Which states struggle the most with which drugs? Drug addiction is an ever-growing problem in our country, and studies have suggested certain drugs pose a more significant threat to some states than others. Learning particular risks for certain states can help health professionals, law enforcement officers and public policy-makers tackle the most popular drugs by area.
Of course, some states currently battle several popular drugs of abuse, and alcohol remains the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. The following information details which drug is the most abused substance in each state.
The 50 States and Their Drug of Choice
- Alabama
Fentanyl is the main drug associated with drug treatment admissions in the state. Cocaine and opiates, such as prescription drug painkillers, follow next in line. While many states have legalized marijuana, Alabama hasn’t. An increase in overdose deaths in the state, most notably involving the opioids fentanyl and heroin, according to the Alabama Department of Mental Health. - Alaska
Heroin and methamphetamine are the most-used illicit drugs in Alaska. Alcohol consumption is highest overall, while marijuana, which is legal in the state, has among the highest usage rates in the nation. - Arizona
Methamphetamine and heroin, along with opioids, are the most prevalent illicit drugs in Arizona. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates across age groups. - Arkansas
Methamphetamine is the most prevalent illicit drug in Arkansas. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal only for medical use) has high usage rates. Prescription opioid misuse also remains a concern. - California
Methamphetamine and heroin are the most widely used illicit drugs in California. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates. Prescription opioid misuse remains a concern despite improved monitoring. - Colorado
Methamphetamine and heroin are the most-used illicit drugs in Colorado. Alcohol consumption is highest overall, while marijuana (legal in the state) has among the highest usage rates in the nation. - Connecticut
Cocaine is the most-used illicit drug, but Connecticut finds itself on the list of states where something legal — alcohol — is noted as the most-used substance. Marijuana, which is also legal in Connecticut, is also much more highly used. - Delaware
Heroin is the most-used illicit drug in Delaware. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal in the state for adult use) has high usage rates across age groups. - Florida
Cocaine and methamphetamine are the most widely used illicit drugs in Florida. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal for medical use) has significant usage rates. Prescription opioid misuse continues despite improved monitoring. - Georgia
Cocaine and methamphetamine are the most prevalent illicit drugs in Georgia. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal only for limited medical use) remains widely used despite its largely illicit status. - Hawaii
Methamphetamine is the most prevalent illicit drug in Hawaii. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates across demographic groups. - Idaho
Methamphetamine is the most widely used illicit drug in Idaho. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana remains widely used despite its illegal status. - Illinois
Cocaine, heroin and fentanyl are the most commonly used illicit drugs in Illinois. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates across age groups. - Indiana
Methamphetamine is the most widely used illicit drug in Indiana, followed by cocaine. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana remains the most-used illicit drug by volume. Prescription opioid misuse presents ongoing challenges. - Iowa
Methamphetamine is the most prevalent illicit drug in Iowa outside of marijuana. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal only for limited medical use) remains widely used despite its legal status. - Kansas
Methamphetamine is the most-used illicit drug in Kansas. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal only for limited medical use) remains widely used. - Kentucky
Methamphetamine is the most-used illicit drug in Kentucky. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal only for medical use with restrictions) continues to be widely used. Prescription opioid misuse remains a significant concern. - Louisiana
Cocaine and methamphetamine are the most prevalent illicit drugs in Louisiana. Alcohol is the most-consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal only for medical use) has high usage rates despite restrictions. - Maine
Cocaine is the most-used illicit drug in Maine. Alcohol remains the most widely used substance overall, followed by marijuana, which is legal in the state. Prescription opioids and heroin represent significant concerns for treatment providers. - Maryland
Cocaine, heroin and fentanyl are the most widely used illicit drugs in Maryland. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates across demographic groups. - Massachusetts
Cocaine and fentanyl are the most commonly used illicit drugs in Massachusetts. Alcohol is the most widely used substance, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates. Prescription opioid misuse and heroin use continue to challenge treatment providers. - Michigan
Cocaine and heroin are the most widely used illicit drugs in Michigan. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, followed by marijuana, which is legal for adult use in the state. Prescription opioid misuse remains a significant concern. - Minnesota
Methamphetamine is the most prevalent illicit drug in Minnesota. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal for medical use and recently legalized for adult use) has high usage rates. - Mississippi
Methamphetamine is the most-used illicit drug in Mississippi. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal only for limited medical use) remains widely used despite its largely illicit status. - Missouri
Methamphetamine is the most widely used illicit drug in Missouri. Alcohol remains the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal only for medical use) continues to have high usage rates. - Montana
Methamphetamine is the most-used illicit drug in Montana. Alcohol consumption is highest overall, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates across age groups. - Nebraska
Methamphetamine is the most-used illicit drug in Nebraska. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana remains widely used despite its illicit status. - Nevada
Methamphetamine and heroin are the most prevalent illicit drugs in Nevada. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates. - New Hampshire
Methamphetamine and opioids are the most-used illicit substances in New Hampshire. Alcohol consumption remains highest overall, while marijuana (legal for medical use) is widely used. The state continues to address challenges with prescription opioid misuse. - New Jersey
Cocaine, heroin and fentanyl represent the most commonly used illicit drugs in New Jersey. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates. Treatment providers face challenges with polydrug use involving multiple substances. - New Mexico
Methamphetamine and heroin are the most widely used illicit drugs in New Mexico. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates. - New York
Cocaine and heroin are the most prevalent illicit drugs in New York. Alcohol remains the most widely used substance, followed by marijuana (legal in the state). Prescription opioids continue to be misused at concerning rates despite improved prescribing practices. - North Carolina
Cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine are the most prevalent illicit drugs in North Carolina. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal for medical use) continues to be widely used despite restrictions. - North Dakota
Methamphetamine is the primary illicit drug of concern in North Dakota. Alcohol consumption is highest overall, while marijuana (legal only for limited medical use) remains widely used despite legal restrictions. - Ohio
Fentanyl, cocaine and heroin are the most prevalent illicit drugs in Ohio. Alcohol remains the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal for medical and adult use) has significant usage rates. Synthetic opioids present the greatest overdose risk in the state. - Oklahoma
Methamphetamine is the most widely used illicit drug in Oklahoma. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal on;y for medical use) has high usage rates. - Oregon
Methamphetamine and heroin are the most-used illicit drugs in Oregon. Alcohol consumption is highest overall, while marijuana (legal in the state) has among the highest usage rates in the nation. - Pennsylvania
- Cocaine, heroin and fentanyl are the most commonly used illicit substances in Pennsylvania. Alcohol is the most-consumed substance, while marijuana (legal for medical use) has significant usage rates. The state faces substantial challenges with synthetic opioids.
- Rhode Island
Cocaine is the most-used illicit drug in Rhode Island. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, followed by marijuana, which is legal in the state. Prescription opioids and heroin continue to be substances of concern for treatment providers. - South Carolina
Cocaine and methamphetamine are the most-used illicit drugs in South Carolina. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana remains widely used despite its illegal status. - South Dakota
Methamphetamine is the most-used illicit drug in South Dakota. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal for medical use) continues to be widely used. - Tennessee
Methamphetamine is the most prevalent illicit drug in Tennessee. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (limited medical use allowed) continues to be widely used despite significant legal restrictions. - Texas
Methamphetamine and cocaine are the most widely used illicit drugs in Texas. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (limited medical use only) remains widely used despite its largely illicit status. - Utah
Methamphetamine is the most prevalent illicit drug in Utah. Alcohol is the most consumed substance despite lower rates than most other states, while marijuana (legal for medical use with restrictions) continues to be widely used despite limitations. - Vermont
Cocaine and heroin remain the most-used illicit drugs in Vermont. Alcohol is the most widely consumed substance, followed by marijuana, which is legal in the state. Prescription opioid misuse continues despite improved prescribing practices. - Virginia
Cocaine and heroin are the most-used illicit drugs in Virginia. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, while marijuana (legal in the state) has high usage rates across demographic groups. - Washington
Methamphetamine and heroin are the most widely used illicit drugs in Washington. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal in the state) has among the highest usage rates in the nation. - Washington, D.C.
Cocaine, heroin and fentanyl are the most widely used illicit drugs in Washington, D.C. Alcohol is the most consumed substance overall, with marijuana (legal in the district) showing high usage rates across demographic groups. The rate of drug-induced deaths in the District of Columbia has historically been higher than the national average. - West Virginia
Methamphetamine, prescription opioids and heroin are the most prevalent illicit drugs in West Virginia. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, while marijuana (legal for medical use) continues to be widely used. - Wisconsin
Methamphetamine and heroin are the most prevalent illicit drugs in Wisconsin. Alcohol consumption is highest overall, while marijuana (legal for medical use with restrictions) remains widely used despite limitations. - Wyoming
Methamphetamine is the most-used illicit drug in Wyoming. Alcohol consumption is highest overall, while marijuana remains widely used despite its illicit status.
A Healthier Path Is Possible
Although these statistics highlight the most commonly abused drugs in each state, it’s important to bear in mind that most states have struggles with multiple types of drugs. In fact, many states have a serious addiction problem with illicit and prescription drugs.
If these stats illustrate anything, it’s that where someone lives can significantly impact their risk of addiction, the nature of their substance abuse and their access to treatment and a chance at recovery.
Don’t let statistics become your story. Reach out today to discuss how our evidence-based programs can help you or your loved one break free from substance dependence and rebuild a life of purpose and joy. One conversation could be the turning point toward the healthier tomorrow you deserve.
