Crack and Cocaine Addiction Statistics in Austin, Texas
Because of the opioid addiction crisis, other types of drug abuse don't get as much attention as they deserve. At one time, cocaine, crack cocaine and methamphetamine were the biggest concerns in the Austin area, and the truth is it's still a serious problem.
Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant that affects the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can lead to addictive behaviors. Typically, cocaine is in a powder form that is snorted or rubbed on the gums, however injecting cocaine is possible for a more intense high. The use of cocaine can lead to behavioral and health problems, including heart attacks and overdose.
Crack cocaine is a more addictive form of cocaine. It’s made by dissolving cocaine powder in water and ammonia or baking soda then boiling the mixture down to create solid chunks known as rocks. In addition to being more addictive, the way in which crack cocaine is ingested is different. It’s usually smoked, which allows for large quantities to be consumed at once producing an immediate and intense high.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Approximately 322,000 Texans over the age of 12 used cocaine in 2022.
- Cocaine related deaths in Texas have risen since 2013, and the Austin metro’s overdose death rate has spiked since 2019.
- Texas ranks 3rd out of all the states for cocaine use in terms of the number of people who use cocaine in a year.
- The presence of fentanyl that is unknowingly laced into cocaine is attributed as a reason for the recent increase in cocaine overdose deaths.
- Cocaine addicts are less likely to seek addiction treatment compared to those with heroin and meth addictions.
Statistics on Cocaine and Crack Addiction in Austin and the State of Texas
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that 850,000 Texans have a drug use disorder that doesn’t involve opioids. Based on SAMHSA’s data from the latest National Survey of Drug Use and Health 322,000 Texans over the age of 12 used cocaine. This suggests that a fair number of those with a drug use disorder are cocaine addicts.
Luckily the number of people who perceive cocaine use as a great risk is much higher. Over 16.7 million Texans fall into that category.
The University of Texas Addiction Research Institute’s Drug Trends in Texas 2021 report also found data on cocaine abuse that was both encouraging and concerning. While there are indications that cocaine use is decreasing, cocaine related deaths have increased and Texans with cocaine addiction are less likely to enter an addiction treatment program compared to other types of drug use.
The United States Sentencing Commission noted in 2021 the northern district of Texas was one of the top five spots in the country for cocaine trafficking offenders. That says a lot about the prevalence of cocaine abuse in the state. Possession of cocaine is also the second most common type of drug possession charge in Texas after marijuana possession.
A recent study published by Addiction Treatment Magazine noted that Texas ranked 45th of the 50 states for cocaine use in 2020 by percentage of the population. While the rate was just 1.45%, because of Texas’s huge population it ranked 3rd in terms of the number of people who use cocaine.
Crack and Cocaine Overdose Statistics
Overdoses are a serious problem in the Austin metro. Data from 2023 showed that drug related deaths were higher in Travis County than any other area of Texas. Accidental drug related deaths have tripled since 2019 and are almost double the state average.
In 2021 the rate of overdose deaths in Austin-Travis County was 25.6 per 100,000 people. Although there were initiatives to lower that number by 10% it went up instead. Just two years later in 2023 the rate of overdose deaths increased to 33 per 100,000 people.
The Drug Trends in Texas 2021 report broke down drug deaths in Texas by type and found that deaths attributed to cocaine use steadily increased between 2013 and 2020. Just as troubling is the fact cocaine had the second highest overdose death rate.
A report from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office provides additional information for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Based on their data fatal overdoses from cocaine doubled from 63 deaths in 2020 to 127 deaths in 2022.
The effects of cocaine make it a deadly illegal substance, especially when a person uses cocaine frequently. Unlike opioids, cocaine doesn’t suppress breathing. Cocaine affects the cardiovascular system causing high blood pressure that reduces blood flow. Because of these physical symptoms, cocaine addicts are at serious risk of having a heart attack.
Something else to consider with fatal overdoses today is that fentanyl is being laced into a number of other narcotics, including cocaine. That was observed by Austin Police Department Lt. Patrick Eastlick who organized a task force with the main objective of cracking down on fentanyl. Tragically, a number of people in the Austin area that die from an opioid related overdose did so not realizing that they were ingesting the highly lethal substance. They may have never taken any opioids before, leaving them highly susceptible to overdosing from the fentanyl.
This was the case in late April 2024 when there were a string of 75 overdoses in Austin over the course of a few days. In 8 of the 9 overdose deaths that occurred the individual had fentanyl and cocaine in their system at the time of death. Local EMS Captain Christa Stedman credited the widespread distribution of Narcan for saving many lives during that period.
What is most tragic is that in recent years many more overdoses have occurred that weren’t fatal thanks to the widespread distribution of Narcan. The Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council gave out 15,000+ doses of Narcan in 2021 alone and the City of Austin has distributed even more doses.
Crack Cocaine Substance Use Disorder Among Teens in Austin, TX
In the SAMHSA survey from 2021 and 2022, 4,000 of the 322,000 Texans that used cocaine were 12-17 years old. The Texas School Survey of Drugs and Alcohol Use goes into even more detail. When asked if they had ever used cocaine before, 98-99% of kids in 7th-12th grade responded no, depending on the grade they were in with 11th and 12th graders 50% more likely to respond yes. Less than 1% in any grade responded yes to using crack.
These are encouraging statistics when cocaine drug addiction is isolated on its own. However, data has shown that it isn’t the product of lower drug abuse overall. It’s more indicative of a shift toward using other drugs like prescription medications and opioids.
The rate of cocaine use did increase significantly with age, however. A survey of college students in Texas found that 5% of that demographic had used cocaine at some point and the number went up with age. Just 2.7% of college freshmen had used cocaine while 7.3% of college seniors said the same.
Getting Support for Treating Cocaine Addiction
Texas is committed to improving the rates of addiction and has heavily invested in expanding treatment across the state. Understanding cocaine addiction and what’s considered abuse is an important part of getting people the help they need. Overcoming cocaine addiction is a multi-phase process that involves more than overcoming withdrawal symptoms.
Any Length Retreat is one of the most therapeutic communities in the Austin area for men who are struggling with cocaine substance use disorder. Our unique recovery programs focus on helping men maintain long-term sobriety through addressing the causes of addiction, learning life skills and group therapy in a supportive setting.
*Any Length Retreat is a supportive, educational recovery system and community. It is not a substitute for psychotherapy, clinical, or medical treatment for substance use disorders or mental health disorders.
