Illicit drug use and alcohol use has hit all-time highs in recent years. Not surprising, drug addiction levels have also risen. Health and addiction experts are coming up with novel therapies that are effective at helping people overcome substance use disorders despite the epidemic, but it’s still one of the most serious issues facing the nation today.
Data from organizations like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Texas Department of State Health Services and the City of Austin are aiding in the effort. Drug abuse statistics help government officials and health experts know where to focus their energy and efforts. It also serves as a benchmark for progress helping to identify which types of addiction treatment are most effective for a certain substance use disorder or population of people.
Here’s a look at how drug use and substance abuse disorders in Austin and the state of Texas compare to the national averages based on the latest substance abuse disorder statistics.
Alcohol Use
Alcohol use disorder is the most common substance use disorder, largely because of the social acceptance for consuming alcohol and easy access. Often alcohol abuse coincides with the use of illicit drugs or mental health disorders.
Texans drink alcohol a little less than the average American, and they’re less likely to be heavy drinkers. But when you look at binge drinking data we find that of the Americans who consume alcohol, nearly half (45.6%) had a binge drinking episode. And 17% of Texans report binge drinking compared to the national percentage of 15.3%. However, Travis County had a binge drinking rate of 23%.
Alcohol use in Austin has been a concern for public health officials for some time. Alcohol addiction treatment in all forms is needed to fill the treatment gap and ensure Austinites have the resources they need to overcome an alcohol use disorder.
Marijuana Use
Marijuana use disorder is more common to see today now that 21.8% of Americans admit to using marijuana. It’s the most commonly used illicit drug by far.
Among University of Texas college students, 36% reported having used marijuana at some point. The increase in use in the Austin metro was expected. In 2022, voters approved a measure to decriminalize marijuana in Austin, and a judge upheld the ordinance in June 2024. Across the state Texas is loosening legal regulations and lowering possession of two ounces or less to a misdemeanor.
Cocaine Use
Cocaine use disorder is a problem for 1.8% of the U.S. population. The age group where cocaine use is highest is 18-25 years old. Texas ranks 45th out of all the states for cocaine use with just 1.45% of people using the stimulant. But the low ranking shouldn’t make people lose sight of the fact that cocaine addiction has remained an issue in the state with little improvement.
Methamphetamine Use
In 2021, Texas had the second highest number of methamphetamine (meth) users in the country. Meth is a highly addictive psychostimulant that was used by 0.9% of Americans in 2023.
Methamphetamine actually is a legal prescription drug for conditions like ADHD, but it is highly controlled and prescribed for specific corrective reasons. Most meth use in the U.S., Texas and the Austin metro is illegal use of illicitly made drugs.
Travis County has had its fair share of meth problems of late. In 2022 it was reported that 248 accidental overdose deaths involved methamphetamine.
Opioid Use
Opioid use disorder has been pervasive in recent years, but in 2023 there was a slight decline nationally with 3.1% of the population using it within the year. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case in Travis County. The issue has been made much worse by the introduction of fentanyl. The Austin metro has the highest overdose death rate in Texas, where 45% of overdose deaths are from fentanyl.
Misused prescription opioids can quickly lead to an addiction that is hard to overcome on your own and can escalate to heroin or fentanyl use. It is extremely difficult to address n opioid use disorder on your own because of the severe withdrawal symptoms. Professional opioid addiction treatment is highly recommended.
Misuse of Prescription Drugs
Prescription medications can be used safely, or they can be taken inappropriately and drug dependence can form quickly. And there are many different prescription drugs out there to take.
SAMHSA’s national survey on drug abuse breaks prescription drugs into three categories:
- Prescription stimulants
- Sedative prescription drugs
- Prescription pain relievers
Having a drug disorder that involves a prescription medication is more common today. In total, 14.4 million people misused prescription opioids and other psychotherapeutics in 2023. It’s been deemed the fastest growing drug problem by the CDC, and easy access is a huge concern.
The statistics in Texas that are most scary involve teens and college students taking prescriptions they weren’t prescribed. Nearly 20% of high school teens admit to using prescription drugs along with 17% of college students in Texas. The Texas Prescription Monitoring Program has been proactive in helping combat prescription misuse use by tracking prescriptions that are filled in the state.
Overdose Deaths
It’s worth taking a moment to highlight overdose death statistics that have been touched on already.
Overall, Texas has a much lower overdose death rate compared to the nation, but there has been a dramatic increase that is attributed to fentanyl. In Travis County overdose deaths have tripled since 2019, and across Texas it’s increased 75%.
Attempted Suicide and Drug Abuse
An issue that is related to serious mental illness and drug abuse is death by suicide and attempted suicide. Suicide rates in Texas are almost exactly the same as the national average at 14.1 per 100,000.
Mental Health Conditions
Another set of data that should be discussed is trends in mental illness. Research from the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that Texans experience symptoms of anxiety and depression more than the general population of America. In February 2023, 36.8% of people in Texas felt anxiety or depression, while 32.3% said the same nationally.
That might not seem like much, but that’s about a 12% increase over the national average and 32.3% is already a high percentage. It’s a significant increase in terms of potential major depressive episodes that could occur.
When we look at the data on a more micro level we find that residents of the Austin area are experiencing even greater issues. In 2021 32.3% of Travis County residents reported having 5+ poor mental health days. On the state level during that time only 26.4% of people reported the same. The age group most impacted were between the ages of 18 and 29.
The Silver Lining – More People Are Getting the Mental Health Care They Need
One highlight in the latest drug abuse statistics is that more people want to receive treatment and are getting help. However, only 23.6% of people with a substance abuse disorder received treatment.
It’s important to seek treatment if you find yourself turning to alcohol use or illicit drug use to cope with overwhelming stress, anxiety, or depression. The sooner the underlying issues are addressed and substance abuse ceases, the sooner you can recover.
Any Length Retreat is a specialty facility that helps men recover from alcohol use disorder and illegal drug use. We work with men in various age groups at different stages of recovery. Contact us today if you or a loved one could benefit from treatment for a drug use disorder.
