More than 106,699 overdose deaths were recorded in 2021, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl were involved in 73,838 deaths in 2022, turning “illicit drug use” into a measurable, life-altering crisis. At the same time, patterns in who uses what vary sharply by age, sex, race, and where people live, from 39.5% past month illicit drug use among ages 18 to 25 to higher rural youth than large metro youth for past year illicit drugs.
Key Takeaways
- Among US adults 18+, males had higher past year illicit drug use at 28.4% vs 20.4% females in 2022, NSDUH
- Youth aged 12-17 past month marijuana use: 5.8% in 2022, higher in males 6.8% vs females 4.8%, NSDUH
- Non-Hispanic White past year opioid misuse: 3.1% vs 2.7% Black 2022, NSDUH
- US drug overdose economic cost: $1.02 trillion in 2017, updated higher, CDC
- Opioid crisis cost US $1.5 trillion 2018-2022 cumulative, est.
- Lost productivity from drug deaths: $504 billion annually US, CDC 2020
- In 2021, drug overdose deaths reached 106,699, 50% increase from 2019, CDC
- Synthetic opioids (fentanyl) involved in 73,838 deaths 2022 provisional, CDC
- Stimulant overdoses: 33,521 deaths 2021, up 32% from prior year, CDC NVSS
- US DEA drug seizures value: $15 billion street value 2022, DEA
- Fentanyl pills seized: 379 million 2023 fiscal year, record, DEA
- Cocaine seizures US: 27,743 kg in 2022, CBP/DEA
- In 2022, an estimated 70.2 million people aged 12 or older (24.9%) used illicit drugs in the past year according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- Past month marijuana use among people aged 12 or older reached 18.7% (52.5 million people) in 2022 per NSDUH data
- In 2021, 6.2 million people aged 12+ misused prescription pain relievers in the past year, representing 2.2%, NSDUH
In 2022, about a quarter of US adults used illicit drugs, with youth and males often seeing higher rates.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographic Statistics23 stats
01
Among US adults 18+, males had higher past year illicit drug use at 28.4% vs 20.4% females in 2022, NSDUH
02
Youth aged 12-17 past month marijuana use: 5.8% in 2022, higher in males 6.8% vs females 4.8%, NSDUH
03
Non-Hispanic White past year opioid misuse: 3.1% vs 2.7% Black 2022, NSDUH
04
Ages 18-25 had 39.5% past month illicit drug use, highest rate, 2022 NSDUH
05
Urban vs rural: 25.8% urban past year illicit drugs vs 23.0% rural 12+ 2022, NSDUH
06
American Indian/Alaska Native highest past year marijuana use 18.4% 12+ 2022, NSDUH
07
Males 12+ past year cocaine use 2.3% vs 1.2% females 2022, NSDUH
08
Past month methamphetamine higher in males 1.2% vs 0.6% females 18+ 2022, NSDUH
09
Among 12-17, females had higher prescription stimulant misuse 1.6% vs 1.3% males 2022, NSDUH
10
Black Americans past year hallucinogen use 1.3% vs 3.1% White 2022, NSDUH
11
Ages 26+ past month marijuana 17.0% vs 10.8% under 26 2022, NSDUH
12
Hispanic past year fentanyl misuse 3.1% vs 1.9% non-Hispanic White 2022, NSDUH
13
In 2022, 12-17 females inhalant use 0.8% vs 0.5% males, NSDUH
14
Rural youth 12-17 past year illicit drugs 22.2% vs 19.0% large metro 2022, NSDUH
15
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander highest past month cocaine 2.0% 2022, NSDUH
16
Males 18-25 past month ecstasy 1.5% vs 1.0% females 2022, NSDUH
17
Past year heroin use higher in males 0.5% vs 0.3% females 12+ 2022, NSDUH
18
Asian Americans lowest past year marijuana 6.5% 12+ 2022, NSDUH
19
Ages 12-17 past month any illicit 8.7%, females 8.4% vs males 9.0% 2022, NSDUH
20
Small metro areas past year prescription opioid misuse 3.5% 2022, NSDUH
21
Black males past year crack cocaine 0.8% vs 0.3% White males 2022, NSDUH
22
Females 26+ higher tranquilizer misuse 2.2% vs 1.5% males 2022, NSDUH
23
Two or more races youth highest past month marijuana 14.3% 12-17 2022, NSDUH
Interpretation
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
It appears American men are leading an unfortunate, self-destructive race no one signed up for, but with youth and various communities showing distinct vulnerabilities, from rural settings to stimulant misuse among teenage girls, it's clear the addiction epidemic, in its many forms, is a brutally egalitarian crisis that discriminates only in its chosen poisons.
02 · Category
Economic Impact Statistics23 stats
01
US drug overdose economic cost: $1.02 trillion in 2017, updated higher, CDC
02
Opioid crisis cost US $1.5 trillion 2018-2022 cumulative, est.
03
Lost productivity from drug deaths: $504 billion annually US, CDC 2020
04
Healthcare costs for drug misuse: $85 billion yearly US, CDC
05
Criminal justice costs drugs: $181 billion per year US est., ONDCP
06
Global illicit drug market value: $650 billion annually, UNODC 2023
07
US cocaine wholesale value: $30-40 billion yearly, DEA
08
Methamphetamine market US: $20 billion est., DEA NDTA 2022
09
Heroin/fentanyl trade: $150 billion global, UNODC
10
Workplace drug use costs employers $100 billion/year US, NSDUH
11
Treatment costs US: $35 billion annually for SUD, SAMHSA
12
Child welfare costs from parental drug use: $10 billion/year, HHS
13
Property crime linked to drugs: 20% of total, costing $15 billion, NIJ
14
Global cocaine market: $94 billion retail 2022, UNODC
15
US fentanyl pill market: billions in street value, DEA 2023
16
Lost GDP from opioid deaths: 0.5% annually US, est.
17
Emergency services drug response: $5 billion/year US, CDC
18
Incarceration drug offenses: $80 billion/year US, ACLU
19
Cannabis black market US: $60 billion despite legalization, est.
20
Meth lab cleanup costs: $1-5 million per site US, DEA
21
Global amphetamine market: $40 billion, UNODC
22
SAMHSA treatment funding: $5.5 billion federal 2022, insufficient
23
Drug-related absenteeism: 70 million lost workdays/year US, NSDUH
Interpretation
Economic Impact Statistics Interpretation
Even if you never touch the stuff, the trillion-dollar siphon on our economy from illegal drugs means we're all paying for the party, and the hangover is a national migraine in cold, hard cash.
03 · Category
Health and Overdose Statistics25 stats
01
In 2021, drug overdose deaths reached 106,699, 50% increase from 2019, CDC
02
Synthetic opioids (fentanyl) involved in 73,838 deaths 2022 provisional, CDC
03
Stimulant overdoses: 33,521 deaths 2021, up 32% from prior year, CDC NVSS
04
Heroin-involved deaths: 8,661 in 2021, down from peak, CDC
05
Cocaine overdoses: 24,486 deaths 2021, CDC
06
Methamphetamine deaths: 36,453 in 2022 provisional, CDC WONDER
07
Neonatal abstinence syndrome cases: 7.6 per 1,000 births 2020, CDC
08
Drug-induced deaths ages 25-34: 25.8 per 100,000 in 2021, CDC
09
Males overdose rate 41.9 per 100,000 vs 20.7 females 2021, CDC
10
Non-Hispanic Black overdose rate 37.5 per 100,000 2021, highest, CDC
11
Global drug use disorders: 39.5 million needing treatment 2022, UNODC
12
Opioid overdose deaths US 2022: over 80,000, CDC provisional
13
HIV infections from injection drug use: 8% of new diagnoses 2021, CDC
14
Hepatitis C acute cases: 2.5 per 100,000 linked to drugs 2021, CDC
15
Emergency dept visits for drugs: 6.5 million 2021, DAWN
16
Polysubstance overdose 2021: 26% involved stimulants + opioids, CDC
17
Drug poisoning death rate ages 35-44: 40.2 per 100,000 2021, CDC
18
Fentanyl death rate Appalachia: 50+ per 100,000 some counties, CDC
19
Treatment admissions for heroin: 17% of total substance admissions 2021, SAMHSA TEDS
20
Overdose deaths involving psychostimulants: up 45% 2020-2021, CDC
21
Benzodiazepine deaths: 13,800 in 2021, often with opioids, CDC
22
Youth overdose deaths 12-17: 1,699 in 2021, CDC
23
Global opioid deaths: 250,000 annually est., UNODC 2023
24
ED visits cocaine: 505,000 in 2021, SAMHSA DAWN
25
Marijuana ED visits: 267,000 past year 2021, DAWN
Interpretation
Health and Overdose Statistics Interpretation
Our national drug crisis is like a morbid game of whack-a-mole where we're failing to whack the terrifyingly potent new synthetic moles while the older, familiar ones keep coming back with deadly reinforcements.
More related reading
04 · Category
Law Enforcement and Seizure Statistics22 stats
01
US DEA drug seizures value: $15 billion street value 2022, DEA
02
Fentanyl pills seized: 379 million 2023 fiscal year, record, DEA
03
Cocaine seizures US: 27,743 kg in 2022, CBP/DEA
04
Methamphetamine seized: 140 tons US 2022, highest ever, DEA NDTA
05
Heroin seizures: 6,500 kg 2022 US, DEA
06
Global cocaine seizures: 1,761 tons 2022, UNODC
07
Fentanyl powder seized: 12,000 kg 2023 US, DEA
08
Marijuana seizures US: 600 tons 2022, DEA
09
Ecstasy/MDMA seizures: 5.5 tons US 2022, DEA NDTA
10
Drug arrests US: 1.2 million 2021, FBI UCR
11
CBP drug seizures at border: 24,000 lbs fentanyl precursors 2023, CBP
12
Methamphetamine domestic labs dismantled: 12 in 2022 US, down from thousands, DEA
13
Global heroin seizures: 98 tons 2022, UNODC WDR
14
LSD seizures US: minimal, 10 kg 2022, DEA
15
Darknet drug markets monitored: 50+ active 2023, UNODC
16
Drug trafficking orgs dismantled: 1,400+ by DEA intl 2022, DEA
17
Cannabis seizures Europe: 1,200 tons 2022, EMCDDA
18
US prescription drug diversion arrests: 20,000 annually, DEA ARCOS
19
Sinaloa Cartel fentanyl labs seized: 10+ Mexico 2023, DEA
20
Global amphetamine seizures: 660 tons 2022, UNODC
21
Drug paraphernalia seizures value: $100 million US 2022, est. DEA
22
Federal drug sentences: 15,000 imposed 2021, USSC
Interpretation
Law Enforcement and Seizure Statistics Interpretation
While America's drug enforcement agencies are seizing record-breaking mountains of narcotics and dismantling labs from the streets to the darknet, it tragically feels like trying to drain an ocean with a thimble as the tide of addiction and trafficking continues to rise.
05 · Category
Prevalence and Usage Statistics29 stats
01
In 2022, an estimated 70.2 million people aged 12 or older (24.9%) used illicit drugs in the past year according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health
02
Past month marijuana use among people aged 12 or older reached 18.7% (52.5 million people) in 2022 per NSDUH data
03
In 2021, 6.2 million people aged 12+ misused prescription pain relievers in the past year, representing 2.2%, NSDUH
04
Lifetime cocaine use among adults aged 18+ was 15.4% (40.3 million) in 2022, NSDUH
05
Past year hallucinogen use was reported by 3.0% (8.6 million) of people 12+ in 2022, NSDUH
06
In 2022, 2.6 million people aged 12+ initiated methamphetamine use in the past year, NSDUH
07
Past month inhalant use among 12+ was 0.6% (1.8 million) in 2022, NSDUH
08
Heroin past year use: 0.4% (1.1 million) aged 12+ in 2022, NSDUH
09
2021 global estimate: 296 million people used drugs, up 23% from 2010, UNODC WDR 2023
10
Opioid use disorder affected 60 million people worldwide in 2022, UNODC
11
Cannabis users globally: 219 million in 2022, 36% increase since 2010, UNODC WDR
12
Amphetamines: 30 million past year users in 2022, UNODC
13
Cocaine: 22 million users globally past year 2022, UNODC
14
In Europe, 8% of adults used cannabis last year (2022 EMCDDA)
15
US past month cocaine use: 1.7% (4.8 million) 12+ in 2022, NSDUH
16
Lifetime LSD use: 10.5% among 26+ in US, NSDUH 2022
17
Past year ecstasy/MDMA use: 1.0% (2.7 million) 12+ 2022, NSDUH
18
Inhalant initiation among youth 12-17: 569,000 in 2022, NSDUH
19
Global ecstasy users: 20 million past year 2022, UNODC
20
US fentanyl misuse past year: 2.2% (6.1 million) 12+ 2022, NSDUH
21
Marijuana past year use youth 12-17: 10.1% in 2022, NSDUH
22
Adults 18-25 past month illicit drugs: 39.5% in 2022, NSDUH
23
Past year tranquilizer misuse: 1.8% (5.1 million) 12+ 2022, NSDUH
24
Global cocaine production 2022: 2,757 tons, record high, UNODC
25
US methamphetamine past month use: 0.9% 12+ 2022, NSDUH
26
Cannabis resin seizures indicate 7,000 tons production 2022, UNODC
27
Heroin use past month US: 0.1% (370,000) 2022, NSDUH
28
Lifetime illicit drug use 12+: 58.8% in 2022 US, NSDUH
29
Past year PCP use: 0.1% (200,000) 12+ 2022, NSDUH
Interpretation
Prevalence and Usage Statistics Interpretation
This sobering collage of statistics paints a planet that is, with a quarter of Americans alone using illicit drugs annually, quite literally experimenting its way through a crisis, yet treats the exploding global production and use of substances from cannabis to cocaine with the casual familiarity of a seasonal trend.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Illegal Drug Use Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/illegal-drug-use-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Illegal Drug Use Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/illegal-drug-use-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Illegal Drug Use Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/illegal-drug-use-statistics.
Sources & references
16 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level