Demographic Statistics
Substances do not target all communities equally. Not only are certain population areas more heavily impacted by substance use, but specific groups have unique risk factors. Understanding these numbers is necessary to be able to offer the correct help where it’s needed and to who needs it the most. The communities and groups that are most heavily affected are the ones who currently do not have reliable access to healthcare services, who have more substances circulating around their neighborhoods, and who have a wide variety of risk factors that make substance usage more likely.
Population Statistics
Substances and substance use disorders are generally more common in urban communities than in rural ones, with more people in large urban areas having used substances than people outside of those areas. This may be a factor because, with more population density, substances can circulate more quickly.5 In addition, many urban communities are in some ways disadvantaged economically and socially, which can lead to a higher prevalence of specific risk factors. This is an issue known worldwide and is not any less serious in the United States, where the term urban poverty has been studied for decades.
When we look at individual states, the numbers line up. More populous states, such as California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York, see higher numbers of opioid usage, alcohol abuse (including underage drinking and driving while under the influence), 6789 and overdose-related deaths in general. Of course, the problem isn’t any less important in less populous areas; even Wyoming, which is the least populated state in America, sees thousands of deaths a year from substance use.
Economic Statistics
As mentioned, impoverished areas and communities are more likely to see substances circulate throughout. This is due to a complex mix of risk factors that are associated with lower economic status. Substance usage is more common among people who are trying to cope with an outside issue or mental health disorder, as substances can offer temporary relief from these negative situations.
These risk factors include stress, depression, anxiety, troubled home lives, struggles in school, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. People in less wealthy communities are generally more likely to suffer from these issues, as there’s less access to help, and the environments themselves tend to be less stable, increasing the risk of negative and stressful life events. Millions of people struggling with a substance use disorder are thus also struggling with another comorbid mental health struggle, often because they’re unable to cope and don’t know how to get the help they need.
Another major factor is whether or not someone has ever committed a crime or gone to jail, as an estimated 65% of people in the American prison system are struggling with substance use disorders.10 Factors such as these can also play a more indirect role in why people turn to substances, as they can make it really difficult to find or hold down a job. In fact, unit increases in state unemployment correspond to an over 9% increase in opioid use disorder, with similar figures noted for other substances.11
Race, Age, and Gender Statistics
Who a person is, in terms of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, and more, is just as important as other socioeconomic factors when it comes to their risk of developing a substance use disorder. It can impact everything from the type of substances they may use to the when and how of their actual use.
When it comes to race, it appears that each group suffers to a different degree. Native Americans, including Native Alaskans, make up a combined total of about 12% of substance use dependence reported. Pacific Islanders are less likely to suffer a substance use disorder in comparison, with only about 4% of the total. Following Native Americans are Caucasians and African Americans, making up 7.7% and 6.8%, respectively, in the same year. Asian Americans are the least likely to suffer from a substance use disorder, acting as only 3.8% of the total.1
Gender-wise, men are more likely to use substances than women, with 9.4% compared to 5.2% in 2017. However, women are more likely to develop a dependency on prescription drugs, and they can be just as prone to dependencies in general when they do take substances. More overdose-related deaths happen to men, but the numbers for women are climbing each year.12
The LGBTQ+ community is at a higher risk as well. The rates of discrimination faced against people in the community lead to greater overall stress and, as a result, higher than average amounts of substance use. Alcohol, opioids, and methamphetamine are specific examples of substances that the LGBTQ+ community is more likely to struggle with.
Age is another interesting factor. Many studies consider “adults” to be anyone aged 12 or up, which means that many of the reported adult overdose-related deaths are happening to adolescents and teenagers. Among kids ages 12-17, over 2 million have reported using substances in 2020, with nearly 600,000 of these kids using a substance besides marijuana.
However, the substance most common for people in this age group is alcohol. Underage drinking causes thousands of deaths a year, and over 400,000 kids met the criteria to be diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder. 8 Adolescents are often even more susceptible to an SUD because they’re less experienced and more swayed by peer pressure; if their peers are using substances and appear to be having fun, they’re more likely to try an illicit substance as well and can easily underestimate their potency.
Recovery Statistics
It’s not all doom and gloom; many people across the United States are on the path of recovery, and opportunities to get help are continuing to grow. In a recent year, over 4 million people received the treatment they needed, and with thousands of substance use treatment centers in the United States, this number can continue to grow. 1 We as a community need to work to remove the barriers that are preventing people from getting the help they need. This effort will give everyone a chance to recover regardless of who they are or where they come from.
Here at Alternative to Meds Center, our mission is to help improve upon the above statistics.
Our efforts to help people in Arizona recover from substance use disorders focus on the avoidance of adding harmful prescription medications in the process. An evidence-based, addiction treatment program can give each person the care they truly need to find recovery while considering the unique circumstances and risk factors that led to their substance use.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
