Drug use is all too prevalent in the United States. We often hear stories about overdoses, fatalities and other drug related issues that reduce quality of life. Although alcohol and prescription drugs are legal, they are proving time and time again to be just as dangerous as illegal drugs. The stereotypical image of a person addicted to drugs (not being able to hold a job, not having a home, etc) aren’t always true. There are plenty of people battling substance abuse issues that appear to be “normal”. But how bad is the problem actually? This article shares drug use statistics in America, giving you an idea of the big picture.
Alcohol Use Statistics
It is not uncommon for people to drink alcohol, but for some, it can get out of hand. Here are some eye-opening numbers that reveal how many people are drinking and how many are drinking heavily.
How Many Americans Drink?
The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 85.6% of people of at least 18 years of age drank during some point in their lives.
How Many Americans Drink Heavily?
25.8% of people 18 and older reported engaging in binge drinking during the month prior to the survey. 6.3% reported engaging in heavy alcohol use during the month prior to the survey.
How Many Americans Engage in High Intensity Drinking?
High intensity drinking is an emerging trend. It is defined as drinking levels of alcohol that are twice or more than the drinking thresholds, as defined according to gender. People who engaged in high intensity drinking at twice the gender specific threshold were 70 times more likely to experience an alcohol related visit to the emergency room.
Opioid Use Statistics
Opioids are commonly prescribed for pain but their ability to activate the rewards section of the brain makes them highly addictive. Here are some stats on opioid use in America.
How Many People Have Died from Opioid Use?
More than 760,000 people have died from a drug overdose since 1999. Two out of three overdose deaths that occurred in 2018 involved an opioid.
How Many People are Misusing Opioids?
In 2019, about 10.1 million people 12 or over reported misusing opioids in the past year. 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 745,000 used heroin.
How Many People are Hospitalized for Opium Use?
In 2016, 297 people were hospitalized for opium use per 100,000 of the population.
Overdose Statistics
When people use drugs carelessly, they may take more than their bodies can handle. This can result in a fatal overdose. Here are statistics on how many Americans are dying from the misuse of drugs.
How Many Overdose Deaths Occur a Year?
In 2019, more than 70,000 people died of a drug overdose, according to drug use statistics.
How Many People Die of Opioid Related Overdoses?
Opioids are responsible for many drug related deaths. Fatal opioid overdoses rose from 21,088 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017. Numbers rose to 46,802 deaths in 2018 and 49,860 deaths in 2019.
How Many People Die of Cocaine Overdoses?
Cocaine related fatal overdoses are also on the rise. In 1999, death rates were at 3,822. They rose to 15,883 by 2019.
Let Atlanta Recovery Place Help You With Addiction Today
If you or someone you love suffers from addiction, do not wait to reach out for help. At Atlanta Recovery Place we provide end to end care including detox, therapy and outpatient treatment. We help patients avoid relapse and prepare them for sober living.
Don’t become another drug use statistic. Pick up the phone and take the first step to sober living today.
