Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine also increased in the 12-month period ending in April 2021. Cocaine deaths also increased, as did deaths from natural and semi-synthetic opioids (such as prescription pain medication). Addiction experts pointed to a number of possible factors, other than public health strategies, that could be contributing to the drop in fatal overdoses, including the changing make-up of the street drug supply. Gupta called for more funding for addiction treatment and healthcare services, especially in Black and Native American communities where overdose deaths remain catastrophically high. 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.

Marijuana Abuse

• There are stark differences in how the body and brain respond to alcohol and different drugs.
• Persons excluded from the survey include individuals experiencing homelessness who do not use shelters, active military personnel, and residents of institutional group quarters such as jails, nursing homes, mental institutions, and long-term care hospitals.
• He believes these changes – a response to the increasingly toxic street drug supply – mean more people like himself are surviving.

Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid drug that is sometimes prescribed for pain. It is also illegally manufactured in forms that are sold on the street, sometimes mixed with other drugs. Dependence is a physiological reliance on drugs or alcohol that can develop through chronic drug misuse or frequent, heavy drinking. Effective prevention and treatment must address the unique challenges faced by people from all backgrounds. American Addiction Centers (AAC) operates several facilities across the U.S., providing multiple levels of care and specialized treatment tracks for specific demographics, such as Veterans, LGBTQ+, and more. Now, let’s take a look at addiction and misuse of specific substances.

Number of Pills Containing Fentanyl Seized by Law Enforcement in the United States, 2017-2023

“While the mortality data for 2024 is incomplete and subject to change, Ohio is now in the ninth consecutive month of a historic and unexpected drop in overdose deaths,” said the organization Harm Reduction Ohio in a statement. Other experts pointed successful drug addicts to the end of the COVID pandemic, combined with the high number of people who have already died from drug overdoses, as possible causes of the abrupt change. “We’ve almost tripled the amount of naloxone out in the community,” said Finegood.

National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases

Some survivors of the overdose crisis said while the situation on the streets remains grim for many people, they believe the public health response is keeping more people alive. †† Stimulant misuse includes the use of cocaine or methamphetamine or use of prescription stimulants in any way not directed by a health care professional. New York City recently opened the nation’s first official safe consumption clinics, where people with substance use disorder can use drugs under medical supervision. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing, long-term disease, often ending with premature death.

Is cannabis addictive?

With CAI, staff administer most questions with audio computer-assisted self-interviewing. This provides a confidential way to answer questions and encourages honest responses. Our team has collectively spent hundreds of hours working on the current drug use and abuse statistics to provide you with a comprehensive report on the current stats and trends among drug users. Opioid overdoses are the most common cause of drug-related deaths, but even cannabis (marijuana) has resulted in preventable deaths. While harder drug use is still a problem, less than 2% of Americans ages 12 and older reported having used cocaine in the past year.

• Most Schedule IV drugs are prescription medications, some of which have been banned by the Food and Drug Administration.
• Higher percentages of men than women and of adults aged 35–49 years than other adults received medications.
• Statistics indicate that some demographics and communities face elevated risks of drug abuse and drug disorders.
• You can use sobriety savings to pay off debts, save for retirement, or invest in a healthier lifestyle.
• Proper investment can help more people overcome the devastating effects of addiction.

Many health insurance plans include coverage for mental health and substance abuse. Second, NSDUH response rates in 2021 and 2022 were lower than in previous years, which might increase the potential for nonresponse bias resulting in over- or underestimates. Third, sample size limited some comparisons of OUD treatment across racial and ethnic groups, prohibited comparisons across health insurance coverage, and precluded treatment estimates specific to persons with mild OUD or with moderate OUD. Medications for OUD are strongly recommended, particularly for moderate or severe OUD (4,5).

Visual representations of Monitoring the Future data, opioid misuse and other topics. Since 1975 the MTF survey has measured drug and alcohol use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide. Some examples of Schedule IV drugs are narcotics, muscle relaxants, and commonly prescribed medications for anxiety and depression, such as alprazolam. Drugs “with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependance” are classified as Schedule III. This category includes dozens of hormones, synthetic hormones, and hormone derivatives.

Drug abuse and misuse of prescription drugs is generally more prevalent in males than in females. While younger people are more likely to use drugs, the rate of drug use among people over 40 is increasing faster than it is among younger age grups. To find another treatment program, browse the top-rated addiction treatment facilities in each state by visiting our homepage, or by viewing the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator. Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available. Youth who drink alcohol have a higher risk of school problems, social problems, suicide, and misuse of other substances.

Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Maine round out the top five states for marijuana usage. Recreational marijuana has been legal in Alaska and Oregon since 2014, Colorado since 2012 and Maine since 2016. More than 1 in 5 people smoke cigarettes in West Virginia, Missouri, Wyoming, Louisiana and Arkansas. West Virginia, Missouri and Louisiana are also close behind Kentucky for overall tobacco use as well.