An estimated 20.4 million people in the United States used some kind of illicit drug in the past 30 days, according to the latest government statistics. About 8.3 percent of all persons age 12 and over are involved in use of illegal drugs or the nonmedical use of prescription drugs.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a yearly interview of 67,500 persons sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, provides the most accurate estimates of drug, alcohol and tobacco use in the general U.S. population.
According to the 2006 NSDUH findings, illicit drug use rates have remained stable since 2002 and the use of some drugs has declined, but the survey has shown an alarming increase in the abuse of prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs.
Most Popular Drugs of Abuse
According to the survey, these are the most commonly abused drugs:
- Marijuana, by 14.8 million people, or 6 percent.
- Cocaine, 2.4 million users.
- Hallucinogens, including Ecstasy, 1 million users.
- Methamphetamine, about 731,000 users.
- Prescription drugs, 7 million nonmedical users.