Addiction by the Numbers: Breaking Down the Latest Data

When someone is battling an addiction, it can be easy for them to feel like they’re alone. But the startling reality is that the use of drugs, alcohol, and other addictive substances is quite prevalent in the United States, affecting millions of people each year.

Substance use disorder (SUD) refers to individuals who have a recurrent pattern of substance use that continues despite consequences to their health or daily functioning. Every year, it destroys relationships, costs people jobs, and results in academic challenges that can change the trajectory of their careers.

However, just because substance use is common doesn’t mean it impacts everyone in the same ways. Addiction outcomes can vary among demographic factors like:

Race
Ethnicity
Geographical location
Age
Gender identity

Addiction statistics also depend on the type of addiction that’s being discussed.

Here, we provide a breakdown of the latest U.S. addiction data to offer a fuller picture of how many people are affected.

General Substance Use Statistics – U.S.

20.4 million Americans were diagnosed with substance use disorder in 2019.¹
94% of people aged 12 or older who had a substance use disorder in 2021 did not receive treatment.²
Almost all of the people who had a substance use disorder and did not seek treatment at an addiction treatment center believed they didn’t need treatment.²

Drug Use Statistics

61.2 million people (nearly 22% percent of the population) used illicit drugs in the past year.²
Half of people aged 12 and older have used an illicit drug at least once.³
As of 2020, more than 37.3 million Americans had used an illicit drug within the last 30 days.³
24 million people met the diagnostic criteria for drug use disorder in 2021.²
Marijuana was the most commonly used drug among Americans aged 12 and older, with 45.7% reporting that they’ve used marijuana at least once. This is followed by cocaine (14.2%) and LSD (10.2%).³
Illegal drug use is more common in cities than rural areas, with more than 20% of people in larger metropolitan counties having used illegal drugs.³
Nearly 92,000 people died of a drug overdose in 2020.¹

Alcohol Use Statistics

As of 2020, more than 138.5 million Americans aged 12 and older drink alcohol.³
29.5 million people aged 12 and older met the criteria for having an alcohol use disorder in 2021.²
Only 8% of the 15 million people who have an alcohol use disorder receive treatment.³
Nearly 1 in 4 Americans aged 18 years and older reported binge drinking in the last 30 days.⁵

Opioid Use Statistics

Among people 12 and older, 9.2 million misused opioids in the past year.²
Nearly 1 in 4 Americans who have a drug use disorder also have an opioid use disorder.³
The number of Americans 12 and older who use opioids dropped by more than 8% between 2019 and 2020.³
The risk of opioid addiction rises 15 times in people who take opioids for more than 3 months.³
More than 10% of U.S. counties dispense enough opioid prescriptions for everyone within their populations to have one.³
Opioids are the most common type of substance people report being exposed to when they call poison control centers.³

Addiction and Co-occurring Disorders

Many people with substance use disorders have another type of mental health condition at the same time, such as depression or anxiety. When these conditions exist together, they’re called co-occurring disorders.

This higher prevalence among the mental health community may be because people who have a mental illness are more likely to develop a substance use disorder.

Around 9.2 million U.S. adults had a substance use disorder and co-occurring mental illness in 2021.⁴
Among young adults aged 18-25, 13.5% had both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition in the past year.²
The percentage of multiracial adults aged 18 or older who met the criteria for having both a mental illness and a substance use disorder between 2020-2021 was higher than white, Black, Hispanic, Latino, or Asian adults.²

Addictions by Demographic

Like many other health conditions, substance use disorders and addictions are more common among some demographics related to age, race, and gender identity. Similarly, some populations are less likely to seek help for their addictions than others.

Here are a few addiction statistics by various demographics.

By Race & Ethnicity

Asian adults were less likely to experience both a substance use disorder and co-occurring mental illness compared to adults in most other racial or ethnic groups.²
White people were more likely to have had alcohol in the last 30 days than any other racial or ethnic group in 2021.⁶
There was no significant difference in race or ethnicity among those who misused opioids.⁶
Only 51% of Black or African American adults who experienced a major depressive episode between 2020-2021 received treatment for their depression, compared to 64% of white adults.⁶

By Age

Among the people who were classified as having a substance use disorder in 2021, the prevalence was highest amongst young adults aged 18 to 25 compared to youth and adults 26 and older.²
70% of Americans who try an illegal drug before they’re 13 develop a substance use disorder within the next 7 years. In comparison, this number drops to 27% for those who try an illegal drug after age 17.³
Nearly 33% of adults 18 and older had either a substance use disorder or a mental illness between 2020-2021.²
46% of young adults 18-25 had either a substance use disorder or a mental illness.²
Among college students who use illegal drugs, 93% use marijuana.³

By Sex & Gender Identity

Substance use disorders are more likely to affect young males.³
22% of males and 17% of females over the age of 12 used illicit drugs or misused prescriptions in the last year.³
6.3 million adults within the LGBTQ+ community have had either a substance use disorder or mental health disorder. Among this population, 8% struggled with both illegal drugs and alcohol misuse.³

Addiction Recovery Statistics

It is easy to feel like addiction statistics paint a gloomy picture, but not all addiction data is negative. Although many Americans are touched by substance use disorder and addiction, many of them are also recovered or in active recovery. In fact, recovery isn’t just possible – it’s the norm.

Here are a few statistics about addiction recovery in the U.S.

20.9 million (more than 72%) of adults who have ever had a substance use problem considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery.²
38.8 million (or 2 in 3) U.S. adults who ever had a mental health issue considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery. This is nearly 67% of the population.²
Nearly 10% of Americans are living in recovery after some sort of substance use disorder.⁷
Most Americans who have dealt with drug and alcohol addictions recover and go on to live full and healthy lives.⁷

What Does All of This Data Mean?

Ongoing research into the prevalence and details of substance use and addictions in the U.S. is critical for several reasons, including:

It helps researchers understand which addiction types are increasing and decreasing among Americans.
It helps determine which populations aren’t seeking treatment to create targeted programs.
It provides data to support the need for increased addiction research and treatment funding.
It helps people with an addiction to know they’re not alone.

Gathering demographic data can also help break down stigmas related to certain age or cultural groups.

SoberMind Recovery: Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Los Angeles

If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction, help is available. SoberMind Recovery Center specializes in helping people in the Los Angeles area manage their addiction so they can resume living productive lives.

In addition to inpatient residential treatment, withdrawal management, and group therapy, we offer a dual-diagnosis treatment program in Los Angeles that provides addiction recovery support alongside care for other mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

Take the first step towards your addiction recovery today. Call us at 818-835-9268 or request a callback using our online message form.