Drug abuse in North Carolina
North Carolina has a population of 10,551,162 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 1,200,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 11.37% of the population. 1,074,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 1,474,000 in the past year. The report also found that 185,000 North Carolina residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 138,000 had abused meth, and 391,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 111,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in North Carolina totaled 443,000 people.
Alcohol abuse in North Carolina
Alcohol misuse was also reported in North Carolina with 4,275,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 1,934,000 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 4,298,000 people.
Overdose deaths in North Carolina
In 2021, North Carolina saw a total of 3879 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 North Carolina at 36.7 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 1638 or 15.6 per 100,000 people.
Addiction treatment in North Carolina
The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in North Carolina and those who currently require treatment. The report found that 1,602,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 1,055,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 321,000 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 620 people in North Carolina needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 1,080,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 1,373,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.
Government assistance for rehab in North Carolina
The Mental Health and Substance Abuse section offer Substance Use Disorder (SUD ) services to reduce addiction in the area and support recovery. They also offer mental health services and information about rehab centers where you can find help.
They help individuals battling different forms of addiction get the help they need through assessment, counseling, and other treatment approaches.
You can contact the department for more information and help with addiction treatment.