Table of Contents

The 10 Most US Common Addictions with Statistics

Over 40 million American citizens aged 12 and above use nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs illegally. That is about 1 person in every 8 people. Based on these statistics, it means that the number of Americans abusing drugs is more than the number of people with health conditions such as diabetes (25 million), cancer (18 million), or even heart conditions (27 million).

If you or your loved one are suffering from an addiction disorder, it is important to note that you are not alone. As you consider the available treatment options, it is critical that you understand addiction so that you can make informed decisions regarding the right treatment option.

What is addiction?

Addiction is a disease of the brain and body that entails the misuse of one or more drugs or substances despite the serious physical, psychological, behavioral, and social consequences.

The top 10 most addictive drugs and substances include:

Nicotine

Tobacco products are legal for people over the age of 18. They contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. Nicotine may not seem like a burdening addiction when compared to other addictive substances, but it causes numerous health problems.

At least 30 million to 60 million Americans use tobacco products, specifically cigarettes. In 2015, at least 21% of the American population was using cigarettes, but the percentage had reduced to 14% in 2017.

At least 15% of men and 12% of women are cigarette smokers. In 2017, more than 600,000 teens aged 12 to17, and over 1.1 million teens aged 18 to 21 used cigarettes for the first time.

Alcohol

Just like cigarettes, alcohol is readily available to persons who are over the age of 21. Many people take alcohol as a social drink, and most of those people end up becoming alcoholics or addicts. Alcohol can lead to liver disease and family problems such as child and spousal abuse.

According to 2017 data, at least 14 million American citizens have an alcohol use disorder. This consists of 9.2 million males and 5.3 million females.

In 2017, above 2.2. million Americans aged 12 to 17 used alcohol for the first time. Likewise, above 2.3 million Americans aged 18 and 25 reported first-time alcohol use. Men aged 18 to 25 become alcoholics due to binge drinking.

Only 7% of this population will seek treatment, which means that 93% are often left untreated.

Barbiturates

These drugs are classified under sedative-hypnotics. They are drugs used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. They include drugs such as phenobarbital, butabarbital, and secobarbital.

In 2017, at least 52,000 Americans above the age of 12 years misused tranquilizers or sedatives.

Marijuana

Marijuana has been legalized in most states. However, many people are not aware that it can be addictive. In 2017, National Survey on Drug Use and Health data reported that Marijuana was a widely abused drug.

In 2016, more than 40 million Americans above the age of 12 years said they used marijuana. As of 2017, At least 4.2 million Americans above the age of 18 years had a marijuana use disorder.

Although more adults are misusing marijuana, it is a substance of choice for Americans aged 18 to 25 years. 6% of high schoolers smoke marijuana on a daily basis.

Cocaine

Cocaine was originally anesthesia until it was discovered that it was highly addictive. Cocaine is a common addiction because people who take it tend to experience a feeling of euphoria, and extreme energy levels.

In 2016, about 6 million Americans said they had used cocaine. In 2017, at least 1 million American citizens above the age of 12 claimed they were first-time users of cocaine. At least 636,000 received treatment. Approximately  l70,200 Americans died from a cocaine overdose in 2017.

Heroin

Heroin is categorized as an opiate or opioid. It is derived from morphine. Heroin is a highly addictive street drug because it is cheaper than most prescription opioids.

In 2015, at least 595,000 American adults reported that they were misusing heroin.  According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, at least 886,000 used heroin in 2016.

The number of heroin overdose-related deaths from 2010 to 2015 was about 3,036 to 12,989.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are drugs used to treat panic attacks, stress, insomnia, and seizures. These drugs help to regulate mood. They include drugs such as diazepam (ValiUM), flurazepam Dalmane, Lorazepam (Ativan), Midozolam (Versed), clonazepam (Klonopin), just to mention a few.

According to a 2008 study, at least 5.1% of American adults between 18 and 79 years used benzodiazepines. In 2018, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that at least 5.7 million Americans above the age of 12 had abused benzodiazepines.

Opioid PainKillers

Opioid painkillers are often misused because they are readily available by prescription. These drugs work by relieving pain and aiding body relaxation. Examples of opioid drugs include codeine, morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl, among others.

According to a 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 11 million people abuse opioid painkillers because of their ability to offer maximum relaxation.

In 2017, at least 2 million American citizens misused opioid painkillers for the first time. At least 9% of the people who use opioid painkillers become addicted, which means that about 1.8 million Americans have an opioid use disorder.

Stimulants

Prescription stimulants include drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta), and amphetamines (Dexedrine and Adderall). These drugs work by increasing alertness, attention, as well as energy. They are also used to treat mental disorders such as ADHD, and a number of sleep disorders.

According to the 2017 report of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 1.6 million Americans used amphetamines in 2016. The data also showed that about 5.3 million American adults misused various types of prescription stimulants in the same year.

Inhalants

Inhalants are medical, household, and industrial products, particularly those that produce vapors. People who inhale these vapors tend to feel intoxicated or high.

The most common inhalants include aerosols, paint, correction fluid, glue, petrol, and felt-tipped pens, among others.

More than 21 million Americans have abused inhalants at least once in their lives. More than 555,000 Americans use inhalants every other day. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 1.8 million people had used inhalants in 2016. In 2018, 8% of 12th-grade students reported they had used an inhalant.

If you are addicted to any of the above drugs or substances, it is important that you seek treatment so that you can be able to live a more fulfilling and happy life. It is advisable that you talk to a therapist near you so that you can start your journey towards recovery.