Statistics of Illicit Drug Use (USA)

1. An estimated 16 million Americans (7.1 percent of the population 12 and older) were current users of illicit drugs in 2001, meaning they had used an illicit drug at least once during the 30 days prior to being interviewed.
2. Illicit drug use among youth was highest for those between the ages of 18 and 25 (18.8 percent) in 2001.
3. The rate of illicit drug use in metropolitan counties was higher than the rate in nonmetropolitan counties. Current drug use rates were 7.6 percent in large metropolitan counties, 7.1 percent in small metropolitan counties, 5.8 percent in nonmetropolitan counties, and 4.8 percent in completely rural, nonmetropolitan counties.
4. The rates of current illicit drug use for major racial/ethnic groups in 2001 were similar to previous years:

•       -  7.2 percent for whites,

    -  6.4 percent for Hispanics,

    -  7.4 percent for African Americans,

    - 9.9 percent among American Indian/Alaska Natives

    - 12.6 percent for persons of multiple race and

    - 2.8 percent for Asians, the lowest.