Drug abuse statistics in Maryland

Maryland has a population of 6,165,129 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 909,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 14.74% of the population. 873,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 1,154,000 in the past year. The report also found that 166,000 Maryland residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 58,000 had abused meth, and 254,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 98,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Maryland totaled 255,000 people.

Alcohol abuse in Maryland

Alcohol misuse was also reported in Maryland with 2,812,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,328,000 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 2,481,000 people.

Drug overdose deaths in Maryland

In 2021, Maryland saw a total of 2679 recorded drug-related overdose deaths. This includes those that were accidental or unidentifiable but excludes those that were related to suicide or homicide. This puts the overdose death toll in Maryland at 43.4 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 627 or 10.2 per 100,000 people.

Addiction treatment statistics in Maryland

The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Maryland and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 1,071,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 692,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 153,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders. There are also many who have been diagnosed with or reported a substance, illicit drug, or alcohol use disorder that require rehab treatment and are not receiving it. The report found that 464 people in Maryland needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 669,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 923,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.