Drug Use Statistics in DC
District of Columbia has a population of 702,250 people. The most recent data from the 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 143,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 20.36% of the population. 124,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 190,000 in the past year. The report also found that 21,000 District of Columbia residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 2,000 had abused meth, and 19,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 2,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in District of Columbia totaled 19,000 people.
Alcohol Use in DC
Alcohol misuse was also reported in District of Columbia with 359,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 177,000 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 265,000 people.
Addiction Treatment Statistics in DC
The NSDUH report also recorded the total number of substance abuse disorders in the District of Columbia and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 141,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 93,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 6,000 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 157,000 people in the District of Columbia were classified as needing substance use treatment in the past year, 25,000 received substance use treatment, and 138,000 did not receive the treatment they were classified as needing.
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