In 2010, an estimated 22.6 million Americans aged 12 and older used illicit drugs; this represents 8.9% of the population aged 12 or older.[1] Illicit drugs include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and prescription drugs used for non-medical purposes.
Fast Facts
· Rates of illicit drug use were highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (21.5%) as compared to youth ages 12-17 (10.1%) and adults 26 or older (6.6%).[2]
· In 2010, 3% of youths used “legal” prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. Among young adults, age 18 to 25, 5.9% used "legal" prescription drugs for non-medical purposes; the increase primarily came from the misuse of pain relievers.[3]
· In 2010, an estimated 11.4% of people 12 or older drove under the influence (DUI) of alcohol at least once in the past year. The rate of DUI was highest among young adults 21 to 25 (23.4%).[4]
· Rates of underage drinking declined between 2002 and 2008, but remained steady between 2008 and 2010. In 2010, approximately 10 million people aged 12 to 20 had at least one alcohol drink in the past month; 6.5 million also reported binge drinking.[5]
· In 2010, approximately 75.9% of youth aged 12 to 17 reported seeing drug or alcohol prevention messages outside of school and 75.4% reported seeing or hearing prevention messages at school. Fewer youth reported seeing or hearing prevention messages both in and out of school in 2010 than they did in 2002.[6]
· Between 2000 and 2008 the number of drug offenders sentenced to state prisons declined 7.8%, for a total of 251,400 in 2008. The mean expected length of stay for drug offenders was 15.2 months.[7]
