Friday, March 22, 2024

Addiction Rates In The Us

Statistics On Inhalant Abuse And Addiction In The Us

Addiction In America – The Shocking Statistics
  • In 2018, approximately 2 million Americans aged 12 and over reported past-year use of inhalants like spray paint, aerosol sprays, gasoline, etc.
  • Some 662,000 adolescents between 12 and 17 years old reported past-year use of inhalants in 2018.
  • Approximately 1.5% of young adults aged 1825 years were past-year inhalant users in 2018. This translates to 495,000 young adults who used inhalants in the past year.
  • 0.4% of people over 26 reported past-year inhalant use in 2018 in the U.S.

Alcohol Use Disorder Statistics

Alcohol accounts for over 5 percent of all deaths worldwide. Thats around 3 million deaths per year.11

In the U.S., around 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes every year. On average, alcohol poisoning kills six people daily.13

Among adults in the U.S.:

  • Roughly 25 percent had at least one heavy drinking day14
  • Nearly 40 percent drink in excess12

Heavy drinking can lead to alcohol use disorder . Its a serious chronic condition that:

  • Affects around 16 million people in the U.S.12
  • More prevalent among men than women 5
  • Most prevalent among 18- to 29-years-olds 5
  • Least common among people aged 65 years and older 5

Young people usually drink less than adults. But if they do, they tend to drink more :

  • Over 90 percent of alcohol consumed by young people is through binge drinking.12
  • Around 4.2 million young people binge drank at least once in the past month.12
  • Around 825,000 young people binge drank five times or more in the past month.12

The cost of alcohol misuse amounts to $249 billion per year in the U.S. This covers healthcare costs, lost productivity at work, property damage, crime, and more.15

Addiction Statistics In The United States 2021

Substance abuse and addiction affect the lives of millions of individuals and families in the United States. Data from federal agencies shows concerning rates of drug and alcohol abuse among adolescents and adults in 2021.

Each year, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health collects information on drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and addiction among people aged 12 and older in the United States.

In 2019, about 20 million people in the United States had a substance use disorder in the past year, according to the most recent data report. Data for 2020 has not yet been released.

Additional survey data during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, has revealed higher reported rates of drinking and drug use among adults, as well as alarming spikes in fatal drug overdoses.

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What Are The Most Common Types Of Addiction

Substance misuse and addiction can refer to the misuse of a wide range of substances, some of which are classified as legal or illicit.

Commonly misused drugs include:

  • prescription drugs

Addiction can occur in people of all ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and gender identities, regardless of income or socioeconomic status. No one is immune.

Data Source And Methods

Why Are Drugs Illegal in the United States

Estimates are based on the NVSS multiple-cause-of-death mortality files . Drug poisoning deaths were defined as having an International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision underlying cause-of-death code of X40X44 , X60X64 , X85 , or Y10Y14 . Of the drug overdose deaths in 2020, 91.0% were unintentional, 4.7% were suicides, 4.1% were of undetermined intent, and less than 1% were homicides. The type of drug involved are indicated by ICD10 multiple-cause-of-death codes: heroin, T40.1 natural and semisynthetic opioids, T40.2 methadone, T40.3 synthetic opioids other than methadone, T40.4 cocaine, T40.5 and psychostimulants with abuse potential, T43.6.

Race and Hispanic origin were categorized based on the Office of Management and Budget 1997 standards for federal statistical and administrative reporting . All of the race categories are single race, meaning that only one race was reported on the death certificate. Data shown for the Hispanic population include people of any race. Death rates for non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic AIAN, and Hispanic people may be affected by misclassification of race and Hispanic origin on death certificates. This misclassification could result in underreporting of deaths for these groups by about 3% for non-Hispanic Asian and Hispanic people, and by an estimated 33% for non-Hispanic AIAN people .

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How Common Is Substance Abuse In The United States

Using the data from the NSDUH, it is possible to estimate various figures to get a better picture of drug addiction in the U.S. Part of the questions the people are asked is whether they are current users of any type of substance or alcohol and if they had ever used drugs at any time during their life.

Based on responses to these two questions, it was estimated for 2018 that there were 31.9 million people in the U.S. who were age 12 or older and current users of some kind of substance. Additionally, more than 50% of the people interviewed reported that they had used drugs or alcohol, including abusing prescription drugs, at some point in their lives.1

Us High School Students Who Have Used Hallucinogenic Drugs At Least Once As Of 2017 By Gender And Ethnicity

  • Of all ethnicities, white high school students are the group with the highest one-time hallucinogenic drug use rates.2% respondents admitted to have used a hallucinogenic drug at least once in their lifetime.
  • 2% of Hispanic male students responded with a yes when asked if they have used a hallucinogenic drug at least once, more than Black, White, and other races/ethnicities.
  • Of all ethnic groups, Black high school students are the one with the lowest rate of one-time hallucinogenic drug use. Only 3.3% of respondents have used a hallucinogenic drug at least once.
  • Female Black students are the least enthusiastic when it comes to hallucinogenic drugs, with only 1.4% of respondents admitting to have tried LSD, acid, PCP, angel dust, mescaline, or mushrooms one or more times during in their life.
  • Male students are more likely to use hallucinogenic drugs than female users in the same age. It applies to all ethnic groups.

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Alcohol And Pregnancy In The United States

  • According to the 2019 NSDUH, 9.5 percent of pregnant women ages 15 to 44 in the United States used alcohol in the past month.36

  • The prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome in the United States was estimated by the Institute of Medicine in 1996 to be between 0.5 and 3.0 cases per 1,000.37

  • An NIAAA-supported study of more than 6,000 first graders across four U.S. communities estimated that as many as 15 percent of first-grade children have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders .38

Addiction And The Human Brain

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Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder that involves physical and psychological dependence on drugs or alcohol. People with addiction may pursue the habit even to the point of putting themselves and their loved ones in harms way. Many people with substance use disorders are aware they have a problem but cannot stop alcohol or drug use. Why do some people struggle with quitting drugs or alcohol? The answer lies in the science of addiction and the chemistry of the addicted brain.

Different drugs have distinct patterns of addiction, and the severity varies with dose and length of use. Addiction affects many organs in the body but has a particularly notable impact on the brain. As the addiction to drugs or alcohol progresses over time, changes occur in the brain chemistry and brain circuitry of the user.

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Pros And Cons Of Marijuana Legalization

Pros and Cons of Marijuana LegalizationMarijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance in the United States. More than half of American adults have tried using marijuana at least once in their life. You may have read or heard stories on how marijuana use was mostly linked to people who were very vocal with their opinions. Seeing their favorite performers during a live concert may have been the start of the spreading of this illegal drug which has caused so many lives. When experts found out about the ill effects of marijuana, people who were found to be using them were put behind bars.

How And Why Do People Get Addicted To Drugs

It is very challenging to try to explain addiction. Especially as a concerned loved one, it can be difficult to explain to yourself how your child, your boyfriend, your sibling, became addicted to drugs. On the outside looking in, many people feel that substance addiction is a:

  • Bad choice, in which someone should just say no
  • Bad habit that just needs to be kicked
  • Weakness, that someone cant overcome the withdrawal symptoms
  • Moral failing, that the person has given up

The fact is, drug addiction is none of the above. It is achronic disease of the brain that cannot be overcome overnight, with a simple no or change of mind. If you are asking why do people get addicted to drugs or why did my child get addicted to drugs, its important to recognize this first.

More than likely, you have other questions like, How did this happen? Your loved one may have been raised right, on a solid moral foundation or in a good home, but still started using drugs. The truth is, there are many reasons that people use drugs, and many reasons that people become addicted. Its important you do not blame yourself, or your loved one, before understanding the facts.

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Finding Help For Prescription Drug Abuse

These prescription drug abuse statistics show that the use of prescription medications for nonmedical reasons is growing in America and the effects are evident. If you or someone you love is addicted to prescription drugs, call our toll-free helpline now at . Our admissions coordinators are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions and help you find treatment.

Meth Addiction Stats By Education Level

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Meth use and addiction are sometimes associated with a lower educational level, but the NSDUH survey showed that in 2019, the largest groups of adult meth users had completed at least some college. The 2019 educational breakdown of adult meth user stats are as follows:

  • Less than high school: 1.8 million
  • High school graduate: 4.2 million
  • Some college/associates degree: 5.8 million
  • College graduates: 3.1 million

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How The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Affected Substance Abuse

Although national data isnt yet available on substance use, addiction, and overdose for 2020, early estimates predict alarming trendsin part influenced by the coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected substance abuse in a number of ways, including access to treatment, illicit drug access, social support, and how people are coping with pandemic stress.

Highlights of COVID-19 and substance abuse:

Number Of Drug Overdose Deaths Among Those Aged 15 To 24 Years In The Us From 1999 To 2016

  • The number of drug overdose deaths among those aged 15 to 24 years in the U.S. has been steadily increasing since 1999. In 2004, the number almost doubled.
  • As of 2016, we could see 5,376 fatal drug overdoses. This is over 4 times as much as in 1999.
  • There was a slight decrease in fatal drug overdoses between 2007 and 2009, when the number dropped from 3,550 to 3,377.

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How Many People Use Drugs In The United States

When determining how many people use drugs in the United States, one must look at the demographics for various age groups. It is worth noting that drug addiction in the U.S. can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Reviewing data on the demographics of the various groups helps provide insight into where alcohol and drug abuse problems seem to a major issue. This data also helps develop programslike outpatient addiction treatment programsto help people struggling with substance abuse problems.

Perceived Risk From Substance Use Among Adults Aged 26 Or Older

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Among adults aged 26 or older between 2015 and 2019, perceived great risk of harm from smoking marijuana weekly declined from 38.7 percent in 2015 to 30.8 percent in 2019 . Perceptions of great risk of harm among adults aged 26 or older declined slightly from 2015 to 2019 for daily binge drinking , smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day , and weekly cocaine use . In addition, the perceived great risk of harm from weekly heroin use among this population declined slightly from 2017 to 2019 .

Figure 36. Perceived Great Risk from Substance Use among Adults Aged 26 or Older: 2015-2019

+ Difference between this estimate and the 2019 estimate is statistically significant at the .05 level.

Figure 36 Table. Perceived Great Risk from Substance Use among Adults Aged 26 or Older: 2015-2019

Substance Use
Smoking Marijuana Once or Twice a Week 38.7+
Using Cocaine Once or Twice a Week 88.8+
Using Heroin Once or Twice a Week 95.5
Having 4 or 5 Drinks of Alcohol Nearly Every Day 70.4+
Smoking One or More Packs of Cigarettes per Day 74.2+
+ Difference between this estimate and the 2019 estimate is statistically significant at the .05 level.

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General Substance Use Disorder Statistics Just How Prevalent Is It

  • Americans between the age of 18 to 25 are the most likely demographic to use addictive drugs. There are a variety of factors that make this age group particularly vulnerable including peer pressure, developing identity and finding footing as an adult.
  • 9 out of 10 people who have an addiction began drug or alcohol use before they were 18 years old. This is a strong case for intervening on behalf of youth early in life.
  • Alcohol abuse makes up the lions share of substance abuse in the U.S. population. It accounts for 73% of substance abuse. 37% of the population struggles with illicit drug use and 12% struggle with both alcohol and drug use.
  • Every year, 16 million Americans abuse prescription drugs. These are either drugs prescribed or obtained illegally from someone else. These 16 million Americans make up 6% of the population!
  • The earlier a person begins using drugs in life, the more likely they are to develop a substance abuse problem.
  • Deaths related to substance abuse seem to be trending upward. Overdose deaths tripled in the decade between 1999 and 2019 . Much of this increase is related to the widespread opioid epidemic that has swept the nation in recent years.

Substance Use During The Pandemic

Opioid and stimulant use is on the risehow can psychologists and other clinicians help a greater number of patients struggling with drug use?

Vol. 52 No. 2

Monitor on Psychology52

The ongoing stress and uncertainty of COVID-19 have led to but conditions like anxiety and depression arent the only mental health issues people are facing. Experts say misuse of opioids and stimulants is also on the riseand psychologists are in a good position to help.

On top of the other risks arising with substance misuse, those with substance use disorders are both more likely to develop COVID-19 and experience worse COVID-19 outcomes, including higher risk of hospitalization and mortality .

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of June 2020, 13% of Americans reported starting or increasing substance use as a way of coping with stress or emotions related to COVID-19. Overdoses have also spiked since the onset of the pandemic. A reporting system called ODMAP shows that the early months of the pandemic brought an 18% increase nationwide in overdoses compared with those same months in 2019. The trend has continued throughout 2020, according to the American Medical Association, which reported in December that more than 40 U.S. states have seen increases in opioid-related mortality along with ongoing concerns for those with substance use disorders.

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Statistics On Abuse And Addiction Of Hallucinogen Substances

  • In 2018, around 5.6 million Americans over the age of 12 years were past-year hallucinogen users . This figure was higher than in 2015 and 2016, but similar to that in 2017.
  • Some 376,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years reported past-year use of hallucinogens in 2018.
  • Nearly 7% of young adults aged 1825 years were past-year users of hallucinogens in 2018.
  • In people over the age of 26, an estimated 1.3% were past-year users of hallucinogens.

Cocaine Abuse And Addiction Statistics

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Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that is illegal to buy, possess, and sell in the United States. In recent years, the rate of deaths involving cocaine has sharply increased.

About 1 in 10 drug-related deaths in the United States involve psychostimulants like cocaine, methamphetamine, or amphetamine.

Overview of cocaine abuse rates:

  • About 671,000 people over the age of 12 started using cocaine in 2019.
  • Five and a half million people in the U.S. reported using cocaine at some time in the past year in 2019.
  • About one million people meet the criteria for cocaine use disorder.

Rates of cocaine-involved overdose deaths:

  • Cocaine-involved deaths increased by 26.5 percent in the June 2019-May 2020 study period from the previous year.
  • Cocaine-involved overdose deaths are driven largely by a combination of cocaine with synthetic opioids other than methadone.
  • Cocaine is involved in an estimated 1 in 5 drug overdose deaths.

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Receipt Of Services For Co

The relationship between SUDs and mental disorders is known to be bidirectional. The presence of a mental disorder may contribute to the development or exacerbation of an SUD. Likewise, the presence of an SUD may contribute to the development or exacerbation of a mental disorder. The combined presence of SUDs and mental disorders results in more profound functional impairment worse treatment outcomes higher morbidity and mortality increased treatment costs and higher risk for homelessness, incarceration, and suicide than if people had only one of these disorders but not both.75,76,77 Current treatment guidelines recommend that people with co-occurring disorders receive treatment for both disorders.78,79,80 This section presents estimates of the receipt of services among adolescents and adults with co-occurring SUD and mental health issues.

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