, approximately 1 percent of eighth graders used Crack.
• Since 2013, cocaine-related fatalities have increased annually.
• In 2018, there were 14,667 such deaths.
• American individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 are the most likely age group to take cocaine.

Facts And Statistics Regarding Methamphetamine Abuse

Methamphetamine, sometimes known as Meth, is a restricted narcotic with a significant overdose, abuse, and addiction potential. Meth is typically offered as “Crystal” (white rocks or shards) to be burned and smoked as a controlled substance. Meth is extremely addicting and hazardous to one’s health.

• About 774,000 Americans regularly use methamphetamine. Approximately 16,000 of them are between 12 and 17 years of age.
• In 2019, the DEA acquired nearly 117,000 pounds of methamphetamine.
• About 964,000 Americans are Meth-dependent.
• In the first six months of 2019, DEA-tested meth had an average purity of 97.2 percent.
• In 2020, slightly more than 1 percent of eighth graders had used meth.
• From 2015 to 2019, the number of deadly meth overdoses nearly tripled.

Facts And Statistics Regarding Hallucinogen Abuse

Hallucinogens are a class of medications that affect the mind. Hallucinogens include Psilocybin mushrooms, Mescaline, DMT, PCP, LSD, Ecstasy, Ketamine, and Salvia. All of these substances are prohibited and entail the danger of traumatic hallucinations, poor judgment, and addiction.

• Approximately 1.4 million Americans are frequent hallucinogen users.
• About 143,000 of them are between 12 and 17 years old.
• As of 2020, over 8 percent of all 12th-grade students had used hallucinogenic drugs at least once.
• Johns Hopkins received $17 million from donors for the investigation of hallucinogen therapy.
• Approximately twenty million Americans have used LSD.

Facts And Statistics Regarding Inhalant Abuse

Inhalants are a class of gases, solvents, and aerosol sprays that are inhaled to achieve intoxication. Inhalants are commonplace items such as nail paint, glue, leather cleaner, and hairspray but they contain mind-altering properties. “Huffing” Inhalants can induce unconsciousness or addiction.

• At least once in their lifetimes, about 23 million Americans have used an inhalant.
• About 556,000 Americans use inhalants regularly.
• In 2018, over 9 percent of the total 12th graders admitted using an inhalant.
• Each year, inhalants lead to around 15 percent of suffocation deaths.