Addiction statistics for 2023 will reveal that addiction is not something to ignore.

While addiction to alcohol or drugs is more prominent in some regions than others, it’s heartbreaking when you know about addiction or have experienced it.

Experiencing addiction is not only something that happens to the person addicted to a substance.

It also happens to their family and friends, just in different ways. Anyone struggling with addiction needs help. They need hope. They need compassion. 

Even if you have a loved one experiencing substance abuse, you want to try everything to help them.

It may not always work out the way you expect, but you can know that you at least tried. 

The following information will address 45 of the most startling addiction statistics for 2022, some of which come out of 2021 statistical data. 

Let’s talk about this because that’s what opens awareness of it.

Be aware: These addiction statistics can be shocking and even disturbing. 

Key Addiction Statistics 2023

• It’s estimated that 60% to 70% of married people who have engaged in physical fights were found to be alcoholics. 
• In 2020, an estimated 16,416 people died from a prescription opioid overdose. 
• 66% of all American adults are taking some kind of prescription drug. 
• Approximately 30.8 million American adults smoke cigarettes. 
• Cocaine is the second most used illicit drug in America.
• Around 774,000 Americans regularly use Meth. 
• Nearly one quarter of people who abuse heroin will get addicted.
• At the global level, up to 3.3 million people die each year because of alcoholism.
• An estimated 5.1 million young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 struggled with some kind of substance abuse disorder in 2017.
• In 2017, in those 26 and older, about 13.6 million adults battled some form of substance abuse, which is 6.4% of this demographic. 

Detailed Addiction Statistics 2023

The addiction statistics we will address in this article will relate to alcohol, cocaine, prescription medications, and illicit drugs.

This data will only give you an idea of the struggle that people with addiction face. 

It’s important to know that there is no way to comprehend what a person with addiction goes through unless you have been there. These statistics will just touch on its effects.

These addiction stats will reveal how substance abuse impacts people of all income levels, races, and genders. Let’s get started.

Alcohol Addiction Statistics & Facts 2023

In this part of the article we’ll start with some alcohol addiction data you need to know. If you have a loved one experiencing alcoholism, these facts are important.

1. It’s Estimated that 60% to 70% of Married People Who Have Engaged in Physical Fights Were Found to Be Alcoholics. 

Alcohol addiction isn’t just a one-person problem. It also affects married couples with or without kids.

It’s commonly known that alcoholism adversely impacts the whole family unit. 

Issues like spending too much money, child neglect, spousal abuse, constant fighting, and other issues are a side effect of alcohol abuse.

When this happens, it often impacts the children and other loved ones, leaving them with issues of codependency, and/or enabling behavior to keep the peace even though they know it’s harmful. 

It’s a very challenging situation to say the least. 

When you can convince your loved ones to get help from family therapists and rehabilitation, the family unit can recover and begin to have hope again.

Without help, problems escalate and healing won’t occur. 

2. Alcoholism Is Linked to Over 200 Unique Diseases and Health Conditions.

According to the facts, alcohol adversely impacts the central nervous system, slowing down brain function.

The short-term side effects can include memory loss, perception and sense distortions, lack of coordination, slurred speech, fainting, and being less inhibited. 

How much a person is affected by alcohol has to do with their weight, sex, and how fast its consumed, which are things that affect how each person process alcohol.

People who weigh less are more likely to experience more effects than those who weigh more, which is one reason that women are commonly more affected than men when the same amount of alcohol is consumed.

On the long-term side of alcoholism, the effects are much worse and serious.

A few of these problems include anxiety, nerve and brain damage, liver disease (like cirrhosis or cancer), high blood pressure, dementia, digestive issues. heart disease, stomach ulcers, depression, and pancreatitis. 

3. About 2,220 People Die from Alcohol Poisoning Each Year in The United States.

If you do the math, around six people die each day from alcohol poisoning in the US.

These addiction statistics also reveal that three of four of these deaths from alcohol poisoning occur in people between 35 and 64 years old. 

Additionally, most of these deaths happen among men and non-Hispanic caucasians.

However, Native Alaskans and American Indians die due to alcohol poisoning the most per million individuals.

Alcohol poisoning occurs when the body detects high levels of alcohol in it, resulting in shutting down brain functions that control breathing, body temperature, and heart rate, leading to death. 

Over 38 million American adults claim to binge drink alcohol at least four times per month and drink about eight drinks as part of such binging. 

4. 7.8% of The 61.4% of American Students that Drive Have Done so After Consuming Alcohol.

Among students in grades 9 through 12, 32.8% consumed at least one alcoholic drink within a 30-day period, according to one study at Johns Hopkins.

Of those students who drive in America, 7.8% had partaken in drinking while driving. 

This same IAMSBIRT Project report shows that the adolescent brain is highly susceptible to the effects of alcohol and drugs.

This report says that screening to assess the potential or severity of substance use helps to identify the proper treatment for at-risk students. 

The concept of brief intervention is focused on improving motivation to decrease alcohol and substance use.

Session times vary depending on the student and the level of substance abuse revealed in the initial screening. 

These treatments involve early intervention to help mitigate further risk of alcoholism or substance abuse. 

So, there is help and early treatments when you seek them.

5. Addiction Statistics from 2019 Revealed that 85.6% of Those 18 and Older Claim to Have Partaken in Alcohol During Their Lifetime. 

Another 69.5% of those surveyed claimed to have imbibed over that past year.

The breakdown of genders accounted for 59.1% of men and 51% of women in the 18 and older age group reported drinking over the past month, according to the 2019 NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health).

This accounts for a significant portion of America’s population of those over 18 years old.

This addiction statistic doesn’t include any teen or preteen statistics. That may be difficult to think about, but unfortunately, it’s happening. 

Opioid Addiction Statistics 2023

We are going to cover the addiction statistics that relate to opioid drugs in this part of the article. These stats can be alarming. 

6. Abuse of Opioid Pain Relievers Make up 38.2% of All Drug Overdose Deaths. 

In 2005, the United States reported that the most used drugs that created overdose fatalities were opioids, making up 38.2% of overdose deaths.

That’s out of 22,400 individuals who died from drug overdoses in the country. 

Prescription drug abuse is a major problem that results in the most fatalities in drug overdose cases.

The most widely used opioid of choice was hydrocodone, which was used in 24.3% of the 38.2% of fatalities. 

It’s important to understand that these fatalities didn’t occur only in people with a prescription for the painkillers, but also those who purchased them on the street as illicit drugs. 

Another fact about opioids is that they can contain oxycodone, codeine, and/or hydrocodone.

The numbers of non-medical users of prescription opioids grew from 600,000 to more than 2.4 million between 1990 and 2004. 

This made this category of drug one of the most used in 2004. 

7. There Was a 4.1% Decline in Drug Overdose Fatalities in The US Between 2017 and 2018.

More facts about drug overdose deaths show that over 760,000 people have died since 1999 due to overdose.

Also, two of three drug overdose fatalities were opioid-related in 2018. 

As of 2019, the misuse of prescription opioid painkillers among seniors in high school has now reached its lowest point.

Also in 2019, about 10 million people aged 12 and older misused opioids within a year, according to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. 

In recent addiction statistics from April 2021, there was a rise in opioid-related overdose deaths to 75,673, up from April 2020, when there were 56,064 opioid-related overdose deaths.

8. In A 2020 Survey, an Estimated 0.8%, or 2.3 Million People Aged 12 and Older Had a Prescription Opioid Disorder During the Past Twelve Months in The Year. 

As we mentioned, some of these addiction statistics are alarming, and this is one of the most alarming in this article.

The 2020 NSDUH Annual National Report also revealed that among those 12 and older, 58.7%, or 162.5 million people, used alcohol, tobacco, or some form of illicit drug over the past month, which is considered current use. 

During what should be a time of innocence and childhood enjoyment, children as young as 12 years old are partaking in some kind of substance abuse.

The numbers report those aged 12 and up, so this age demographic is included in these statistics. 

9. In 2020, an Estimated 16,416 People Died from A Prescription Opioid Overdose. 

Keep in mind that not all of these overdose fatalities were purposeful. Some are accidents among those who have forgotten whether they took their painkiller, or were suffering so much pain that they needed more.

This is a very sad and scary problem in America. 

While there was no age group attached to this addiction statistic, it’s still a difficult number to take no matter what.

This data is specific to people with an opioid prescription, not from those buying them off the streets. 

The actual number is something we will probably never know since we only see what’s reported.

10. Prescription Drugs Have Been Affected by The Pandemic with Increases in Prescription Opioids.

The most prescribed and abused drugs in America include opioids. Alongside of this, prescription benzodiazepines, tranquilizers, and stimulants are included. 

The most common treatment for opioid addiction is medications like methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine, which are used to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings for the drugs. 

Finally, opioid drug abuse in 2020 cost the United States taxpayers around $78.5 billion each year. 

Prescription Drug Statistics 2023

Opioids aren’t the only prescription drugs misused by people.

While opioids are among the most abused drugs in America, there are other prescription drugs that people misuse. 

11. It’s Estimated that Between 21% and 29% of All Patients that Are Prescribed Opioids for Chronic Pain Misuse the Medication.

Since opioids are the most abused, we will cover some data about prescription drug abuse based on this category of drug. 

People are living with chronic pain to the tune of 20.4%, about 50 million,  of adults in America as reported in 2019.

About 7.4% of these adults had chronic pain that restricted their work and quality of life. 

Chronic pain is not exclusive to any specific group, but the highest percentages of people suffering with chronic pain are among the nation’s older adults, women, people living in poverty, and unemployed adults. 

Doctors will prescribe them a range of different pain medications, including opioids to alleviate their pain. The problem is that this category of drug is highly addictive.

12. 66% of All American Adults Are Taking Some Kind of Prescription Drug. 

This percentage accounts for over 131 million adults using prescription drugs of some kind in the US.

The highest usage of prescription medications is in the elder age groups and in those experiencing chronic health problems. 

Whether the prescription drug used by an adult is addictive or not, adults with chronic health conditions are dependent upon their medications for quality of life.

This includes medications for arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. 

Three-quarters of adults between 50 and 64 use prescription medications as compared to the 91% of those over 80 years old.

As people age, the number of prescriptions increases.

For instance, for people between 50 and 64, an average of 13 prescriptions are issued compared to 22 for people 80 and older. 

13. The United States Population Accounts for The Highest Prescription Drug Spending per Capita Over Other Countries.

It appears that the United States is an outlier in the prescription drug spending category.

Why is this so? One reason is that American consumers pay more out of pocket for their medications than other countries. 

Plus, with the large number of those who are uninsured, costs are much higher over other nations.

Most Amercians want pharmaceutical costs to be lowered so that they pay less out of pocket with or without insurance coverage.

The problem isn’t the desire to lower prescription drug costs, but the method of doing so. 

Not everyone agrees on how that should be done.

14. Millions of Americans Admit to The Misuse of Prescription Drugs.

Yes, opioids are included, but we will be discussing other addictive drugs that are misused according to addiction statistics. 

We will be going back to the 2020 NSDUH report that includes Americans 12 and older regarding prescription drug misuse. 

• Approximately 16.1 million people say they misuse their prescription psychotherapeutic medications. 
• Approximately 9.3 million admit to misusing their prescription painkillers. 
• Approximately 6.2 million people claim to misuse their prescription sedatives and tranquilizers.
• Approximately 5.1 million people said they misuse their prescription stimulants.
• Approximately 4.8 million people say they misuse benzodiazepine prescriptions. 

The 2021 Misuse of Prescription Drugs Research Report that is published by the NIDA, reported that there are three classes of prescription drugs that are misused. 

1. Stimulants like Adderall are listed as misused. 
2. Antidepressants like Xanax, Valium, and Ambien are also among prescription medications that are misused. 
3. Opioids like oxycodone, fentanyl, and Vicodin are among the misused prescription drugs.

Can you see why we said these can be alarming?

15. The Younger Crowd Are Reporting More Prescription Medication Misuse.

More addiction statistics from that 2020 NSDUH report showed that 9.3 million people admitted to misusing prescription painkillers over the last year.

Among adults between 18 and 25, the highest misuse reported, 4.1% said they misused their prescriptions. 

Of those aged 26 and up, the number accounted for 3.4% of adults who reported that they misused prescription drugs. 

Something you need to keep in mind is that the misuse of prescription drugs isn’t an exclusive issue among the young.

Almost two-thirds of those who tried painkillers over this year for the first time are 25 and over. 

That said, 774,000 American adults 26 and older report they first began to misuse prescription pain relievers during 2020.

Tobacco Addiction Statistics 2023

As long as we are addressing addiction statistics, we cannot leave out tobacco and cigarette addiction. 

16. Approximately 30.8 Million American Adults Smoke Cigarettes. 

Cigarettes are only one of the ways people use tobacco. Tobacco use is reported to be the leading cause of preventable diseases, death, and disabilities in America.

Every single day about 1,600 people under 18 years old try their first cigarette in the US. About 200 of them wind up smoking cigarettes every day.

Consider the fact that nicotine addiction is so strong that there are people who will buy cigarettes before they will buy food or shelter.

This kind of addiction is hard to quit. Also, keep tobacco farmers with “green tobacco sickness”, which is from handling wet tobacco leaves and absorbing the nicotine. 

17. 2.55 Million of Middle School and High School Students Use Some Form of Tobacco Products.

The good news is that cigarette smoking among young Americans is on the decline.

However, more than 2 million middle school and high school students have started using e-cigarettes, which is still concerning since they are unsafe, especially those with nicotine that can cause damage to their still developing brains. 

There are states in the US investing more into preventing young people from smoking through extensive tobacco control programs.

These states have experienced faster and bigger declines in cigarette smoking among both young people and adults.

18. One out Of Four People Who Don’t Smoke Get Exposed to Secondhand Smoke.

We already know that smokers are at risk for a wide range of chronic illnesses and poor health conditions like heart disease, lung cancer, lung disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, complications in pregnancy, and premature births.

Well, those who don’t smoke, but breath secondhand smoke can also suffer the effects of tobacco.

Secondhand smoke is also harmful to infants, increasing the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), and other illnesses. 

Some reports of non-smokers who were exposed to secondhand smoke long-term are linked to lung disease and cancer just like smokers. 

19. Almost 8 of 10 Instances of Chronic Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Are Linked to Smoking. 

This alarming tobacco addiction statistic is relatable to many smokers and former smokers in America.

COPD affects 16 million Americans, and that number is increasing. That number doesn’t include those left undiagnosed with COPD and who are not receiving treatment. 

COPD has no cure, but there are treatments that can reduce the symptoms and allow those with this lung condition maintain a better quality of life than they would without treatment. 

20. Secondhand Smoke Results in Over 40,000 Deaths per Year.

For people who are addicted to tobacco products like cigarettes, there are ramifications beyond how it affects your own health.

This smoking statistic should tell you how it affects thousands of people per year who may not even smoke, but who are exposed to smoke.

Cocaine Statistics & Facts 2023

In this part of the article, we will address the illicit drug, cocaine and how addiction affects cocaine users.

21. Cocaine Is the Second Most Used Illicit Drug in America.

In a 2014 study, almost 1.5 million Americans admittedly used cocaine. That’s around 0.6% of the total population of the country.

That was some years ago, but due to the high levels of drug trafficking seen in America, this number could be higher now. We hope it’s lower. 

In 2020, Marijuana was the most used illicit drug in America by far with 49.6 million users. The second is cocaine with close to 5.2 million.

LSD users account for about 2.637 million and Ecstasy accounts for 2.622 million.

22. In 2019, the NSDUH Revealed that Cocaine May Be Decreasing. 

In 2019, almost 1 million Americans from the age of 12 and over met the criteria for what is called cocaine user disorder, which is in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

What that means is these 1 million users show signs of addiction. 

In a 2002 report, there were 1.5 million instances of cocaine use, which is a significant decrease in cocaine use.

The most notable decrease occurred in 2009 in cocaine use disorder. The biggest decrease from the heaviest users (18 to 25 year olds) showed the biggest decrease in 2019.

23. Around 5 Million Americans Use Cocaine Regularly.

Cocaine is considered an illegal stimulant in the drug realm. This illicit drug is known to cause damage to the body’s organs, trigger mental disorders, and result in respiratory failure. 

Cocaine is so addictive that some people get addicted to it from the first use. Ever since 2013, fatalities involving cocaine use have increased year after year. 

24. Cocaine-Related Deaths Came to 14,666 in 2018.

Cocaine-related deaths in 2014 were 5,419. By 2020, there were 19,447 deaths caused by cocaine use.

As you can see, there has been significant rises in cocaine-related deaths from 2014 to 2020. 

25. 966,000 Americans Battled with Cocaine Use Disorder in 2017.

People often ask how you can tell if someone you love is using cocaine. Truthfully, cocaine, like meth, results in a quick and noticeably deterioration in appearance.

It’s not like some illicit drugs and prescription drugs that slowly drain the life out of you.

Methamphetamine Addiction Statistics 2023

This section is reserved for meth addiction data.

26. Around 774,000 Americans Regularly Use Meth. 

Methamphetamine, more commonly referred to as Meth, is an illegal drug, but also a substance that very often results in addiction, abuse, and overdose.

It’s sold in white crystal fragments called rocks that are intended to be burned and inhaled/smoked. Meth is very dangerous, addictive, and harmful to one’s health.

27. According to Recent Data, 85% to 90% of Stimulant Drug Deaths Are Related to Methamphetamine.

When accounting for the biggest fatality toll from stimulant drug related deaths, Meth is the leading cause in these instances.

Moreover, between 2012 and 2019, stimulant-related drug deaths rose by 29% each year.

Meth, like cocaine, starts showing health deterioration more quickly than other kinds of drugs.

28. Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment Rehabilitation Admissions Rose by 3% Between 2014 and 2015.

This percentage seems low, but at least there are some people addicted to this stimulant, Meth, who recognize they need help.

Some may do so through intervention, while others find themselves at the mercy of the judicial system before they seek help.

There are more and more programs out there today designed to inform and educate people of the health dangers of Meth and other ramifications in the legal realm that can occur.

People addicted to Meth need to be supported and encouraged to seek therapy. 

29. In 2015, 225,000 People Started Using Meth. 

2015 was a few years ago, so we can hope that Meth use is down and people seeking help and treatment is up.

Meth is such a dangerous illicit drug that puts people’s lives at risk. 

It tears families apart and is a main cause for overdose fatalities. Sadly, most addictions are harmful and are likely to rip families apart unless someone seeks help. 

30. 30% of Law Enforcement Officials View Meth as The Biggest Drug Problem in America.

Let’s face it, law enforcement officers are constantly bombarded with drug crimes. We cannot even imagine what they see on a daily basis.

When 30% of these brave men and women see Meth as a threat to people and society, we should listen. 

Heroin Addiction Facts & Statistics 2023

Here, we will share the information we gathered about heroin and heroin addiction statistics. 

31. In 2021, Data Shows that 0.2% of 8th Graders Used Heroin.

According to a 2021 Monitoring the Future survey, 0.1% of 10th graders and 12th graders were using heroin over the course of 12 months.

While these are estimates, this is still scary to think about these kids getting involved with such a dangerous illicit drug.

32. 2020 Heroin Addiction Statistics Revealed that 13,165 People Died from Heroin Overdose. 

Heroin is categorized as an opioid that is made using morphine taken from poppy plants (opium plants) found in Colombia, Mexico, Southwest and Southeast Asia.

It can be a brown or white powder or a tar-like black and sticky substance. 

Heroin overdose happens when this drug slows or even stops breathing, which causes hypoxia (decrease in oxygen to the brain).

It may have long-term effects on users’ nervous systems, and can result in permanent brain damage, coma, or death.

33. For People Already Addicted to Prescription Drugs, They Are 40 Times More Susceptible to Heroin Addiction.

Since heroin is categorized as an opioid, this statistic makes sense, though it’s shocking to consider.

Almost all heroin users also partook in at least one to three other drugs or substances. 

Those who are addicted to cocaine are at 15 times risk of becoming addicted to heroin. Alcoholics and marijuana users are also at higher risk of getting addicted to heroin.

34. Nearly One Quarter of People Who Abuse Heroin Will Get Addicted.

The addiction statistics regarding heroin closely resemble those related to opioid addiction.

The demographics most at risk for heroin addiction are non-Hispanic males between 18 and 25 who reside in big cities. 

Heroin is a highly addictive substance that will cause not only physical and mental problems, but can also get you into serious legal trouble. 

35. In 2017, an Estimated 652,000 Individuals Aged 12 and Up Experienced Heroin Use Disorder.

It appears that heroin usage in America is quite high, but there are 1.5 million heroin users in Russia, which makes it the largest heroin consumer on the planet.

Malaysia has the strictest illegal drug laws with death being the punishment for those who sell drugs. 

That said, America is still the largest country using any kind of addictive drugs per capita. 

Essential Addiction Statistics & Facts 2023

Here are a few general facts about addiction and those who experience it. 

36. Only Around 10% of Those with Substance Abuse Disorders Actually Get Treatment.

Sadly, a mere 10% of people who need treatment for substance abuse actually get the help they need.

That can be either for lack of knowing they need help, refusing help, or lack of resources and support.

When you consider that more than 23 million Americans struggle with some form of addiction, 10% is a very small percentage that get help.

37. Over 20% of Americans Suffering with Anxiety Disorders Also Have a Drug Addiction.

It seems that people with anxiety or depression may turn to drugs or alcohol that can lead to addiction.

At very least there is a fine line and vicious cycle that occurs among addiction and anxiety or depressive disorders.

For instance, people with social anxiety disorder also suffer from alcoholism.

38. At The Global Level, up To 3.3 Million People Die Each Year Because of Alcoholism.

Additional statistics regarding alcoholism show that 95,000 Americans die due to the effects of drinking alcohol each year.

Another 7% of alcohol drinking adults have alcohol use disorder (AUD), and 60% of people drank more alcohol during the pandemic lockdowns.

39. The Family Environment and Genetics Combined Play a Role in Addiction.

Research from 2012 suggests that drug abuse is often shaped by both familial environment and genetic elements.

There has yet to be a large-scale adoption study to confirm the current findings.

We often see children of addicted parents continue the pattern, while some break the pattern.

40. In 2017, 38% of American Adults Struggled with An Illicit Drug Use Disorder.

This percentage includes the use of illegal and prescription drugs, whether they were prescribed to the addicted person or they were bought on the street.

Essentially, illicit drug use means the abuse of or misuse of any type of drug, illegal or prescription (depending on the drug).

This can include drugs like marijuana. cocaine, heroin, meth, or any one of several inhalants. 

Teen & Young Adult Drug Addiction Statistics 2023

Adults aren’t the only demographic that gets addicted to drugs. Teens and adolescents also struggle with addiction.

41. Addiction Statistics from 2017 Showed that About 4% of The American Teen Population (12 to 17) Struggled with A Form of Substance Use Disorder. 

This percentage accounts for 992,000 of American teenagers, or 1 in 25 individuals within the teen age range.

Another 443,000 adolescents between 12 and 17 suffered from alcohol use disorder in 2017, which is 1.8% of teens.

The estimate for teens suffering from illicit drug use disorders in 2017 account for 3%, or 741,000 teens.

42. An Estimated 5.1 Million Young Adults Between the Ages of 18 and 25 Struggled with Some Kind of Substance Abuse Disorder in 2017.

About 5.1 million young people suffering from substance abuse disorders is equal to 14.8% of this specific part of the American population.

It also accounts for around one in seven young adults. 

Besides that, approximately 3 million young adults battled with alcohol use disorder in 2017, which is around 10% of this demographic. 

In 2017, this same age demographic struggled with illicit drug use to the tune of 7.3% of the young adult population, or 2.5 million young adults.

Additionally, heroin use among this age group doubled over a decade.

43. In 2017, in Those 26 and Older, About 13.6 Million Adults Battled Some Form of Substance Abuse, Which Is 6.4% of This Demographic. 

Around 10.6 million of this same age demographic coped with alcohol use disorder in 2017, which is 2% of that population.

Another 4.3 million adults in the 26 and over age range lived with an illicit drug use disorder in the same year.

44. In Adults Over 65, 1 Million Had a Form of Substance Use Disorder According to 2017 Data. 

In that same year, around 978,000 people 65 and older battled with alcohol abuse disorder, and another 93,000 had an illicit drug use problem. 

Two thirds of American senior citizens aged 65 and older struggling with alcohol related disorders developed their disorder before they were 65. 

Somewhere between 21% and 66% of elderly people struggling with any kind of substance abuse issue also have some form of mental disorder. 

Gender, Race and Regional Addiction Statistics 2023

In this final section of the article, we will discuss the addiction statistics according to gender, race, and region.

45. Men Are More Likely to Use Illicit Drugs than Women, but Women Are Just as Likely to Struggle with Addiction in Those Who Abuse Substances. 

Stats from 2017 revealed that 5.2% of females aged 12 and over struggled with substance abuse problems compared to 9.4% of males in the same age range.

This shows that men are close to twice as likely to abuse alcohol or drugs than women. 

46. The Highest Rate of Substance Dependence and Abuse Is Found in Alaskan Natives and American Indians 12 Years and Older. 

Caucasians (whites) in 2017 had a rate of 7.7% for substance abuse.

African Americans struggled with substance abuse disorders at 6.8% of the population, while Hispanics were at 6.6%. 

47. Among Asian Americans, only 3.8% Have Problems with Substance Abuse.  

Since genetics and family environmental factors are primary elements for substance abuse disorders, Asian Americans often have stricter households and less recreational drinking goes on in their homes.

Therefore, they don’t often pass down these habits to their children. That said, there are still some that do struggle with addiction.

48. Approximately 4.6% of Pacific Islanders and Native Hawiians Struggle with Substance Use Disorders. 

Once again, this portion of the world’s population has a different way of life that doesn’t promote drug or alcohol use other than what is legal and in moderation.

However, as you can see, there is still a small portion of this demographic that does battle addiction.

FAQs

Conclusion

That is all we gathered from the addiction statistics in 2023 we could find.

We know this is a lengthy article, but addiction is a challenging thing to combat, which means there is a lot to say.

We hope that you have gotten some relevant information from this article.

We also hope you get some hope from it and can find ways to help and support those you love through addiction recovery. 

These addiction statistics represent only a small portion of everything that is out there about how this problem affects the people who are addicted and their loved ones. 

If you know someone who is addicted to any substance, try to encourage them to seek help. 

Sources

ADAA	Addiction	Addiction Center
Addiction Center	American Addiction Centers	American Addiction Centers
American Addiction Centers	Bright Path Program	CDC
CDC	CDC	Drug Abuse Statistics
eMedicine Health	FDA	Genesis House
Health Policy Institute	HRSA	IAMSBIRT Project
Mayo Clinic	NCBI NLM NIH GOV	NIAAA NIH GOV
NIDA NIH GOV	NIDA NIH GOV	Sam HSA GOV
Statista	Talbott Campus	The Recovery Village
US Department of Health	Wonder CDC GOV

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