Marijuana is by far the most used illicit drug in the United States, with over 61 million people using this drug in 2022. The second most used drug at that time was cocaine, followed by methamphetamine and ecstasy. The United States has had a complicated history with drugs, from fighting a “War on Drugs” starting in the 1970s, to seeing the legalisation of marijuana in many states, and experiencing an ongoing nationwide opioid overdose epidemic.
Recreational marijuana
Although marijuana is still illegal under federal law, 21 states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. This legalization has opened a new and thriving market in these states. It is estimated that sales of legal cannabis will reach around 25 billion U.S. dollars by the year 2025. Although support for the legalization of marijuana has not always been strong, now around 68 percent of U.S. adults believe it should be made legal.
The opioid epidemic
The opioid epidemic describes a rise in overdose deaths in the U.S. due to prescription opioids, heroin, and illegally manufactured synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. The epidemic stems from misleading information from pharmaceutical companies concerning the dangers of opioids such as oxycontin, overprescribing of opioids from physicians, and an influx of easily accessible heroin and highly potent synthetic opioids. In 2021, there were around 80,411 deaths from opioid overdose in the United States.
Number of people in the U.S. who used selected illicit drugs in the past year as of 2022
(in 1,000)
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SAMHSA. (November 13, 2023). Number of people in the U.S. who used selected illicit drugs in the past year as of 2022 (in 1,000) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/611152/illicit-drug-users-number-past-year-in-the-us-by-drug/
SAMHSA. "Number of people in the U.S. who used selected illicit drugs in the past year as of 2022 (in 1,000)." Chart. November 13, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/611152/illicit-drug-users-number-past-year-in-the-us-by-drug/
SAMHSA. (2023). Number of people in the U.S. who used selected illicit drugs in the past year as of 2022 (in 1,000). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/611152/illicit-drug-users-number-past-year-in-the-us-by-drug/
SAMHSA. "Number of People in The U.S. Who Used Selected Illicit Drugs in The past Year as of 2022 (in 1,000)." Statista, Statista Inc., 13 Nov 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/611152/illicit-drug-users-number-past-year-in-the-us-by-drug/
SAMHSA, Number of people in the U.S. who used selected illicit drugs in the past year as of 2022 (in 1,000) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/611152/illicit-drug-users-number-past-year-in-the-us-by-drug/ (last visited August 24, 2024)
Number of people in the U.S. who used selected illicit drugs in the past year as of 2022 (in 1,000) [Graph], SAMHSA, November 13, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/611152/illicit-drug-users-number-past-year-in-the-us-by-drug/