The use and abuse of illegal drugs remains a problem in many parts of the world, with an estimated 5.8 percent of the
. The problem of illegal drug use and abuse varies from country to country as different countries practice different drug laws, enforce different penalties for breaking these laws, experience varying drug availability, and possess unique cultural perspectives on such substances. The United States in particular has had an interesting and extensive drug history, even going so far as to fight a “War on Drugs”.
What are the most used illicit drugs in the United States?
The
most commonly used illicit drugs in the United States are marijuana, cocaine, and LSD. As of 2024, around 137 million people in the United States had used marijuana at some point in their lifetime, while 42 million had used cocaine and 30.9 million LSD. The number of people who stated they had used cocaine in their lifetime has fluctuated over the past decade, but has not seen any significant changes. On the other hand, the
number of people who have used heroin in their lifetime has increased in the past few years from 5.1 million in 2018 to 6.5 million in 2024. As of 2024, it was estimated that
around 496 thousand people in the United States were dependent on or abused heroin, this was a significant decrease from 990 thousand in 2021..
Drug use among teens
The
most commonly used illicit drugs among U.S. students in grades 8, 10, and 12 are marijuana, inhalants, and LSD and other hallucinogens. As of 2024, around 22 percent of these students reported they had used marijuana in their lifetime, while only 1.1 percent had used cocaine. However, the
lifetime prevalence of any illicit drug use for teens has decreased significantly over the past two decades. In 2024, just 25 percent of those in grades 8, 10, and 12 reported using an illicit drug in their lifetime, compared to 41 percent in the year 2001. The availability of certain drugs for teens has also decreased in recent years with only 14.4 percent of
12th graders saying it was “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get cocaine in 2024, compared with 47.8 percent in 2004.
How many people die from drugs in the United States?
The
death rate from drug overdose in the United States has increased significantly over the past decade. This increase in drug overdose deaths is mostly due to opioids such as prescription opioids, heroin, and illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids like fentanyl. This increase in overdose deaths due to opioids is referrred to as
the opioid epidemic. In 2023, an estimated 105 thousand
people in the United States died from a drug overdose, with men accounting for around 69 percent of these deaths. The
states with the highest death rates from drug overdose are West Virginia, Delaware, and Tennessee.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
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