Every year the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics releases an updated list that covers a multitude of facts on the most common substances being used. While the information is jarring, it gives us a glimpse into humanity’s current relationship with drugs.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that drug use and misuse is only on the rise. This shouldn’t be surprising due to the research that has been done showing us that the pandemic created an environment of fear, uncertainty, anxiousness, sadness, depression and loneliness.
At the height of the pandemic, thousands of people lost their jobs and some still have been unable to find a supplementary source of income. All of this combined created the perfect recipe for an increase in substance use and abuse.
In this blog post we will cover some of the most shocking statistics that were included in the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics’ report and why it’s important to be aware of the growing number of people that have been affected by substance use in recent years.
Overview of Key Findings
One of the key findings included in the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics’ most recent report tells us that looking at the population of the United States as a whole, 50% of people 12 years of age and older, have used illicit drugs at least once in their lifetime.
While drug overdose deaths are on the rise in recent years, since 2000 there have been over 700,000 deaths contributed to drug overdoses in the United States alone.
In 2020, the federal budget that was allocated towards drug control reached $35 billion. Jumping ahead to 2022, the amount put towards the federal budget increased to over $39 billion.
Drug Overdose Statistics
Looking at the year-over-year increase, drug overdose deaths have now reached a 30% increase in the last year. The opioid crisis has played a major role in the rise of overdose deaths in recent years.
Seven out of every 10 overdose deaths can be attributed to the misuse of opioids. In addition, opioids kill more than three times as many people as cocaine does. Opioids are the deadliest drug type and at least one type of opioid is a factor in 72% of all overdose deaths. Some of the most common subcategories of opioids are as follows:
- Natural Opioids: this includes both morphine and codeine
- Semi-Synthetic Opioids: drugs in this category include oxymorphone, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, and the more commonly known oxycodone
- Methadone: this is a type of synthetic opioid that is typically categorized in its own group in official data
- Synthetic Opioids: this includes tramadol and fentanyl, in addition to methadone
- Heroin: this is a synthetic opioid that is illegally manufactured and made from morphine
It is shocking to learn that the national overdose death rate is 21.6 deaths per 100,000 residents of the United States. While women are dying from drug overdoses at a rate that is slightly faster than the year before, men are more than twice as likely to die from a drug overdose. When looking at what causes the highest number of deaths in the U.S., overdose deaths rank just below deaths attributed to diabetes.
Fentanyl Overdose Statistics
Looking at the total number of overdose deaths in the United States, at least half of those deaths have been attributed to fentanyl. In 2020 alone, there were a whopping 42,700 deaths caused by a fentanyl overdose.
Fentanyl is one of the most highly toxic drugs found today, and it is by far the deadliest opioid in the world. It is five percent more toxic than heroin, and 50 to 300 times more potent than morphine.
In recent years, the rate of fentanyl overdoses has risen 2.5 times faster than the rate of heroin overdoses. Additionally, fentanyl overdoses have completely outpaced prescription opioid overdoses by over 550%.
Aside from being highly addictive, one of the biggest risks of taking this synthetic opioid is that even the smallest of doses can be deadly. For instance, there is a moderate risk of death from a dose that is 0.0001 grams, which shoots up to a very likely risk of death from a 0.0007 gram dose. Death is certain if an individual takes a dose that measures any more than 0.002 grams. Keep in mind that one, tiny teaspoon equals five total grams of fentanyl.
Alcohol Abuse Statistics
In an average year, over 140,557 Americans die from the effects caused by alcohol. When looking at the population in the U.S. over the age of 12 years old, one in 10 individuals currently have an Alcohol Use Disorder.
Over 385 people die in America alone due to excessive alcohol use, every single day. In the 15 to 49 year old age range, alcohol can be attributed to 10% of the total deaths. According to the World Health Organization, excessive alcohol use is responsible for over 2% of the diseases found in females and over 7% of the diseases found in males.
As a whole, excessive drinking causes people in America to lose over 3.59 million potential years of their life.
Credited to National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics
Increase in Alcohol Abuse Due to COVID-19
In a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, over 60% of Americans claim that they are now drinking more than they did prior to March 1, 2020 (the height of the pandemic).
It’s important to mention that looking at the sale of alcohol year-over-year, in 2020 sales had increased by a staggering 234%. When state-wide lockdowns were at their peak, online liquor sales alone saw a 262% increase from the previous year.
Opioid Crisis Statistics
In the United States alone, every year there are almost 50,000 deaths attributed to the opioid epidemic. As a factor in at least seven out of 10 overdose deaths, opioids are being misused by over 10 million people each year.
In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officially declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. From 1999 to 2019, the number of overdose deaths caused by opioids rapidly increased by 519.38%.
Fentanyl, which is one of the most widely used synthetic opioids in recent years, now plays a factor in close to 20% of all overdose deaths. Looking at the total number of overdose deaths in America, 68% are caused by synthetic opioids.
Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics
On average, in the last 30 days over 45% of adults in America have used prescription drugs, whether obtained legally or not. In the United States alone, there have been over 16 million people who have misused their prescriptions in the past year.
After marijuana and cocaine, the third most abused illegal substances are prescription drugs. Some of the most commonly abused psychotherapeutic prescriptions are Adderall, Ativan, Morphine, Oxycodone, Ritalin, Vicodin, and Xanax.
Drug and Alcohol Related Crimes and Killings
While it may not be illegal to consume alcohol in the United States, in any given year, over 316,032 people are arrested for public drunkenness. Consequently, every year there are an estimated 10,511 deaths caused by drunk driving. This roughly translates to 28 to 30 people who lose their lives every day due to an accident involving drunk driving.
When it comes to alcohol, it is the number one substance tied directly to homicides. On an annual basis, there are an average of 7,334 homicides attributed to an individual’s alcohol use. Close to 50% of people that were convicted of homicide were said to have consumed alcohol before they committed murder. The 20-34 year old age range saw the largest amount of homicides in which alcohol was a contributing factor, averaging 3,431 each year.
Child Endangerment Due to Drug and Alcohol Use
On average, close to 40% of the total number of children removed from their homes due to child endangerment laws, had at least one parent with a drug or alcohol addiction.
In recent years, an estimated 1 in 8 children have lived in a home where at least one parent had a substance use disorder. Alcohol being the most prevalent substance used, about 1 in 10 children lived in a home where at least one parent had an alcohol use disorder. Around 1 in 35 children have lived in homes where at least one parent had an addiction to illicit substances, heroin being the most common.
Both illegal and prescription opioids are the most common types of substances that poison control centers receive calls on. On average, there are an estimated 284,000 cases of exposure related to these highly dangerous and highly illicit drugs. Children who were under the age of five years old made up 44% of these cases, including 5,300 children who were exposed to heroin and fentanyl. Over a seven year period, the amount of children five years old and younger who were exposed to marijuana and THC-infused products had increased by 148%.
At Diamond Recovery, We Create Strong Foundations For Our Patient’s Recovery Journey
In recent years, the cost and treatment for drug use in the United States has reached close to $300 billion. This takes into account certain factors that have an impact on society such as healthcare needs, lost work productivity, and crime. Substance use disorder typically results in comorbidity, with almost half of the individuals that abuse drugs experiencing mental health disorders at the same time.
Knowing when the right time is to seek treatment for drug use is crucial. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders, it’s important to undergo treatment for drug use before it’s too late.
At Diamond Recovery we are dedicated to assisting our patients when they are ready to take their first steps on the path to recovery. By creating a nurturing and resourceful environment for our patients, we provide them with the support and education they need.
Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you reach your goals of achieving and maintaining long-term sobriety.
