Updated August 6th, 2025

Substance abuse and addiction continue to impact millions of Americans. In 2023, 48.5 million individuals aged 12 or older—approximately 17.1% of the population—met the criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD). That includes 28.9 million people (10.2%) with alcohol use disorder and 27.2 million people (9.6%) with drug use disorder, with 7.5 million (2.7%) reporting both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously.

In order to provide high-quality drug detox and rehab programming, it’s important to understand the needs and substance abuse trends plaguing people across the nation. In this blog, we’ll take a brief look at the types of substance abuse that are most prevalent in the United States and the life-threatening effects this abuse has on addicted individuals.

Drug Overdose Statistics in the United States

Many people who are addicted and dependent on illicit or prescription drugs suffer drug overdoses as a result of their substance abuse. Drug overdoses can be accidental or intentional, and they happen when a person takes more than the recommended dosage of a prescription drug. An overdose may also occur when a person consumes an illicit drug (or combination of illicit drugs) to get high, but their metabolism cannot detoxify the drug fast enough.

Drug overdose deaths in the United States remain alarmingly high, with synthetic opioids continuing to drive the majority of fatalities as of 2023.

• 107,543 total drug overdose deaths occurred in 2023.
• 72,776 deaths involved synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl).
• 79,358 deaths involved any type of opioid.
• 3,984 deaths involved heroin.
• 29,449 deaths involved cocaine.
• 34,855 deaths involved psychostimulants (mainly methamphetamine).
• 10,870 deaths involved benzodiazepines, with most also involving synthetic opioids.

Statistics on Alcohol Abuse in the U.S.

An estimated 178,000 people die from alcohol-related causes each year, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Recent CDC data also show that 1 in 8 deaths among adults aged 20–64 is attributable to excessive alcohol use. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry previously found that 1 in 8 American adults struggled with alcohol abuse, raising serious concerns about the nation’s drinking culture. As of 2020, about 10.2% of Americans aged 12 and older had Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).

Even teens and young adults are not immune to the effects of alcohol abuse. Approximately 50% of college students who drink engage in binge drinking, and an estimated 20% of them meet the criteria for AUD. Additionally, about 401,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 were reported to have alcohol use disorder in 2018, and similar levels likely persisted into 2020.

Unfortunately, the effects of alcohol abuse in the U.S. extend far beyond individual health consequences. More than 10 percent of children in America live with a parent who abuses alcohol, and many suffer extreme neglect, emotional trauma, and even sexual abuse as a result. This exposure significantly increases their own risk for substance use and addiction later in life.

The economic burden of alcohol addiction in America is also staggering. It cost the nation an estimated $249 billion in 2010, with the majority of that cost attributed to binge drinking behaviors.

Although alcohol continues to be the most commonly abused addictive substance in the United States, many people never receive the treatment they need. Despite the common belief that quitting “cold turkey” is one of the best ways to beat alcohol addiction, it can actually be very dangerous. The withdrawal effects of alcohol addiction can be extremely uncomfortable, painful, and even deadly, so alcohol detox should always be completed in a medically-monitored environment like a detox center. Quitting alcohol with the assistance of a medically-trained staff will also improve the likelihood that a person will stay sober after completing detox.

Illegal Drug Abuse Statistics in the U.S.

Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the U.S., with approximately 22.0% of Americans aged 12 or older—about 61.9 million people—reporting past-year use in 2022. Additionally, an estimated 43.6 million Americans (or 15.4%) reported using marijuana in the past month. Although public opinions on marijuana use vary by region, other illegal substances—widely recognized for causing serious physical, psychological, and emotional harm—continue to be used heavily across the country.

In 2022–2023, an estimated 47.7 million Americans (16.8% of the population aged 12 and older) reported using illegal drugs in the past month. Approximately 0.4 to 0.5 percent of Americans aged 12 and older reported using methamphetamines in the past year, while heroin use remained lower, with only about 0.1 percent of the population reporting past-year use. Cocaine use was also reported by around 0.4 to 0.5 percent of Americans aged 12 and older, with crack cocaine use included within this group. About 2 percent of the population reported using hallucinogens, and inhalant use remained relatively low at under 1 percent annually.

Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, marijuana use continues to be the most prevalent, with approximately 11 to 12 percent—around 2.9 million teens—reporting past-year use. Other substances were far less common in this age group: about 0.4 to 0.5 percent reported cocaine use, 0.2 to 0.4 percent reported methamphetamine use, and heroin use remained very low at around 0.1 percent or less. Despite prevention efforts, these statistics highlight the ongoing challenges of substance abuse across age groups in the U.S.

Prescription Drug Addiction Statistics in the U.S.

The opioid crisis in America is largely driven by prescription opioid misuse. For example, did you know that on an average day more than 650,000 opioid prescriptions are dispensed and 3,900 people are abusing prescription opioids?

The opioid crisis in America has been driven significantly by prescription opioid misuse. On average, more than 37.5 opioid prescriptions are dispensed per 100 people annually in 2023, down from 46.8 in 2019, reflecting a nationwide decline—but still a substantial volume of availability. Many individuals do not intend to develop an addiction, but the powerful reinforcing effects of opioids often lead to continued use.

Long-term use of prescription opioid medications is typically discouraged because it increases the risk of dependence and addiction. Moreover, misuse of prescription opioids often leads to more dangerous illicit drug use: approximately 75–80% of new heroin users report misusing prescription painkillers before transitioning to heroin.

Additionally, prescription drug misuse in America extends well beyond opioids. Recent data for 2022 indicate:

In 2022, 5.0% of Americans age 12 or older—about 14.2 million people—misused any prescription psychotherapeutic medication in the past year.

Of these:

• 3.1% (approximately 8.5 million people) misused prescription pain relievers,
• 1.7% (approximately 4.9 million people) misused tranquilizers or sedatives, including benzodiazepines,
• 1.4% (approximately 4.3 million people) misused prescription stimulants.

In 2021, an estimated 1.8% (about 5.0 million people) aged 12 or older had a prescription opioid use disorder in the past year.

While specific cost estimates are dated, prior reports suggest that prescription opioid abuse costs the nation approximately $55 billion in health and social costs each year.

The Ongoing Opioid Crisis In the United States

The ongoing opioid crisis has cost the U.S. an estimated $1.5 trillion in 2020 alone, and it has cost Americans even more in terms of health and well-being, with 54,743 Americans dying from opioid overdoses in 2024. Although this marks a significant decline from over 80,000 opioid-related deaths in 2023, the crisis remains a pressing national issue.

In 2018, 10.3 million Americans (about 3.7 percent of the total population) misused opioids in the past year. Additionally, from 2002 to 2015, there was a 2.8-fold increase in the total number of deaths involving opioids, and a 6.2-fold increase in the total number of deaths involving heroin—further emphasizing the ongoing need for a comprehensive nationwide solution.

The increasing abuse of illicit opioid drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil continues to raise major concerns, as these powerful substances are now the leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S.

Ongoing debates about the causes of this crisis include the overprescribing of prescription opioids by medical professionals, lack of oversight and regulation, and the widespread availability of potent synthetic opioids.

The Trump administration declared the national opioid crisis a public health emergency back in October of 2017, but many lawmakers and public health officials continue to call for bolder, more sustained action to combat the evolving opioid epidemic in America.

Drug Detox and Addiction Treatment for Addicted People in America

Despite the growing concerns and startling statistics surrounding substance abuse in America, many addicted people still don’t get the drug and alcohol detox and addiction treatment services they need to recover fully. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, only about 7.9 percent of adults and 5 percent of youth who had alcohol use disorder in the past year received treatment.

Of the many reasons cited for not receiving addiction treatment, most people who needed treatment yet did not receive it, said it was due to the following reasons:

• They were not ready to stop using drugs.
• They couldn’t afford treatment.
• They worried about it negatively affecting their job.
• They were worried about what others would think of them.
• They didn’t know where to go for treatment.
• They could not find a program with the type of treatment they needed.

Of those who did receive addiction treatment in the past year, most individuals with a substance use disorder received treatment for alcohol abuse.

Of those who received addiction treatment in the past year, most individuals with a substance use disorder were treated for alcohol use disorder. In 2022, approximately 13.1 million people aged 12 or older—about 4.6% of the population—received substance use treatment. Among them, the majority sought care for issues related to alcohol. That same year, an estimated 29.5 million people were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, yet only about 2.2 million individuals, or 7.8%, received treatment for it.

Drug use disorders were also prevalent, with about 27.2 million people meeting the criteria for a drug use disorder in 2022. Among individuals with a substance use disorder, 60.6% had alcohol use disorder only, 39.4% had drug use disorder only, and 16.5% had both alcohol and drug use disorders. These numbers reflect the widespread need for accessible and effective treatment services across the country.

Breaking it down further, about 3.1% of people had a prescription opioid use disorder, 1.8% had a methamphetamine use disorder, 1.4% had a stimulant use disorder, 0.6% had a cocaine use disorder, and 0.3% had a heroin use disorder. These figures highlight the diverse and complex nature of substance use in the United States and the ongoing need for comprehensive treatment resources.

If you or a loved one is in need of addiction treatment, Briarwood Detox Center can help get you started on the road to recovery with medically-assisted drug and alcohol detox programs. Call our detox center today to learn more about our individualized programs and insurance coverage options.