USA Addiction Statistics

General U.S. Addiction Statistics

Substance use is widespread in the United States—and the impact is staggering. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), nearly half of all Americans aged 12 and older have used an illicit substance at least once in their lives.

Below are some facts and statistics about just how prevalent substance abuse and addiction are today:

• Drug Overdose Deaths: In the 12-month period ending September 2024, nearly 87,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, marking a decline of about 24% from the previous year.
• Illicit Drug Use: As of 2023, approximately 59.3 million individuals aged 12 and older reported using illegal drugs or misusing prescription drugs within the past year, representing 21.4% of this population.
• Monthly Drug Use: In 2019, 13.0% of persons aged 12 years and older reported using illicit drugs in the past month.
• Substance Use Disorders (SUD): In 2020, 40.3 million people aged 12 or older in the United States had a substance use disorder in the past year, accounting for 14.5% of this population.
• Alcohol Consumption: Approximately 138.5 million Americans aged 12 and over consume alcohol.
• Economic Impact: Substance abuse and addiction cost the United States over $700 billion annually in healthcare expenses, crime-related costs, and lost workplace productivity. ​
• Co-occurring Mental Health Issues: Research indicates that about 50% of individuals with a diagnosed mental illness will also experience substance abuse during their lifetime, and vice versa. ​

Types of Drugs Being Abused

Among people aged 12 and older in the U.S., alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, cocaine, and heroin are among the most commonly misused substances. Below are key statistics that show the extent of substance use across major drug categories (based on 2020 data unless otherwise noted):

• Marijuana: Nearly 50 million people used marijuana, making it the most commonly used illicit substance—despite its legal status in some states.
• Alcohol: About 28.3 million people had an alcohol use disorder, making alcohol the most commonly abused legal substance in the U.S.
• Opioids: Around 9.5 million people misused opioids, with nearly 98% reporting misuse of prescription painkillers rather than illicit opioids like heroin.
• Opioid Addiction: Approximately 2.7 million people met the criteria for an opioid use disorder.
• Stimulants: An estimated 3.7% of Americans misused central nervous system (CNS) stimulants over the course of one year. Of the 10.3 million who misused CNS stimulants:
  • 32% used only cocaine
  • 32% used only prescription stimulants (e.g., Adderall)
  • 12% used only methamphetamine

The U.S. Opioid Crisis

The United States continues to face a devastating opioid crisis, with an estimated 2.1 million people currently living with opioid use disorder.

Studies show that up to 30% of people who are prescribed opioids misuse them—by taking higher doses than prescribed, using them more frequently, or taking them to feel high. This misuse often increases the risk of dependence, addiction, and overdose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reports a dramatic rise in heroin use over the past two decades, much of it linked to the misuse of prescription opioids and the transition to cheaper, more accessible street drugs.

Drug Abuse and Addiction by Ethnicity

Substance abuse and addiction affect everyone and every culture differently. Everything from where a person grew up to the environment they grew up in can play a vital role in developing a substance abuse problem.

Caucasian (White) Population

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD): In 2021, approximately 17.0% of White individuals aged 12 and older experienced a substance use disorder.
• Alcohol Use: In 2020, about 70.3% of White individuals aged 12 or older reported alcohol use in the past year.
• Illicit Drug Use: In 2020, approximately 20.2% of White individuals aged 12 or older reported using illicit drugs in the past year.

Black or African American Population

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD): In 2021, about 17.2% of Black individuals aged 12 and older experienced a substance use disorder. ​
• Alcohol Use: In 2020, approximately 56.8% of Black individuals aged 12 or older reported alcohol use in the past year. ​
  SAMHSA
• Illicit Drug Use: In 2020, about 20.8% of Black individuals aged 12 or older reported using illicit drugs in the past year. ​
• Treatment Gap: In 2020, nearly 90% of Black individuals aged 12 or older with a substance use disorder did not receive treatment.

Hispanic or Latino Population

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD): In 2021, approximately 15.7% of Hispanic individuals aged 12 and older experienced a substance use disorder. ​
• Alcohol Use: In 2020, about 58.7% of Hispanic individuals aged 12 or older reported alcohol use in the past year. ​
  SAMHSA
• Illicit Drug Use: In 2020, approximately 17.1% of Hispanic individuals aged 12 or older reported using illicit drugs in the past year.

Asian Population

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD): In 2021, about 2.3% of Asian individuals aged 12 and older experienced a substance use disorder. ​
• Alcohol Use: In 2020, approximately 51.7% of Asian individuals aged 12 or older reported alcohol use in the past year. ​
  SAMHSA
• Illicit Drug Use: In 2020, about 11.2% of Asian individuals aged 12 or older reported using illicit drugs in the past year.

Native American or Indigenous American Population

• Substance Use Disorder (SUD): In 2021, approximately 27.6% of American Indian or Alaska Native individuals aged 12 and older experienced a substance use disorder, the highest among all racial and ethnic groups. ​
  SAMHSA
• Alcohol Use: In 2020, about 53.2% of American Indian or Alaska Native individuals aged 12 or older reported alcohol use in the past year. ​
  SAMHSA
• Illicit Drug Use: In 2020, approximately 18.5% of American Indian or Alaska Native individuals aged 12 or older reported using illicit drugs in the past year.

Note: The percentages for alcohol and illicit drug use are based on 2020 data, while the substance use disorder statistics are from 2021. 

Drug Abuse and Addiction by Age and Sex

Not only can a person’s ethnic and cultural background play a role in drug abuse and addiction, but so can their age and gender.

Men VS Women

• 22% of males have reported using drugs in the past year compared to 17% of females
• Marijuana was the most popular drug of use for both men and women (18.5% of males and 13.5% of females)
• Heroin was the least popular drug of abuse for both men and women (.5% of men and >2% of women)
• Women are more likely to use illicit substances with an intimate partner, whereas men are more likely to do so with friends
• Women only account for roughly 20% of all people who are in drug treatment

Addiction Statistics in Women

Women tend to struggle with different issues than men, causing unique circumstances in their drug and alcohol use. One specific issue is how drug use can affect pregnancy.

Drug & Alcohol Abuse in Women in the U.S. (reported in 2019), of women with substance use disorders:

• 2 in 5 (40.8%, or 2.9 million) women struggle with illicit drugs
• 3 in 4 (72.55, or 5.2 million) women struggle with alcohol abuse
• 1 in 8 (13.3%, or 56 thousand) women struggle with both

Drug & Alcohol Use in Pregnant Women in the U.S. (reported in 2019):

• 5.8% or 120,000 used illicit drugs
• 5.4% or 112,000 used marijuana
• 9.6% or 198,000 used tobacco products
• 9.5% or 197,000 used alcohol
• 0.4% or 8,000 used opioids
• 0.2% or 3,000 used cocaine

Adolescents (Under 18)

The highest rate of substance use disorders and illicit drug use disorders is among people ages 18 to 25.

Percent of People with Illicit Drug Use Disorder by Age:

• 3% of all ages 12 and older
• 3.6% of ages 12-17
• 7.5% of ages 18-25
• 2.3% of people 26 and older

Percent of People with a Substance Abuse Disorder by Age:

• 7.4% of all ages 12 and older
• 4.5% of ages 12-17
• 14.1% of ages 18-25
• 6.7% of people 26 and older

Drug and alcohol use is not only a problem for young adults. Adolescents also abuse drugs and alcohol.

Percent of Adolescents Who Have Used Various Drugs by Grade Level:

• 21.3% of 8th graders, 37.3% of 10th graders, and 46.6% of 12th graders reported using illicit drugs.
• 25.6% of 8th graders, 46.4% of 10th graders, and 61.5% of 12th graders reported using alcohol.
• 11.5% of 8th graders, 13.9% of 10th graders, and 24% of 12th graders reported using cigarettes.
• 24.1% of 8th graders, 41% of 10th graders, and 47.2% of 12th graders reported using some kind of vape.

Powerful Stats

• In 2017, 1 in every 25 people (about 4%) under the age of 18 suffered from substance abuse
• Of that 4%, roughly 3% suffered from drug addiction, while a little under 2% suffered from alcohol addiction
• About 46% of teenagers have used a drug for the first time by the time they reach 12th grade

Young Adults (18 to 25)

• Roughly 1 in 7, or 5.1 million, Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 dealt with addiction in 2017
• Of those 5.1 million Americans, a little over 3 million suffered from alcohol abuse or addiction, and roughly 2 million suffered from drug addiction.

Adults (26 and Up)

• About 6.4% of all Americans over the age of 26 suffered from substance abuse and addiction in 2017

Elderly Adults (65 and Over)

• More than 1 million Americans over the age of 65 suffered from a substance abuse issue in 2017
• Of those more than 1 million people, an overwhelming majority also suffered from a mental health disorder
• Two-thirds of all Americans over the age of 65 who suffer from alcohol addiction developed said addiction before turning 65

Overdose Death Statistics

Over 96,000 people die from a drug overdose every year. While this number has always been relatively high, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased these numbers.

Below are some more facts and statistics about overdose deaths:

• Opioids cause seven out of every ten overdose deaths
• The number of overdose deaths in the U.S. increased by 29.6% in 2020
• In January 2021, drug overdose deaths exceeded homicides by 306.7%
• Men are more than 2x as likely to die from a drug overdose than women
• The state of West Virginia has more drug overdose deaths per capita than any other state

United States Addiction Statistics

Here are some important statistics about substance use in the United States of America:

• 841,000 people have died since 1999 from a drug overdose.
• 7.4% of people over age 12 have a substance use disorder
• 3% of people over age 12 have an illicit drug use disorder.

What Types of Drugs do Americans Abuse Most?

Millions of Americans every year use potentially dangerous and addictive substances. Each of these drugs varies in side effects but can cause a substance use disorder.

Past Year Illicit Drug Use from Americans in 2019:

• 48.2 million used marijuana
• 9.7 million misused prescription opioids
• 6 million used hallucinogens
• 5.9 million misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives (i.e., sleep aids, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates)
• 5.5 million used cocaine
• 4.9 million misused prescription stimulants
• 2.1 million used inhalants
• 2 million used methamphetamine
• 745,000 used heroin

Not every drug user develops a substance use disorder, but many do.

Past Year Substance Use Disorders from Americans in 2019:

• 14.5 million had an alcohol use disorder
• 8.3 million had an illicit drug use disorder
• 4.8 million had marijuana use disorder
• 1.4 million had opioid use disorder
• 1 million had methamphetamine use disorder
• 1 million had cocaine use disorder
• 558,000 had stimulant use disorder
• 438,000 had heroin use disorder

Alcohol use disorder is the most common substance abuse disorder. Many but not most people who abuse alcohol also abuse illicit drugs.

Data About the Overlap of Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use:

• 14.5 million Americans have alcohol use disorder (71.1% of all people with substance use disorders)
• 8.3 million Americans have an illicit drug use disorder (40.1% of all people with substance use disorders)
• 2.4 million, or 11.8%, have both alcohol use disorder and illicit drug use disorder

USA Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Statistics

Substance use and mental illness are each difficult to deal with on their own and tend to correlate. People who suffer from mental illnesses are significantly more likely than those who don’t to use drugs.

3.6 million people suffer from both a substance use disorder and a serious mental illness or mental health crisis.

Past-year Illicit Drug Use by Mental Illness Status:

• Only 16.6% of adults without any mental illness abused illicit drugs.
• Meanwhile, at least 38.8% of adults with any type of mental illness abused illicit drugs.
• At least 49.4% of adults with serious mental illness abused illicit drugs.

Past-year Alcohol Binging by Mental Illness Status:

• 24.5% of those with no mental illness
• 30.9% of those with any mental illness
• 32.7% of those with a serious mental illness

Past-Year Cigarette Use by Mental Illness Status:

• 15.8% of those with no mental illness
• 27.2% of those with any mental illness
• 32.7% of those with a serious mental illness

Statistics in the LGBTQ+ Community

​In 2019, an estimated 7.6 million LGBTQ+ adults in the United States had a substance use disorder (SUD), a mental illness, or both. About 12.9% (1.9 million) of LGBT adults experienced both a substance use disorder and a mental illness—known as co-occurring disorders.

When looking specifically at substance use disorders, 18.3% of LGBT adults (approximately 2.6 million people) had a substance use disorder.

• 51.6% (1.4 million) struggled with illicit drug use
• 64.6% (1.7 million) struggled with alcohol use
• 16.2% (426,000) experienced both illicit drug and alcohol use

These figures highlight the urgent need for inclusive, affirming, and accessible addiction and mental health services for LGBT communities.

Get Drug Addiction Help Now

An estimated 7.8% of Americans need substance use disorder treatment. Only 1.5% actually receive treatment.

Help is available and accessible to those who need it. If you or a loved one need help please contact us as soon as possible. We can help you find the easiest, closest, and most affordable treatment that works for you.

Written by

Jessica Miller

Editorial Director

Jessica Miller is the Editorial Director of Addiction Help. Jessica graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with an English degree and combines her writing expertise and passion for helping others to deliver reliable information to those impacted by addiction. Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica's empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community.

Reviewed by

• Fact-Checked
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Chris Carberg

Co-Founder & Mental Health Advocate

Chris Carberg is the founder of AddictionHelp.com, and a long-time recovering addict from prescription opioids, sedatives, and alcohol.  Over the past 15 years, Chris has worked as a tireless advocate for addicts and their loved ones while becoming a sought-after digital entrepreneur. Chris is a storyteller and aims to share his story with others in the hopes of helping them achieve their own recovery.