Addiction Facts & Statistics

Most of us know someone, or are perhaps even ourselves, who have or are currently struggling with addiction. While it is easy to consider that the problem is not as prevalent as it actually is, the numbers indicate that it is. This article will highlight key addiction statistics, facts, and resources to further inform the severity of this global crisis.

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

Considering that the U.S. population between that time has grown from about 282.2 million to 328.2 million in 2019, it is realistic to anticipate that this number will continue to grow unless something substantial is done.²

Other general statistics to note, as provided by a 2018 report from the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics are as follows:¹

• 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 abuse disorder
  • 14.8 million people with an alcohol use disorder
  • 8.1 million with an illegal drug disorder
• Cannabis is the most commonly abused drug with 4.4 million people meeting the criteria for cannabis use disorder.
• 2 million people had an opioid 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 persons between the ages of 18-25 at 39% compared to persons 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

Given that addiction knows no demographic or environmental boundaries, the problem is not unique to the United States. In fact, addiction is a global pandemic 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 was 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 use disorders.
• 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 users 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 in 2018 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 drank the month prior to being evaluated.
• An estimated 16.6 million (6.1%) people aged 12 or 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 we 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 (i.e., home, school, friends, etc.).⁵

General statistics for consideration with children 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.
• There is a strong correlation between substance use by parents/guardians and their children ultimately developing 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.

It is important to note that while each consideration aforementioned in-and-of itself places a child at risk, compounding factors (two or more) increase the potential risk significantly.

Addiction Statistics in Teens

Adolescence is notably a time for exploration. During this period, 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 teens 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.

When one’s peer group has easy access to substances and glamorizes them while parents/guardians are not available, it becomes increasingly likely that teens may not only try various substances but develop a problem.

Additional results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed the following: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 past year 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. The estimate for the misuse of tranquilizers or sedatives includes 5.4 million who misused prescription benzodiazepines in the past year.
• 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

In such cases, adolescents may use substances as an ineffective means of coping with other concerns. Any relevant concerns, then, should be met with caution.

Addiction Statistics in Older Adults

Addiction is also prevalent with 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 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.

For example, research has indicated the following differences between men and women when it comes to addiction:

Males:⁷

• More likely to become addicted
• More likely to abuse substances due to peer pressure
• More likely to “stabilize” substance abuse at lower doses.
• Risk of relapse is less likely

Females:⁷

• More likely to transition from abuse to dependence to addiction at a faster pace
• More likely to self-medicate with illicit substances
• More like to suffer side effects
• 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.

Given these differences, it is important to engage in treatment that is as specifically tailored to the individual’s needs as possible.

Addiction & Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-occurring disorders are defined as mental health disorders that occur concurrently with substance use disorders. In some cases, individuals had a diagnosable mental health disorder before becoming addicted.

In other cases, the opposite is true. In either case, 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. Approximately 3.2 million adults had co-occurring SMI and an SUD in the past year, which corresponds to 1.3% of adults (Figure 54).
• 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%).

Beyond symptoms and treatment complications associated with co-occurring disorders, the numbers also reveal that those with diagnosable mental health conditions, especially those that are more severe in nature, have an increased likelihood of developing addiction.

Risk Factors for Addiction

Oftentimes, no one 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 as follows:

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 Rates by Income Level

When considering addiction rates by income level, the numbers become complicated. General statistics demonstrate that there is a correlation between unemployment and addiction that is about twice as high than for those who have jobs.⁹ Within this domain, however, we must consider whether the individual is one who has never held a steady job or ultimately ended up losing a job due to addiction.

Upon being terminated, one may struggle to find new employment, which exacerbates issues further.⁹ On the other hand, those who earn or have access to more money have more opportunities to purchase and engage in substance use.⁹

Regardless of employment, there are additional costs to consider for those struggling with addiction, including:⁹

• Increased car, health, and life insurance premium costs
• Missing days at work, losing a job, or the inability to find employment
• Legal bills such as traffic tickets or other drug-related legal problems
• Medical costs; addictions can cause many health problems
• Life experiences or educational opportunities

For those with lower incomes, such costs have a more detrimental impact. Further, those with lower incomes may struggle to afford more comprehensive and necessary forms of treatment.⁹ Considering that a typical 30-day residential treatment program may cost a significant amount of money; that may not be an option.

Accordingly, those with more money may find themselves using more but receive necessary assistance before problems worsen. Despite the Affordable Healthcare Act (AHCA) passed in 2010 to help increase the number of insured Americans, it is approximated that nearly 45% are still uninsured.⁹

Addiction Within Minority Groups

As we consider addiction within minority groups, it is important to note that there are oftentimes compounding factors. Though biology is a factor, 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:⁶

• Indigenous Americans and Alaskan Natives age 12 and older had the highest rate at 12.8%
• Caucasians had a 7.7% rate
• 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

Because sexual minorities are comprised of a population of individuals that continue to grow in diversity, numbers specific to certain groups are relatively limited. Additional research is being conducted.

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. It is important to note that new drugs are continually made and distributed. As one drug is discovered harmful and made illegal, another one may arise.

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.

Accordingly, it is important that we keep atop these trends to not only help treat but prevent further incidents of abuse and addiction.

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 acceptance of 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 revealed in 2017 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. Whether one has a lot or no money, there is an option out there. 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.

Many free options are available online, but if one does not have Internet access, these are not accessible. Accordingly, numerous people struggling with addiction are faced with limited or no options.

Another consideration entails that of available providers to treat specific conditions such as opioid use disorder using medically assisted treatment (MAT). Consider that in the United States there are only about 3,600 physicians who are board-certified in addiction medicine (and of these, most are practicing part-time).

Just over 4 percent 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 with authority to treat in this respect.

Limitations to access to care for addiction is both a national and global issue. Not only is the United States struggling on this front, so are less affluent nations. There must be a united effort among us all to bring awareness and support to the issue.