Alabama Drug and Alcohol Statistics - Methadone dot org (NAMA Recovery)

Statistical Data on Drugs in Alabama

Alabama faces significant challenges with substance abuse and drug-related issues. The state has seen dramatic increases in drug overdose deaths, particularly related to fentanyl and synthetic opioids. While prescription opioid rates have decreased over the years, they remain higher than the national average. The state has also experienced significant increases in methamphetamine-related treatment admissions and faces ongoing challenges with various substance use disorders across different age groups.

Overdose Deaths and Mortality

Current Statistics (2022)

Total overdose deaths: 1,492
Death rate: 29 per 100,000 residents
Comparison: 3% lower than the US national rate
Trend: 90% increase since 2018
2.5x increase since 2013

Alabama Overdose Deaths Statistics

Despite having a death rate slightly below the national average, Alabama has experienced an alarming surge in overdose deaths, with fatalities increasing 90% since 2018.

County-Level Death Rates (2022, per 100,000)

Highest rates:

Walker: 69.9
Jefferson: 57.3
Calhoun: 48.4
St. Clair: 44.7
Cullman: 34.2

Lowest rates:

Lee: 11.6
Tuscaloosa: 18.6
Montgomery: 19.0
Houston: 21.3
Madison: 27.3

Significant geographic disparities exist, with highest rates being six times greater than lowest rates.

Historical Trends in Drug-Induced Deaths

Year	Deaths per 100,000
2012	13.1
2014	15.4
2016	16.2
2017	18.0
2020	24.6

Drug-induced death rates have nearly doubled over eight years, showing a consistent upward trend.

Substance Use by Age Group (2021-2022)

Youth (Ages 12-17)

Overall illicit drug use: 5.23%
Marijuana use (past month): 4.62%
First-time marijuana use: 4.23%
Substance use disorder: 7.82%

Young Adults (Ages 18-25)

Overall illicit drug use: 18.94%
Marijuana use (past month): 17.61%
Substance use disorder: 22.27%
Drug use disorder: 15.23%

Adults (Age 26+)

Overall illicit drug use: 10.45%
Marijuana use (past month): 7.76%
Substance use disorder: 14.07%

Young adults (18-25) show significantly higher rates of substance use across all categories compared to other age groups, indicating a particular vulnerability in this population.

School-Related Statistics

Drug activity:

Buying/selling at school: 10%
Buying/selling outside school: 17.8%

Teacher engagement:

44.3% seldom/never discuss drug problems
33.6% limited drug education engagement

High levels of student drug activity coupled with insufficient educational intervention indicate a concerning school environment.

Substance Use Disorder Statistics (2021-2022)

Disorder Type	Total Population	Youth (12-17)	Young Adults (18-25)	Adults (26+)
Substance Use Disorder	14.51%	7.82%	22.27%	14.07%
Drug Use Disorder	8.74%	6.32%	15.23%	8.00%
Pain Reliever Use Disorder	2.65%	1.11%	1.46%	3.02%
Opioid Use Disorder	3.03%	1.12%	1.55%	3.49%

Young adults show the highest rates of general substance use disorders, while older adults have higher rates of opioid and pain reliever disorders, suggesting age-specific patterns of substance abuse that require targeted intervention strategies.

Marijuana Use Trends

Marijuana Use by Age Group Over Time (2015-2021)

Age Group	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2021
Ages 12-17	5.2%	5.3%	6.2%	5.8%	4.0%
Ages 18-25	14.3%	16.5%	18.7%	18.3%	17.7%
Ages 26+	3.8%	4.9%	6.9%	7.5%	6.3%

Marijuana use shows a recent declining trend across all age groups, with the most significant decrease among adolescents, suggesting potentially successful prevention efforts among younger populations.

Opioid Crisis Impact

Recent Trends

Fentanyl deaths increase: 121 (2018) to 835 (2022) – 590% increase

Prescription opioid dispensing rates:

2012: 143.8 per 100 residents
2018: 92.8 per 100 residents
2022: 80.4 per 100 residents

While prescription opioid rates have decreased significantly (44% drop from 2012 to 2022), the rise in fentanyl deaths indicates a dangerous shift toward more lethal synthetic opioids.

Prescription Drug Misuse

Pain Reliever Misuse (2021-2022)

Age Group	Number (thousands)	Percentage
12-17	8	1.95%
18-25	18	3.50%
26+	154	4.60%

Pain reliever misuse increases with age, with adults 26+ showing the highest rates.

Specific Drug Use Statistics

Cocaine Use and Treatment

Past year users (2019): 87,000

Treatment admissions percentage: 8% of total admissions

Gender distribution (2020):

Male: 59.7%
Female: 40.3%

Methamphetamine Impact

Hospitalization increase: 245% (2008-2015)

Treatment admissions (2020):

Total: 2,923
Male: 54.2%
Female: 45.8%

Heroin Statistics

Treatment admissions (2020):

Total: 2,354
Male: 53.6%
Female: 46.1%

Treatment data shows a trend toward gender parity in treatment admissions for most substances, though males still represent a slight majority across all categories.

Risk Perception Rates

Cocaine use (monthly): 72.11% perceive great risk
Heroin use (trying once/twice): 83.70% perceive great risk
Marijuana use (monthly): 24.96% perceive great risk

Risk perception varies significantly by substance, with traditional illicit drugs perceived as most dangerous and marijuana as least risky.

Treatment and Facilities

Treatment Centers (2023)

Active substance abuse centers: 171
Annual patient service: 14,578
Outpatient services: 13,567 patients annually
Residential services: 797 patients annually
Hospital-based treatment: 214 clients
Free treatment facilities: 4

Treatment Costs

Average outpatient cost per individual: $1,703
Average residential treatment cost: $58,607
State ranking for residential treatment cost: 38th (from cheapest to most expensive)

There is a significant cost disparity between outpatient and residential treatment, which may create barriers to access for many residents.

Substance-Specific Treatment Admissions

Substance	Number of Admissions (2018)
Heroin	4,546
Other opiates/synthetics	7,082
Marijuana	2,980
Amphetamines	2,923
Cocaine (smoked)	462
Cocaine (other routes)	288

Opiates and synthetics represent the largest category of treatment admissions, indicating the continuing impact of the opioid crisis in Alabama.

Treatment Program Specifics (2011)

Medication-Assisted Treatment Trends

Methadone treatment:

2015: 7,639 people
2019: 7,093 people (7.1% decrease)

Buprenorphine treatment:

2015: 787 people
2019: 1,274 people (61.9% increase)

While methadone remained the dominant treatment with over 7,000 patients in 2019 despite a slight decline, buprenorphine treatment saw a significant 61.9% increase, indicating a gradual shift in treatment approaches.

Prevention and Treatment Access

71.05% of those needing treatment don’t receive it
63.6% receive treatment for drug problems only
26.7% receive treatment for both drug and alcohol problems

Treatment Needs vs. Access (2022)

Age Group	Needing Treatment	Received Treatment	Treatment Gap
Total (12+)	17.85%	5.23%	71.05%
Youth (12-17)	11.85%	5.97%	56.41%
Young Adults (18-25)	24.56%	4.99%	80.84%
Adults (26+)	17.46%	5.18%	70.12%

The substantial treatment gap across all age groups, particularly among young adults, indicates a critical need for expanded treatment access and reduced barriers to care.

Treatment Facility Distribution (2017)

ADMH certified entities: 83
Non-funded providers: 11
Opioid Treatment clinics: 21
Regional mental health boards: 19
Providing substance treatment: 14

Treatment infrastructure shows notable gaps, with limited free treatment options and regional coverage.

Rural vs Urban Disparities

Treatment Access

Rural areas:

22% higher overdose death rates
41% fewer treatment facilities

Urban areas:

African Americans face 34% higher fentanyl overdose mortality

Free treatment facilities statewide: 4

Analysis: Geographic and demographic disparities significantly impact both access to treatment and overdose mortality rates.

Gender Distribution in Treatment (2020)

Substance	Male	Female
Cocaine	59.7%	40.3%
Heroin	53.6%	46.1%
Marijuana	62.9%	37.1%
Amphetamines	54.2%	45.8%

Women’s Drug Use Statistics

Women ages 18-49:

7.8% reported misusing prescription drugs or using illicit drugs

Women show increasing representation in treatment admissions across most substance categories, suggesting a need for gender-specific treatment approaches.

Healthcare Impact

Emergency Services (2022)

Emergency calls for possible overdoses: 4,669 (first half of 2022)
Emergency department visits related to overdose (2018): 11,081
Opioid-related emergency visits: 2,180
Overdose-related 911 runs: 20,353

The high number of emergency services calls and visits demonstrates the significant burden that substance use places on Alabama’s healthcare system.

Substance Use Impact on Neonatal and Maternal Health

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS):

National trend: 5x increase (2004-2014)
Rate increase: 1.5 to 8.0 cases per 1,000 hospital births
Frequency: One baby born with NAS every 15 minutes
Hospital costs: Increased from $91 million to $563 million

The dramatic increase in NAS cases and associated costs highlights the generational impact of substance use disorders and the growing strain on healthcare resources.

HIV and Hepatitis Statistics (2015-2016)

HIV cases:

New cases (2016): 533
Living with HIV: 12,316 (302 per 100,000)
Male IDU-related: 12.6%
Female IDU-related: 15%

Alabama HIV Statistics

Hepatitis C:

New acute cases (2016): 32 (0.7 per 100,000)
Living with HCV: 31,300 (840 per 100,000)

Injection drug use significantly impacts disease transmission, particularly affecting females at higher rates.

Correctional System Impact

Prison Treatment Programs (2014)

Completed drug treatment programs: 2,733 inmates

In aftercare programs: 2,059 inmates

Specialty courts:

Adult drug courts: 41
Domestic violence courts: 3
Juvenile drug courts: 6

Significant integration of drug treatment within the correctional system indicates recognition of substance abuse as a criminal justice issue.

The drug situation in Alabama presents significant challenges, with a dramatic 90% increase in overdose deaths since 2018 and a concerning 590% rise in fentanyl-related fatalities between 2018 and 2022. A substantial treatment gap exists, with 71% of those needing treatment unable to access it, particularly impacted by geographic disparities where rural areas have 41% fewer facilities despite higher overdose rates. Young adults (18-25) represent the most vulnerable population with the highest substance use rates (22.27%), while limited access to free treatment facilities (only 4 statewide) and high residential treatment costs ($58,607 per individual) create significant barriers to recovery.

Statistical Data on Alcohol in Alabama

Alabama faces significant challenges with alcohol use, though it ranks 48th out of 50 states in overall alcohol consumption. The state shows concerning trends in youth drinking and alcohol-related fatalities, with particularly high rates of under-21 alcohol-related deaths. Despite lower overall consumption compared to national averages, the economic and social impacts remain substantial.

General Statistics

Annual alcohol-related deaths: 2,208
Total economic cost (2022): $5.028 billion ($3.06 per drink)
Years of potential life lost annually: 59,606

Despite lower overall consumption rates, Alabama faces significant public health and economic impacts from alcohol use.

Alcohol-Related Deaths

71.5% are male
79.9% are aged 35 and older
49.8% from chronic causes (e.g., Alcohol Use Disorder)
3.94% under age 21

Alcohol-related deaths in Alabama predominantly affect males and older adults, with chronic conditions accounting for half of all fatalities.

Alcohol Use by Age Group (2021-2022)

Age Group	Past Month Use	Binge Drinking	Alcohol Use Disorder
12-17	5.72%	3.10%	3.13%
18-25	40.59%	24.40%	14.20%
26+	43.70%	19.70%	8.83%

Young adults (18-25) show particularly high rates of problematic alcohol use, with significantly higher binge drinking and disorder rates than other age groups.

Youth Alcohol Consumption (Ages 12-20)

Past month alcohol use: 86,000 users (13.81%)
Binge drinking: 48,000 users (7.65%)
Risk perception of binge drinking: 39.75%

Underage drinking remains a significant concern, with a notable gap between risk perception and behavior.

Location of Youth Alcohol Use

Home or friend’s home: 56.5% of 12th graders
Access perception: 63.6% report alcohol is easy to obtain

Most youth alcohol consumption occurs in private residences, facilitated by perceived easy access.

Youth Alcohol Behavior (12th Grade Students)

Average age of first use: 11.3 years
Monthly alcohol use: 40%
Binge drinking: 37.7%
Driven after drinking (past 30 days): 20.5%
Rode with drinking driver: 30.2%
Access perception: 63.6% say alcohol is fairly/very easy to get
Peer attitudes: 75.3% say friends believe alcohol use is only a little wrong or not wrong at all

Youth statistics show concerning early initiation and high-risk behaviors, compounded by permissive peer attitudes and easy access.

Regional Comparisons (2017-2019)

Measure	Alabama	Regional Avg	National Avg
Youth Alcohol Use	8.4%	9.2%	9.4%
Young Adult Binge	26.3%	30.1%	35.4%
Adult Disorder	5.3%	4.5%	5.3%

Alabama generally shows lower rates of alcohol use compared to both regional and national averages, but matches national rates for alcohol use disorder.

Geographic Distribution

County-Level Excessive Drinking

Baldwin County: 19% (highest in state)
Cherokee County: 18%
Several counties: 17%
State average: 16% (below U.S. average of 19%)

Even the highest-drinking counties in Alabama remain below the national average of 19%.

Historical Trends

Alcohol Use Patterns (2016-2021)

Age Group	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2021
Ages 12-17	4.4%	4.8%	4.3%	3.4%
Ages 18-25	31.5%	29.6%	28.0%	23.4%
Ages 26+	21.8%	24.0%	25.4%	20.0%

All age groups show a declining trend in drinking by 2021, possibly influenced by changing social patterns.

Binge Drinking Patterns

Adult binge drinking rate: 13.6%

Median drinks per binge: 5.5

Top 25% most active drinkers:

Drinks per binge: 7.2
Frequency: 4.0 times monthly

Regular binger frequency: 1.7 times monthly

While overall drinking rates are lower than national averages, heavy drinkers show concerning patterns of consumption.

Risk Perception and Behavior

Population Numbers (thousands)

Category	Total Population	With Great Risk Perception
Ages 12+	1,696	1,837
Ages 12-17	23	157
Ages 18-25	214	205
Ages 26+	1,460	1,474

Risk perception of heavy drinking is relatively high across all age groups.

Traffic Safety Impact (2012)

Total DUI-involved crashes: 10,083

Male drivers: 6,630
Female drivers: 2,911
Unspecified gender: 542

Fatality rate in DUI crashes: 2.86% (4 times higher than general crash rate of 0.68%)

DUI crashes show significant gender disparity and dramatically higher fatality rates compared to non-DUI crashes.

Alcohol-Impaired Driving (2020)

Time Period	Fatal Crashes	% Alcohol-Impaired
Midnight – 2:59 AM	75	50%
9:00 – 11:59 PM	72	38%
6:00 – 8:59 PM	76	32%
6:00 – 8:59 AM	37	9%

Night-time hours show significantly higher rates of alcohol-impaired fatal crashes, with midnight to 3 AM being the most dangerous period.

Treatment Demographics

Primary alcohol abuse admissions: 4,635
Combined alcohol/drug abuse: 2,746
Gender distribution in treatment: 62% male (compared to 54% nationally)
College students: Binge drinking 22% higher than regional average

Alabama Alcohol Statistics

Treatment data show significant gender disparity and particularly high rates among college students compared to regional averages.

Despite ranking 48th in overall alcohol consumption nationally, Alabama faces significant challenges with alcohol use, particularly among specific demographics. The state’s annual cost of $5.028 billion and 2,208 alcohol-related deaths highlight substantial public health impacts. Young adults (18-25) show the highest risk, with concerning rates of binge drinking and alcohol use disorder, while underage drinking remains problematic with an average initiation age of 11.3 years. Although overall consumption rates are below national averages, the state faces particular challenges with alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, gender disparities in treatment, and high-risk drinking patterns among heavy users.

In general, Alabama faces dual challenges with substance abuse despite ranking low (48th) in overall alcohol consumption. Drug overdose deaths have increased 90% since 2018, with fentanyl deaths rising 590%, while alcohol causes 2,208 deaths annually and costs $5.028 billion. Young adults (18-25) show the highest risk for both substances, with 22.27% experiencing substance use disorder and 24.40% engaging in binge drinking. Critical gaps in treatment access persist, with 71% of those needing drug treatment unable to receive it, and significant disparities exist between rural and urban areas, where rural regions have 41% fewer facilities despite higher overdose rates.