The disease of addiction affects millions of people in the United States and around the world. Lockdowns, economic uncertainties, loss of family members and jobs will go a long way and show their real consequences on addiction statistics in 2022.
The following addiction statistics show exactly how much of an issue substance abuse is among people of all age groups and socio-economic categories. Following that, we will also look at opiate addiction specifically and the results of this addiction. To finish off, we will also offer you some insight into alcoholism.
Top Ten Facts and Statistics on Addiction
- Around six people pass away from alcohol poisoning every day.
- Over 90% of people with a substance abuse problem began using drugs, drinking, or smoking before the age of 18.
- Heroin addiction statistics show that around 2.5 million people aged between 18 and 25 had a problem with illicit drug usage.
- Around 21% to 29% of people who are prescribed opioids to help ease chronic pain misuse the drugs.
- Alcohol addiction statistics show that around 14.4 million adults in the US suffer from alcohol use disorder.
- Overdoses due to prescription medications cause the most overdose-related deaths in the United States.
- Out of 100,000 people in the US, around 14.6 died of an opioid overdose in 2017, according to various stats on addiction.
- Based on recent marijuana addiction statistics, around 24 million people in the US claimed that they used marijuana.
- Addiction recovery statistics show that drug, tobacco, and alcohol abuse cost the United States around $600 billion annually.
- Between 1999 and 2018, around 450,000 deaths were caused by opioid overdose.
General Drug Addiction Statistics
To understand the problem better, we need to take a closer look at the basic info. Which is what we will do right now. We will discover how wide-spread this problem is, whom it affects the most, and how people become addicts.
1. Addiction stats reveal that 19.7 million people in the United States had a problem with substance abuse in 2017.
(American Addiction Centers)
This is according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and it counted people over the age of 12 with substance abuse problems. The sheer number of people with substance abuse issues in the US proves that it’s a national crisis.
2. Over 90% of people with a substance abuse problem began using drugs, drinking, or smoking before the age of 18.
(Center on Addiction)
This just goes to show that people with addiction problems usually start abusing harmful substances very young. As addiction stats show, using any substance, even tobacco, from a young age can make quitting the harmful habit at a later stage in life much more difficult.
3. Based on recent marijuana addiction statistics, around 24 million people in the US claimed that they used marijuana.
(DrugRehab.com)
This sums up to around 9% of the population. 14.7 million of these people were men, and 9.3 million were women. This data shows that men are more likely to use marijuana than women are.
4. Heroin addiction statistics show that around 2.5 million people aged between 18 and 25 had a problem with illicit drug usage.
(American Addiction Centers)
This works out to around 7.3% of the population — in the decade preceding 2017, heroin use among this age group had doubled.
5. Addiction recovery statistics show that drug, tobacco, and alcohol abuse cost the United States around $600 billion annually.
(DrugAbuse.com)
This includes healthcare, crime, and loss of productivity in the workplace. The annual amount just for direct healthcare due to these issues is $137 billion, according to addiction statistics. Substance abuse can cost the taxpayer quite a bit of money when it comes to healthcare, treatment, and crime.
6. Overdoses due to prescription medications cause the most overdose-related deaths in the United States.
(DrugAbuse.com)
In 2012 alone, around 33,175 deaths were caused by accidental overdose. Of those deaths, 53% were because of pharmaceutical drugs. When abused, pharmaceutical drugs can be as lethal as street drugs.
7. Drug rehab statistics success rates reveal that, in 2018, there were 67,367 deaths due to drug overdose.
(Centers for Disease Control)
In the year before (2017), there were 21.6 deaths per 100,000 people in the US. This just shows how prevalent death through accidental overdose is, and measures need to be taken to limit the number of deaths due to drugs.
8. In 2017, drug overdose rates were the worst in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, as shown by substance abuse statistics.
(Centers for Disease Control)
In West Virginia, there were 57.8 drug-related deaths per 100,000 people. In Ohio, there were 46.3 drug-related deaths per 100,000 people. In Pennsylvania, there were 44.3 drug-related deaths per 100,000 people.
9. The city with the highest use of cocaine is Phoenix, Arizona, as per cocaine statistics in the US.
(American Addiction Centers)
More than 20% of the population of this city has experimented with or tried cocaine before. Cocaine is the second most popular drug in the US. Cocaine is a dangerous street drug that is addictive and can cause great harm.
10. According to meth addiction statistics, the two cities in the United States with the highest rate of methamphetamine usage are Phoenix and Mesa.
(American Addiction Centers)
In many cities of the United States, methamphetamine is used more than four times as often as heroin. Methamphetamine is a dangerous and highly addictive substance that can cause great damage to the person using it.
11. When it comes to heroin usage, Omaha and Indianapolis have the highest rates in the country.
(American Addiction Centers)
Around 3.4% of citizens have tried this incredibly dangerous street drug. Heroin is widely known for being highly addictive and dangerous as it is easy to overdose on this street drug.
Opioid Addiction Statistics
The opioid overdose crisis is a rampant issue all over the US, and it’s not being given enough attention. Every day, over 100 Americans die because of opioid misuse, and here is what you need to know about this issue.
12. Out of 100,000 people in the US, around 14.6 died of an opioid overdose in 2017, according to various stats on addiction.
(Centers for Disease Control)
That number per 100,000 people for synthetic opioids (not methadone) was 8.7. For heroin, the number of deaths per a population of 100,000 was 4.8.
13. Around 21% to 29% of people who are prescribed opioids to help ease chronic pain misuse the drugs.
(National Institute on Drug Abuse)
In addition to this, around 4% to 6% of people who misuse their opioid prescriptions for dealing with chronic pain end up using heroin, say opiates addiction statistics.
This data shows us that it is easy to become hooked on opioids through medication and then move on to more dangerous street drugs.
14. Addiction recovery statistics reveal several harsh symptoms of withdrawal from opioids, including vomiting and diarrhea.
(American Society of Anesthesiologists)
Other symptoms include cravings for the drug, frustration and anxiety or irritability, abdominal pain, cold shivers, insomnia, and tremors. Withdrawal from opioids can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
15. In 2018, around 10.3 million people abused their opioid medications.
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Prescription opioids are an increasing problem, especially in the United States. Some people feel that they aren’t risking anything by taking the drug, as it was prescribed by a doctor. However, stats on addiction show that opioids are addictive and can cause great harm.
16. Between 1999 and 2018, around 450,000 deaths were caused by opioid overdose.
(Centers for Disease Control)
These included any prescription opioid overdoses as well as overdoses from illicit opioids. Whether prescribed by a doctor or purchased from a street dealer, these drugs are incredibly dangerous.
Alcoholism Statistics Before Reaching for Another Glass
Alcohol is different from previous substances we discussed by the mere fact that it is socially acceptable. Over the years, it became a synonym for having a good time. This is why more and more young people choose to indulge themselves and cross the line, turning into alcohol addicts. This is a story about them.
17. 26.45% of those aged older than 18 said they had experienced binge drinking in the previous month.
(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
A further 6.6% said they had been drinking heavily in the previous month. This information was from a survey conducted in 2018 and shows how prevalent alcohol abuse is in the United States.
18. Alcohol addiction statistics show that around 14.4 million adults in the US suffer from alcohol use disorder.
(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
That works out to around 9.2 million men and 5.3 million women who have alcohol use disorder. That’s a large portion of the country’s population who suffer from alcohol dependency problems.
19. According to substance abuse statistics, around 7.9% of people over the age of 18 who suffered from alcohol use disorder received treatment during the previous year.
(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
That is around 8% of men and 7.7% of women who suffered from alcohol use disorder. Proper treatment of alcoholism can help a person regain their life after suffering from an alcohol problem.
20. Around six people pass away from alcohol poisoning every day.
(Alcohol.org)
Alcohol poisoning is caused by consuming too much alcohol in a short period. Alcoholism plays a role in around 30% of all deaths due to alcohol poisoning. Excessive drinking is incredibly dangerous and is often overlooked because it isn’t illegal.
FAQ
What percentage of the population has an addiction?
(Partnership for Drug-Free Kids)
Around 10% of people in the United States over the age of 12 are addicted to drugs or alcohol. This means that around one in every ten people over a certain age have substance abuse issues. 23.5 million people in the US are addicted to substances.
That’s a large number of people who suffer from the disease of addiction. They need help in the form of treatment to survive without the use of mind-altering substances.
What percent of the population is addicted to drugs?
(Mission Harbor Behavioral Health)
In the year 2013, around 24.6 million people over the age of 12 in the US had made use of an illicit substance in the month before the survey. The substances were not all hard drugs, as marijuana was the most common drug used by those interviewed.
In that same year, around 6.5 million people in the United States over the age of 12 had used prescription medication for reasons other than those they were prescribed the drugs for. This misuse of prescription drugs is an increasing issue in the country.
What is the incidence and prevalence of substance use disorders?
(American Addiction Centers)
In 2017, there were around 5.1 million people in the United States between the ages of 18 and 25 who were addicted to substances other than alcohol. This works out to around 14.8% of the population in this age group. This means that one in every seven young adults had a problem with drugs.
For alcohol, in that same year, around 3.4 million people aged between 18 and 25 had a problem. This means that 10% of young adults suffered from alcoholism.
People who suffer from substance abuse problems, often have bad health because they aren’t getting the right nutrition and other things necessary for their well-being.
Conclusion
Millions of people around the world suffer from addiction. What these 2022 addiction statistics show is how many people are affected and how many deaths are caused by substance abuse. Whether it’s alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription opioids, addiction kills, and people in the grip of addiction need help.
This isn’t necessarily a modern issue, but the problem of widespread addiction seems to be increasing worldwide after the stress and pandemic lockdowns.
List of Sources
- Alcohol.org
- American Addiction Centers
- American Addiction Centers
- American Society of Anesthesiologists
- Center on Addiction
- Centers for Disease Control
- Centers for Disease Control
- DrugAbuse.com
- DrugRehab.com
- Mission Harbor Behavioral Health
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
