(UNDATED) – Drug abuse has a long and storied history in the United States, and we’ve been “at war” with it since 1971 under the Nixon administration. But no matter who is in office, the federal drug budget continues to increase. It’s moved from $23.8 billion in 2013 to over $27.7 billion in 2018.
The current administration seems to be taking a hardline approach to drug use. In addition to the issue of drugs crossing the border from Mexico, President Donald Trump has been focused mainly on the opioid crisis. The Trump Administration declared the crisis a national emergency. Congress also passed legislation last year aimed at providing support for people addicted and penalties for companies that contribute to overprescribing. President Trump signed this bill into law.
With Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s National Prevention Week in full swing and the Trump administration focusing on the opioid epidemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the States with the Biggest Drug Problems in 2019.
This report attempts to answer those questions by comparing the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 22 key metrics, ranging from arrest and overdose rates to opioid prescriptions and employee drug testing laws. Continue reading for the complete findings, commentary from a panel of researchers and a full description of the methodology used.
Indiana ranks 5th in the US for Drug abuse has a long and storied history in the United States, and we’ve been “at war” with it since 1971 under the Nixon administration. But no matter who is in office, the federal drug budget continues to increase. It had increased from $23.8 billion in 2013 to more than $27.7 billion in 2018.
For the highest drug use by state, Indiana ranks 5th in the nation. In drug use and addiction, Indiana ranks 7th, and in drug health issues and rehabilitation the state ranks 42.
Drug Abuse & Prevention in Indiana (1=Biggest Problem; 25=Avg.)
- 28th – Share of Teenagers Who Used Illicit Drugs in the Past Month
- 19th – Share of Adults Who Used Illicit Drugs in the Past Month
- 10th – Opioid Pain Reliever Prescriptions per Capita
- 14th – Drug Overdose Deaths per Capita
- 14th – Drug Arrests per Capita
- 28th – Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities per 100,000 People (12 Years and Older) Using Illicit Drugs
Given the uncertain future and lack of significant progress to date, it’s fair to wonder where drug abuse is most pronounced and which areas are most at risk in the current political climate. This report attempts to answer those questions by comparing the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 22 key metrics, ranging from arrest and overdose rates to opioid prescriptions and employee drug testing laws.
To view the full report, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/drug-use-by-state/35150/
Purpose of National Prevention Week
The three primary goals of National Prevention Week are to:
- Involve communities in raising awareness of substance use and mental health issues and in implementing prevention strategies, and showcasing the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention programs;
- Foster partnerships and collaborations with federal agencies and national organizations dedicated to improving public health; and
- Promote and disseminate quality substance use prevention and mental health promotion resources and publications.
