• Twenty percent of individuals, ages 16 to 59 have tried at least one drug

• Individuals that are most likely to admit that they have tried drugs are those between the age of 18 and 21, with nearly half of them doing so.

• The incidence of men taking drugs is higher them females with 24% of men saying they have compared with 16% of women. Fifty-one percent of men between the ages of 18 and 21 have at least taken a drug. In women of this age group 36% have.

• The most commonly used drug is marijuana. 12% of drug users admitted to having used it. This figure doubles in the 18-25 year old population.

• Nearly 20 million people, older then 12 years old, use drugs (illegal) in the United States according to the Mayo Clinic.

• Nearly 20,000 thousand deaths every year can be contributed to drug addiction in the United States. This is another figure compiled by the Mayo clinic.

• It is believed that nearly 1500 people die every week from drug addiction in the U.S., nearly 400 each week and 50 per day.

• In one year the number of emergency room visits to treat individuals who had taken ecstasy has jumped more then 50%. For heroin, this figure was 12%.

• When a person visits the emergency room for drug use, they often have consumed alcohol as well.

• In the period of one year, the number of emergency department “mentions” of oxycodone, a prescription drug increased by nearly 70% and hydrocodone, 31%.
• Persons that abuse drugs make up double the number of claims for worker and medical compensation then those that do not take drugs.

• Just 8 years ago, nearly 16 million United States citizens, older then 12 were currently taking illegal drugs. This is 7% of the population in this age group.

Drug addiction facts and statistics, though sobering, are pretty eye opening. They give a snap shot of what groups are using drugs and which types. This information can be used by drug addiction help programs that are set up to serve the current needs of users. For example, recent statistics have shown that an increasing number of people are beginning to take prescription drugs. This finding could be utilized by drug rehabilitation agencies to develop specific drug addiction help programs to meet this growing need.

Organizations that develop ad campaigns to prevent drug use can also measure whether or not they are having an impact by taking a close look at statistics. If they find that they are not being successful in their attempt to keep groups off of drugs with their current messages, they can go back to the drawing board and attempt to better connect and discourage their core audience to stop using drugs or to never start in the first place.