Drug Use Statistics in Nebraska
Nebraska has a population of 2,005,465 people. The most recent data from the 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 207,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 10.32% of the population. 193,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 283,000 in the past year.
The report also found that 23,000 Nebraska residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 16,000 had abused meth, and 40,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 3,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse, including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl, in Nebraska totaled 41,000 people.
Alcohol Use in Nebraska
Alcohol misuse was also reported in Nebraska with 844,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 396,000 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 661,000 people.
Overdose Deaths in Nebraska
In the 12 months ending December 2025, Nebraska recorded 146 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 Nebraska at 7.3 per 100,000 people. The most recent available figure for alcohol-induced deaths, which covers 2021, was 356 or 18.1 per 100,000 people.
Addiction Treatment Statistics in Nebraska
The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Nebraska and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 264,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 182,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 25,000 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 286,000 people in Nebraska were classified as needing substance use treatment in the past year, 59,000 received substance use treatment, and 241,000 did not receive the treatment they were classified as needing.
Government assistance for addiction treatment in Nebraska
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is committed to the treatment and recovery of individuals dealing with drug and alcohol addiction.
Through the Division of Behavioral Health, the department offers crisis response and inpatient care services to help individuals get the help they need. If a resident of Nebraska doesn’t have insurance, they could be eligible for Division of Behavioral Health funding to access treatment.
In 2020, the State of Nebraska also accepted federal funding to expand Medicaid. Now more people can have health insurance and get treatment for their substance or drug addiction.
You can reach the Division of Behavioral Health at (402) 471-7860
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