Drug abuse has a long history in the United States since 1971 under the Nixon administration. The federal drug budget continues to increase from $23.8 billion in 2013 to over $27.7 billion in 2018.
The current administration is taking a hardline approach on drug use. In addition to drugs crossing the border from Mexico, the Trump Administration declared the crisis a national emergency and signed the 2018 bill created by Congress aimed at providing support for people addicted and penalties for companies that contribute to overprescribing.
With the National Drug Prevention Week last month and the Trump administration focusing on the opioid epidemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report in May on the “States with the Biggest Drug Problems in 2019.” Additionally, blue states seem to have a bigger drug problem than red states.
This study compares 50 states and the District in terms of 22 key metrics, ranging from arrest and overdose rates to opioid prescriptions and employee drug testing laws. Colorado is rated number nine of 50 states in this epidemic survey report as noted below: Drug Abuse & Prevention in Colorado (1=Biggest Problem; 25=Avg.)
• 13th: Share of Teenagers Who Used Illicit Drugs in the Past Month
• 4th: Share of Adults Who Used Illicit Drugs in the Past Month
• 3rd: Share of Adults Who Needed but Didn’t Receive Treatment for Illicit Drug Use in the Past Year
• 23rd: Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities per 100,000 People (12 years & older) Using Illicit Drugs
• 1st: Drug Arrests on College Campuses per 1,000 Students
A panel of doctors/researchers indicated rehabilitation is needed to respond to the opioid crisis. However, long term rehab is needed for most addictive patients and will be very costly.
~ WalletHub Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, CDC, FBI, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, & DEA. By John Kiernan, Senior Writer & Editor for WalletHub.