U.S. Has Highest Levels of Illegal Drug Use in the Known World

Drug Use Increasing Worldwide, Survey Finds
Updated on October 27, 2016

In spite of the most stringent drug policies and punitive laws in the world, the United States also has the highest levels of lifetime illegal cocaine and marijuana use, according to a study of more than 54,000 people in 17 countries.

The United States also has the highest rate of lifetime tobacco use but comes in third in alcohol use, behind the Ukraine and Germany. The study, by Louisa Degenhardt of the University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia) and colleagues, is based on the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).

This trend has also been reported in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) conducted annually by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In 2013, that survey indicated that an estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older—9.4% of the population—had used an illicit drug in the past month.

The number of current illicit drug users (those who have used in the past month) is up from 8.3% in 2002. The increase is mainly due to an increase in the use of marijuana.

While the use of other illegal drugs has leveled off or declined over the past decade, NSDUH figures show that past-month marijuana users increased from 5.8% to 7.5% from 2007 to 2013.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy estimates that $100 billion worth of illegal drugs were sold in the U.S. in 2013.

It is all about the money...

Congress does not want to stop the ILLEGAL DRUG PROBLEM IN AMERICA

States do not want to stop the ILLEGAL DRUG PROBLEM IN AMERICA

Law Enforcement does not want to stop the ILLEGAL DRUG PROBLEM IN AMERICA