Addiction Facts & Statistics

Addiction Statistics in the United States (Overview)

In the United States alone, it has been estimated that, as of 2018, 19.4% of the population (53 million people age 12 and over) used illicit drugs at least once, with 11.7% (31.9 million people) identifying as current illegal drug users within the past month.¹ Further, since 2000, there have been 700,000 drug overdose deaths reported.¹

Here are more recent statistics about substance use in the US:²

• If alcohol and tobacco are included, current substance users approximate 60.2% (165 million people)
• 20.3 million people in the US age 12 or older had a substance use disorder
  • 14.8 million people had an alcohol use disorder
  • 8.1 million had an illegal drug disorder
• Cannabis is the most commonly misused drug, with 4.4 million people meeting the criteria for cannabis use disorder
• 2 million people had an opioid use disorder (including prescription pain reliever and/or heroin abuse)
• 22% of males and 17% of females had used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs in 2018
• 5% of people in non-metropolitan, rural counties used illegal drugs, compared to 20.2% of people in larger metropolitan counties
• Drug use was highest among people between the ages of 18-25 at 39%, compared to people aged 26-29, at 34%
• 47% of children and adolescents had used an illegal drug by the time they graduated from high school
• The most common substance exposure reported to poison control centers was opioids (medicinal and illicit), with nearly 284,000 cases

Global Addiction Statistics

Addiction is a global issue that has impacted many countries to varying extents. Given that statistics are more accessible in some countries than others, it is highly likely that current numbers are actually much higher than reported. The United Nations World Drug Report is a leading global initiative to gather worldwide addiction statistics.

In 2020, a 2017 report revealed found the following statistics on addiction globally:³

• 269 million current substance users aged 15‒64 (5.3% of the population)
• Since 1960 there has been an increase from 34% to more than 50% of the world’s population relocating to urban areas, which may partially explain the overall rise in drug use
• More than 90% of all pharmaceutical opioids available for medical consumption were in high-income countries
• Some 35.6 million people suffered from drug use disorders
• 192 million people used cannabis, making it the most-used drug
• 58 million people used opioids, accounting for 66% of the estimated 167,000 deaths related to drug overdoses
• More than 11 million people inject drugs
• Some 19 million people used cocaine, while roughly 27 million people used amphetamines that same year

Addiction Statistics by Substance

Given that accessibility, cost, potency, and treatment availability and other factors vary, so do the frequency of various substance-specific disorders. For instance, when a drug is easily accessible and highly potent, it has a higher addiction potential than a substance that is less accessible and potent. Accordingly, what is most problematic in one region may not be as relevant in other areas of the country.

The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health in the United States broke down use of substances as follows:⁴

• An estimated 43.5 million (15.9%) Americans aged 12 or older in 2018 used marijuana in the past year
• An estimated 5.5 million (2%) people aged 12 or older were past-year users of cocaine, and about 757,000 (3%) of those used crack
• An estimated 808,000 (0.3%) people aged 12 or older used heroin in the past year
• Approximately 1.9 million (0.7%) people aged 12 or older used methamphetamine in the past year
• In 2018, an estimated 5.6 million (2%) people aged 12 or older were past year users of hallucinogens
• Approximately 2.0 million (0.7%) people aged 12 or older were past year users of inhalants
• An estimated 16.9 million (6.2%) Americans aged 12 or older misused prescription psychotherapeutic drugs at least once in the past year
• Approximately 10.3 million (3.7%) people aged 12 or older misused opioids in the past year
• 9.9 million people aged 12 or older misused prescription pain relievers
• An estimated 139.8 million (51.1%) current alcohol users aged 12 and older drank the month prior to being evaluated
• An estimated 16.6 million (6.1%) people aged 12 and older reported heavy alcohol use in the past month

Addiction Statistics in Children

Given that children are a vulnerable population who require parental/guardian consent to participate in research, numbers specific to children are much more limited. Given that many children are oftentimes unfamiliar with substance use and have limited accessibility, the numbers tend to be lower than for older populations ranging from adolescence upward.

What studies have found, however, are common trends that place children at risk for substance use and developing subsequent disorders. Rated toward the top of these risk factors are genetic predisposition and environmental factors, like peer pressure at school.⁵

General statistics for consideration with children and substance use are as follows:⁵

• Nearly 11 million of the 28 million Americans who are children of alcoholics are under the age of 18
• Children of parents with a diagnosable addiction are 8 times more likely to develop an addiction themselves
• Sons of fathers with alcohol use disorder are about 4 times more likely to develop alcoholism themselves
• There is a strong correlation between substance use by parents/guardians and their children ultimately developing substance-related issues
• Children who use drugs are more likely to have one or more parent/guardian who also uses
• Children of parents struggling with addiction are more likely to experience physical and mental health problems
• When parents/guardians are more permissive with drug use and/or not actively involved in the child’s life, the child is at increased risk for addiction

Addiction Statistics in Teens

During adolescence, it is natural for teens to begin discovering themselves, making new friends, and experimenting with different things that may ultimately prove harmful if unchecked. While risk factors for teenage addiction are similar to those of children, there are additional considerations insofar as social factors to the extent of who they are spending time with and how.

Additional results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed the following about teenage substance use:⁴

• Approximately 4.2 million (16.7%) adolescents aged 12 to 17 were past-year illicit drug users
• 3.1 million (12.5%) adolescents aged 12 to 17 (12.5 percent) were users of marijuana
• 112,000 (0.4%) adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 2018 who were past-year users of cocaine, and about 4,000 of those also used crack (0.1%)
• About 10,000 adolescents (<0.01%) aged 12 to 17 were past-year heroin users
• An estimated 43,000 (0.2%) of adolescents aged 12 to 17 used methamphetamine in the past year
• An estimated 376,000 (1.5%) adolescents aged 12 to 17 were past-year users of hallucinogens
• An estimated 662,000 (2.7%) adolescents aged 12 to 17 were past-year users of inhalants
• The 16.9 million who misused prescription psychotherapeutic drugs in the past year included 9.9 million who misused prescription pain relievers in that period, 5.1 million who misused prescription stimulants, and about 6.4 million who misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives
• Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, 699,000 (2.8%) misused opioids
• An estimated 2.2 million (9%) of adolescents aged 12 to 17 were current alcohol users
• An estimated 131,000 (0.5%) adolescents aged 12 to 17 were current heavy drinkers
• An estimated 401,000 (1.6%) adolescents aged 12 to 17 had a past-year alcohol use disorder
• An estimated 681,000 (2.7%) adolescents aged 12 to 17 had a past-year illicit drug use disorder

It is also important to consider the intersection between mental health and substance use disorders. For example, an estimated 358,000 (1.5%) adolescents aged 12 to 17 had a diagnosable substance use disorder with major depressive episode (MDE), while 288,000 (1.2%) had a substance use disorder with MDE and severe impairment.⁴

Addiction Statistics in Older Adults

Addiction is also prevalent among older adults. Although reasons for use that leads to addiction may have some similar roots to those experienced by younger individuals, there are unique considerations. For instance, older adults tend to face additional challenges such as imminent mortality, grieving and loss, retirement, lost mobility, financial concerns, physical health, et cetera. Accordingly, there are many older adults who may have experienced an addiction-free life but then became addicted at an older age.

Important statistics pertaining to older populations and substance use collected in 2017 are as follows:⁶

• More than 1 million adults aged 65 or older had a substance use disorder
  • 978,000 had an alcohol use disorder
  • 93,000 had an illicit drug disorder
• 2/3 of those struggling with a substance use disorder had an onset prior to age 65
• Somewhere between 21%-66% having a substance use disorder also suffer from a co-occurring mental health disorder

Addiction Statistics by Gender

Although men and women both have the potential to become addicted, the onset of addiction and circumstances surrounding it do have notable differences. These differences may primarily be considered in the context of physiology and social factors.

Here are some statistics regarding men and addiction:⁷

• Men are more likely to become addicted
• Men are more likely to misuse substances due to peer pressure
• Men are more likely to “stabilize” substance abuse at lower doses
• Risk of relapse is less likely in men

Here are some statistics regarding substance use and addiction in women:⁷

• Women are more likely to transition from use to dependence to addiction at a faster pace
• Women are more likely to self-medicate with illicit substances
• Women are more like to suffer side effects
• Women are more likely to experience intense cravings and relapse

Although addiction prevalence for men and women continues to narrow, there are still substantial differences by numbers.

Some statistics for consideration by gender from 2017 and 2018 are as follows:^1,7

• In 2017, about 9.4% of men and 5.2% of women aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder
• In 2018, about 22% of males and 17% of females had used illegal drugs or misused prescriptions
• Men may be more likely to abuse illicit drugs than women, but women may be just as prone to addiction as men when they do abuse them

Addiction & Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-occurring disorders are defined as mental health disorders that occur concurrently with substance use disorders. It is important to note that the presence of two or more disorders serves to negatively reinforce symptoms from one disorder to the next, making it harder to work through the recovery process even while in treatment. Accordingly, both must be addressed concurrently to optimize the likelihood of successful recovery.

General numbers considering those with a substance use disorder who also have a diagnosable mental health disorder vary from 20% to 55% depending on the research reviewed. Given that this number is not very precise, it helps to take a look at some of the more specific numbers by condition.

The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that:⁴

• An estimated 7.2% of adults aged 18 or older (17.7 million adults) had at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year, and 4.7% of adults (11.5 million adults) had an MDE with severe impairment in the past year
• About 1 in 7 adolescents aged 12 to 17 had a past-year MDE (14.4%), and 1 in 10 had a past-year MDE with severe impairment (10.0%)
• Approximately 47.6 million adults aged 18 or older had “any mental illness” (AMI) in the past year, including an estimated 11.4 million adults who had severe mental illness (SMI); and about 36.3 million adults who had AMI excluding SMI in the past year
• An estimated 11.4 million adults had severe mental illness (SMI) in the past year, which corresponds to 4.6% of adults
• 47.6 million adults aged 18 or older in 2018 had AMI in the past year. In addition, 19.3 million adults had a past-year substance use disorder (SUD). About 9.2 million adults had both AMI and an SUD, which corresponds to 3.7% of adults
• 11.4 million adults aged 18 or older had SMI in the past year, and 19.3 million adults had a past-year SUD, and approximately 3.2 million adults had co-occurring SMI and an SUD in the past year, which corresponds to 1.3% of adults
• The percentages of adults who used illicit drugs in the past year were higher among those with SMI (49.4%) and adults with AMI (36.7%), compared with those without any mental illness (15.7%)

Risk Factors for Addiction

Oftentimes, no single factor acts in-and-of itself. Rather, there is a combination of factors that serve to reinforce one another. As these factors mix together, the likelihood of developing an addiction increases. Common risk factors for addiction may be broken down into two broad categories of biological and environmental factors.

Biological risk factors for addiction include:⁸

• Genetics
• Developmental stage
• Sensitivity to drugs
• Mental illness
• Gender
• Ethnicity

Environmental risk factors for addiction include:⁸

• Home and family
• Availability of drugs
• Social and other stressors
• Peer influence
• Work/school performance

Addiction Within Minority Groups

As we consider addiction within minority groups, it is important to note that there are oftentimes compounding factors. Societal and environmental factors play a major role for minority populations. Given the social inequity present in the United States, some populations may face poverty, lack of adequate health services, increased violence and drug trafficking, et cetera.

Recent substance abuse and dependence statistics reported from 2017 indicate the following about minority populations:⁶

• Indigenous Americans and Alaskan Natives age 12 and older had the highest rate at 12.8%
• African Americans had a 6.8% rate
• Hispanics or Latinos had a 6.6% rate
• Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders had a 4.6% rate
• Asian Americans had the lowest rate at 3.8%

Addiction Statistics by Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Given the hardships faced by many individuals who identify as sexual minorities, there are additional factors for consideration. These may include overt discrimination, systemic oppression, lack of access to population-specific resources, mental health conditions, and other internalized stressors.¹⁰

Data from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (that included individuals who described themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual), revealed that:¹⁰

• Substance use patterns are higher compared to those reported by heterosexual adults
• More than 37.6% of sexual minority adults reported past-year marijuana use
• Past-year opioid use (including misuse of prescription opioids or heroin use) was also higher, with 9% of sexual minority adults reporting use
• 12.4% reported an alcohol use disorder
• LGBTQ+ individuals often enter treatment with more severe SUDs
• Sexual minorities with substance use disorders are more likely to have additional (comorbid or co-occurring) psychiatric disorders

Note that each statistic provided in this section is higher than the general population.

Addiction Trends Over Time

Addiction trends over time tend to evolve around accessibility of a substance, social acceptance, and legality. When a substance is widely accessible, socially accepted, and legal, or perhaps not as harshly punished, it tends to be used more. When it is used more, more individuals become susceptible to addiction.

Some statistics provided by SAMHSA regarding more recent trends are as follows:¹¹

• Most SUDs in the United States are related to alcohol use, and the long-term trends indicate that the nation has made progress in reducing the prevalence of past-year alcohol use disorders among adults
• The percentage of adults with an alcohol use disorder in 2014 (6.8%) has remained steady since 2011; however, the percentage was lower than percentages in 2002 to 2010
• Although illicit drug use disorders are less prevalent than alcohol use disorders among adults, the long-term trends in this report indicate that there has been little progress in reducing the percentage of adults who had a past year illicit drug use disorder
• The most common types of SUDs were related to past-year marijuana use and nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers, which are the most commonly used substances among U.S. adults

Addiction Treatment Statistics

Statistics show that there are more people in need of treatment than those who receive it.⁶ Reasons for this vary but tend to evolve around access to care, affordability, and stigma surrounding the issue. Treatment varies in type from support and therapy groups to outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient therapy (IOP), and residential treatment.

Recent statistics regarding addiction treatment reveal that:⁶

• An estimated 20.7 million people aged 12 and older needed treatment for a substance use disorder; however, only 4 million (19%) people received it
• Of the more than 18 million people who needed treatment but did not receive it, only 1 million (5.7%) believed they needed it
• There are over 14,500 specialized substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States
• The relapse rate for substance use disorders is estimated to be between 40-60%
• About 10% of American adults aged 18 and over reported being in recovery for an alcohol or drug abuse issue

Access to Care for Addiction

Technically speaking, there are numerous options for addiction treatment. The primary issue is accessibility. Although there are many free groups and treatment centers, not all are within a realistic proximity. In fact, some localities are completely devoid of such services. Accordingly, numerous people struggling with addiction are faced with limited or no options.

Just over 4% of physicians in the U.S. have gone through the training process that enables them to prescribe buprenorphine, one of the few forms of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder available outside of methadone clinics.¹¹ Remember that there were 808,000 reported individuals using heroin and 10.3 million having misused opioids in 2018.⁴ That means there is roughly 1 physician per 3,056 individuals who have authority to treat in this respect.