A new study on drug use in America by Addiction Treatment Magazine has tapped four PIA Western Alliance states as hot beds for drug use and issues involving drugs, drug overdose deaths and driving under the influence fatalities (DUI).
West Virginia is ranked number 1 on the survey. The four PIA Western Alliance states are Montana in position 2, Oregon is third, Alaska ranks sixth and New Mexico seventh.
The magazine drew its conclusions from data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Among the things considered in the study:
- The percentage of the population that has taken drugs in the past year
- Drug deaths per 100,000 population
- Opioid specific deaths
- Drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers
- People killed in DUIs per 100,000 residents
- West Virginia
- The most deaths — 90 per 100,000 — from drug overdoses
- The most opioid deaths — 77 per 100,000
- The highest level of heroin use at 0.38% of the state’s population
- Meth use ranks high at 1.46% of the total population of West Virginia
2. Montana
- Montana has a very high level of alcohol consumption with 61% of the population saying they have had something to drink in the past year
- 2.25% of the state’s population took cocaine in the last year — the national average is 2.08%
- 15% say they’ve used marijuana — the national average is 11.4%
- Montana has the highest level of fatal drunk driver crashes in the country — 8.39 per 100,000 drivers
- 6.92 of every 100,000 people in Montana are killed in DUI incidents
3. Oregon
- Oregon has the 2nd highest marijuana use rate at 19% of the population using it in the last year
- 3% say they’ve used cocaine
- 61% drank alcohol at least once in the last year
- 26 drug-related deaths per 100,000 people
- 5 fatal drunk driver crashes per 100,000
4. Vermont
- Vermont has the highest percentage of pot smokers at 20% having said they’ve indulged in the past year
- Cocaine use is 3.25% of the population
- Alcohol drinkers hit 64%
- 3.5 fatal drunk driving crashes per 100,000
- 2.7 out of 100,000 residents killed in DUI crashes
5. Maine
- High heroin use at 0.61%
- Pot us is 18%
- High alcohol consumption with 59% say they drink
- Maine has 47 drug deaths per 100,000
- Maine has 3.83 killed in DUIs per 100,000
6. Alaska
- Alaska has a high level of marijuana use at 18%
- Heroin use is 0.6%
- Meth users number 1.33%
- Alaska — however — has a low number of drug deaths per 100,000 at 35
7. New Mexico
- New Mexico has a low use of marijuana on average with just 12% saying they use the drug
- 2% say they’ve used cocaine
- 48% of people in New Mexico regularly drink alcohol
- Driving under the influence deaths are high at 7.37 drivers involved in fatal crashes
- 5.67 people are killed per 100,000 in DUI crashes
8. Colorado
- Colorado has the highest cocaine use in the country at 4.46% having used it
- Colorado also has a high rate of marijuana users at 18%
- 64% of people say they’ve used alcohol in the last year
9. Delaware
- The highest level of heroin use in the country at 0.63%
- 12.63% use marijuana
- 2.39% use cocaine
- Opioid deaths are high at 48 per 100,000
10. Kentucky
- Just 10% of population uses marijuana
- 2.1% use cocaine
- 1.3% are meth users — higher than the national average of 0.87%
- Kentucky has 55 drug deaths per 100,000
- 5.33 people die in DUI crashes per 100,000
A spokesperson from Addiction Treatment Magazine commented on the study.
“Drug use in America has far-reaching impacts that extend beyond the individual user. It affects families, communities, and society as a whole. The physical and mental health consequences of drug use can be devastating, leading to chronic health problems, addiction, and even death,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also suggested ways to address the problem of drug and alcohol abuse.
“Addressing drug use in America requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond punitive measures and addresses the root causes of drug addiction,” they said. “This includes investing in education, prevention, and treatment programs, as well as addressing the underlying social and economic factors that contribute to drug use.”
Source link: Addiction Treatment Magazine — https://bit.ly/3OaXQNK
