by Aimee Adlam
When moving to a new State you may consider the quality of schools in the area, the price of property, the average wage and crime within that area, but have you ever considered substance abuse rates?
Legal and illegal drug abuse can fuel crime. Because of that, storage company Pink Storage analyzed the rates of substance abuse across the country by using data from the CDC, SAMHSA and the United States Census Bureau.
The study analyzed 12 key metrics related to both legal and illegal substances. These included fatal overdoses, the use of cocaine, heroin, opioids, marijuana, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine, as well as prescription drug abuse, alcohol binge drinking, alcohol-related deaths, and the percentage of adults who smoke or vape daily. After evaluating these factors, the study identified Vermont as one of the worst states for substance abuse.
Vermont ranked as the 8th worst state for fatal drug overdoses, with 45.9 deaths per 100,000 people. In comparison, West Virginia had the highest rate at 80.9 deaths per 100,000, while South Dakota had the lowest at just 11.3.
Vermont also had the 4th highest cocaine usage nationwide, surpassed only by Colorado, California, and Massachusetts.
Additionally, Vermont residents reported the highest marijuana usage, followed by Oregon and Massachusetts, and led the country in alcohol binge drinking.
Overall, Vermont ranked as the 4th worst state for substance abuse.
States with the highest levels of substance abuse
- Tennessee
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Vermont
- Arizona
- Minnesota
- Montana
- West Virginia
- Delaware
- Maine, New Mexico
States with the lowest levels of substance abuse
- Texas
- Georgia
- Florida
- North Carolina
- Utah
- Virginia
- Illinois
- New York, Alabama
- Nebraska
- Iowa
Scott Evans, owner of Pink Storage commented on the findings:
“The study shows that all areas of the United States suffer from some form of substance abuse, and if you or someone you know are suffering it’s important to reach out and get treatment.”
“Delaying treatment can put you at risk for fatal consequences and if no action is taken your addiction can become more severe. Substance use disorders won’t get better on their own and rehab offers a chance for recovery. Rehab can eliminate your physical dependence while addressing the psychological side of addiction.”
The charts, full report, and methodology can be found on the Pink Storage site.