Drug Use in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has a population of 4,095,393 people. The most recent data from the 2023-2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that approximately 744,000 people over the age of 12 had used illegal substances in the past month, around 18.17% of the population. 701,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 893,000 in the past year.
The report also found that 45,000 Oklahoma residents had used cocaine in the past year, 46,000 had used meth, and 101,000 had misused prescription pain medication. 6,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse, including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl, in Oklahoma totaled 114,000 people.
Alcohol Use in Oklahoma
Alcohol misuse was also reported in Oklahoma, with 1,374,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 629,000 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 1,493,000 people.
Overdose Rates in Oklahoma
In 2021, Oklahoma saw a total of 897 recorded drug-related overdose deaths. This includes those that were accidental or unidentifiable but excludes those that were related to suicide or homicide. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 838 or 21 per 100,000 people.
Addiction Treatment in Oklahoma
The NSDUH report also recorded the total number of substance use disorders in Oklahoma and those who currently require treatment. The report found that approximately 603,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 300,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 69,000 people were recorded as having an OUD, including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders.
The NSDUH report also measures the gap between the people who need SUD treatment and those who actually receive it. It found that 654,000 people in Oklahoma were classified as needing treatment in the past year, 111,000 received treatment for an SUD, and 523,000 did not receive the treatment they were classified as needing.
Government Assistance for Addiction Treatment in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Mental Health and Substance Abuse Agency (OBMHSAS) is focused on promoting productive lifestyles and helping those with substance abuse disorders improve their mental and physical well-being. The agency's core mission is to provide prevention and treatment services for indigent Oklahomans who can't afford to pay.
The OBMHSAS operates 11 treatment provider organizations in Oklahoma and provides medication-assisted treatment to high-risk Oklahomans like pregnant women, Native Americans, and veterans.
They continue to provide mental health and substance abuse support by offering an easy-to-remember helpline: 988. This mental health and addiction helpline is for people living anywhere in Oklahoma.
You can reach the OBMHSAS at 405-248-9200.
- Provider Certification. (2022). Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. https://oklahoma.gov/odmhsas/policy/provider-certification.html
- Find a Provider. (2023, November 13). CARF International. https://carf.org/find-provider/
- Find Accredited Organizations. (2026). Jointcommission.Org. https://www.jointcommission.org/en-us/about-us/recognizing-excellence/find-accredited-organizations
- 2023-2024 NSDUH: Model-Based Estimated Totals for States (in Thousands). (2026, February 4). Samhsagov. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-2024-nsduh-estimated-totals-state
- Index of /programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2024/state/totals. (2020). Census.Gov. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2024/state/totals/
- CDC NCHS, Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts (2026). Cdc.Gov. https://data.cdc.gov/d/xkb8-kh2a