Drug Use in Missouri
Missouri has a population of 6,245,466 people. The most recent data from the 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 1,165,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 18.65% of the population. 1,131,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 1,491,000 in the past year.
The report also found that 79,000 Missouri residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 62,000 had abused meth, and 153,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 11,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse, including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl, in Missouri totaled 162,000 people.
Alcohol in Missouri
Alcohol misuse was also reported in Missouri with 2,508,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,204,000 reporting binge drinking. The perceived risk of people over 12 years of age indulging in problematic alcohol use (5 or more drinks twice a week) in a month was 2,068,000 people.
Overdose deaths in Missouri
In the 12 months ending December 2025, Missouri recorded 1238 drug overdose deaths. This is CDC's provisional count and covers overdoses of all intents, including accidental, suicide, homicide and undetermined. That puts the overdose death rate in Missouri at 19.8 per 100,000 people. The most recent available figure for alcohol-induced deaths, which covers 2021, was 919 or 14.9 per 100,000 people.
Addiction treatment in Missouri
The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Missouri and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 1,016,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 567,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 94,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder, including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders.
The NSDUH report also measures the gap between the people who need substance use treatment and those who actually receive it. It found that 1,040,000 people in Missouri were classified as needing substance use treatment in the past year, 204,000 received substance use treatment, and 794,000 did not receive the treatment they were classified as needing.
Government assistance for addiction treatment in Missouri
The Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) under the Missouri Department of Mental Health offers programs to help people with substance use disorder and mental illness.
They are committed to helping teens, families, senior citizens, and other community members to beat addiction in a safe and substance-free environment. Some Treatment services that DBH provides in Missouri include self-help groups, education, family counseling, and therapy.
You can reach the Division of Behavioral Health at 573-751-4942 or 573-751-8017.
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