Pain in the Nation 2025: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths

Economists as well as healthcare and addiction specialists agree the pandemic and quarantines of 2020 had a significant impact on nationwide alcohol consumption. Alcohol and marijuana are the substances most commonly used among youth; note that data regarding less popular drugs may be limited. Those who start using substances before age 13 have a much higher likelihood of developing a long-term disorder compared to those initiating later. This emphasizes the centrality of middle-school-level prevention, family engagement, and community education. Racial and ethnic differences reveal disparate burdens of substance use, as well as uneven access to treatment services.

Dashboards on Substance Use and Overdose

Drug use can result in infections, like HIV or hepatitis C, overdoses needing emergency or hospital care, and deaths. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) provides resources to prevent and respond to drug overdoses and other outcomes in Virginia. VDH and other state agencies work to improve health outcomes and reduce injury and deaths from drugs, including fentanyl. VDH is committed to being a trusted source of public health information and services. The significant variation in campus arrests, with West Virginia leading in college-related drug arrests, highlights how enforcement strategies can vary even within educational settings. Drug use continues to touch millions of adults and teenagers across all regions, with significant disparities in prevalence, access to treatment, and enforcement approaches.

Drug-Related Deaths

President Trump first declared opioid overdose to be a public health emergency in 2017, a designation that remains in place, and the substance abuse in older adults subsequent public health investments to CDC from Congress have transformed the nation’s ability to use data to save lives. In the most recent data, 45 states showed declines in overdose deaths, but five states—Alaska, Montana, Nevada, South Dakota, and Utah—still saw increases in overdose deaths, highlighting the continued need for rapid local data and tailored response. In addition to the large provisional drop in fatal overdoses, we also see smaller decreases in nonfatal overdoses, as measured by emergency department visits for overdose, and welcome continued decreases in self-reported youth substance use. The dramatic differences between states with the highest and lowest prescription rates reveal significant opportunities for policy intervention and medical practice improvement. After precipitous increases in the rate of drug overdose deaths in 2020 and 2021, the 2022 overall overdose mortality rate was virtually unchanged, and the 2023 mortality rate was 4 percent lower.

• The content on this site is intended solely to inform and educate medical professionals.
• There are 260 drugs classified as Schedule I. Some examples of Schedule I drugs include ecstasy, heroin, synthetic heroin, LSD, marijuana, and peyote.
• The 6 out of 10 counterfeit pills that contain lethal amounts of fentanyl create a deadly game of chance for anyone who purchases what they believe to be legitimate medications on the street.
• Statistics indicate that some demographics and communities face elevated risks of drug abuse and drug disorders.
• In the broader landscape, we see stark differences by region, age, socioeconomic status, and more.

More data

This concentration of high prescription rates in Southern states reflects longstanding patterns in medical practice, cultural attitudes toward pain management, and potentially inadequate regulatory oversight of prescribing practices. The strong correlation between prescription rates and overdose deaths in states like West Virginia and Tennessee demonstrates how legitimate alcohol rehab medical treatment can evolve into widespread addiction problems when proper safeguards are not in place. The geographic distribution of adult drug use highlights important disparities in both risk factors and protective elements across different states. Rural states like Alaska and Washington also rank high in adult drug use, suggesting that geographic isolation, limited economic opportunities, and reduced access to treatment services may contribute to higher usage rates.

Teenagers in Delaware are 26.40% more likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen. Teenagers in Connecticut are 17.20% more likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen. Teenagers in Colorado are 18.78% more likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen. Teenagers in California are 1.98% less likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen. Teenagers in Arkansas are 8.88% more likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen. Teenagers in Arizona are 8.61% more likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen.

ODMHSAS utilizes live dashboards to https://dogonhuycattuong.com/21-types-of-liquor-alcohols-of-the-world/ showcase information across multiple statewide programs. Visit the Dashboards page to see a list of current dashboards for various programs and initiatives. West Virginia ranks third-highest nationally for alcohol-related deaths due to acute causes.

• Maryland has the nation’s second lowest rate of alcohol-related deaths from chronic causes.
• Teenagers in Oklahoma are 6.17% less likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen.

For example, a death that involved both fentanyl and cocaine would be included in both the rate of drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone and the rate of drug overdose deaths involving cocaine. The 220 Americans who die from drug overdoses every single day represents an ongoing national emergency, even as the significant decrease from previous years offers hope for continued progress. Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa maintain the lowest overdose death rates, suggesting that geographic isolation, cultural factors, and potentially more effective prevention strategies may provide some protection against the worst aspects of the drug crisis. These statistics reveal both the severity of the ongoing crisis and the potential for meaningful progress through sustained intervention efforts.