Connecticut Drug and Alcohol Statistics

Statistical Data on Drugs in Connecticut

Connecticut faces significant challenges with substance abuse and drug-related deaths, with particularly concerning trends in opioid use and overdose deaths. The state has experienced a notable increase in drug-related incidents, especially involving fentanyl and synthetic opioids, while maintaining an extensive treatment infrastructure to address these issues.

Overdose Statistics

General Statistics

• 1,328 unintentional drug overdose deaths (2023)
• 8.5% decrease in deaths compared to 2022 (1,452 deaths)
• 69.7% of overdoses occurred at residences
• Gender disparity: Males (56.3 per 100,000) vs Females (17.9 per 100,000)
• Non-Hispanic Black population had highest mortality rate (67.9 per 100,000)
• Hispanic population mortality rate: 38.0 per 100,000
• Highest mortality rates seen between 35-64 years age group
• Rise in rates for >65-year age group from 11.4 (2021) to 18.5 (2023)
• 55% of deaths involved cocaine in 2023 (8% increase from 2022)

While the overall decrease in deaths is promising, the significant demographic disparities indicate targeted intervention needs.

Opioid-Related Deaths (2023)

• 92% of drug overdose deaths involved opioids
• 85% involved fentanyl
• 22% involved xylazine
• Emerging substances: carfentanil: 7 deaths; nitazene: 10 deaths; designer benzodiazepines: 31 deaths
• Prescription opioids involved in 24.4% of opioid deaths
• Heroin involved in 35.7% of deaths
• 83% involved synthetic opioids
• Doctors write prescriptions for 43% of residents

Monthly Fentanyl Involvement (2022)

Month	Percentage
January	88.1%
February	78.3%
March	89.7%
April	79.4%
May	89.1%
June	87.5%
July	84.1%
August	87.4%
September	80.8%
October	86.4%
November	87.8%

The dominance of opioids, particularly fentanyl, in overdose deaths represents a critical public health crisis. The emergence of xylazine and other synthetic substances indicates an evolving threat landscape requiring rapid response capabilities.

Geographic Distribution (2021 Death Rates per 100,000)

County	Rate
New London	59.2
New Haven	53.5
Hartford	45.3
Windham	39.4
Middlesex	35.7
Litchfield	31.1
Fairfield	24.8
Tolland	19.9

The nearly threefold difference in death rates between highest (New London: 59.2) and lowest (Tolland: 19.9) counties suggests significant disparities in risk factors and access to prevention services across regions.

Historical Trends (2019-2023)

Fentanyl involvement in deaths increased from 82% (2019) to 85% (2022)

Xylazine-involved deaths by year:

• 2019: 71 deaths
• 2020: 141 deaths
• 2021: 295 deaths
• 2022: 313 deaths

Total overdose deaths by year:

• 2019: 1,202
• 2020: 1,374 (+14.3%)
• 2021: 1,531 (+11.4%)
• 2022: 1,452
• 2023: 1,328 (-8.5%)

Despite recent decreases, the long-term trend shows significant increases in overdose deaths and emerging threats from synthetic opioids.

Emerging Substances (2021-2022)

• Flualprazolam: 5 deaths (2021), 4 deaths (2022)
• Flubromazolam: 3 deaths (2021)
• Carfentanil: 1 death (2021), 7 deaths (2023)
• Designer benzodiazepines: 31 deaths (2023)
• Nitazene: 10 deaths (2023)
• Xylazine in combination with fentanyl: 22% of deaths
• Para-fluorofentanyl: 13 deaths (2020), 94 (2021), 33 (2022)

The emergence of new synthetic substances presents an evolving challenge for treatment and prevention efforts, with xylazine-fentanyl combinations being particularly concerning.

Cause of Death Comparisons (Various Years)

2010:

• Drug-induced deaths: 372
• Motor vehicle accidents: 331
• Firearms: 209

2007:

• Drug-related deaths: 444
• Motor vehicle accidents: 309
• Firearm incidents: 149

2021-2022:

• Drug deaths increased 31%
• Overall mortality rate: 40.3 per 100,000
• National average: 35 per 100,000

Drug-related deaths have consistently exceeded other common causes of mortality, with concerning increases in rural areas.

Regional Comparisons

Connecticut vs. National Averages

• 27.04% higher drug use among 18-25 year olds than national average
• 22.29% higher alcohol use among 12-17 year olds than national average
• 67.63% higher overdose death rate than national average
• 88.4% higher opioid death rate than national average
• State ranks in the top 10 for illicit drug dependence (ages 26+)
• 3.48% use illicit drugs other than marijuana (national: 3.33%)

Connecticut consistently shows higher substance use rates and related deaths compared to national averages, indicating a need for enhanced intervention strategies.

Substance Use Demographics

General Population Statistics (All Ages)

• 14.17% report past month illicit drug use (national average: 8.82%)
• 19.05% report past year marijuana use
• 12.34% report past month marijuana use
• 3.55% report past month illicit drug use other than marijuana
• 1.99% report past year cocaine use
• 0.33% report past year heroin use
• 0.36% report past year methamphetamine use
• 3.31% report past year pain reliever misuse
• 8.01% meet criteria for substance use disorder
• 7.22% needed but did not receive treatment for substance use

Connecticut’s general population shows higher rates of substance use compared to national averages, with significant unmet treatment needs.

Youth Statistics (Ages 12-17)

• 8.95% report drug use in last month
• 83.33% of users report marijuana use
• 11.19% report alcohol use
• 2.24% report pain reliever misuse
• 0.37% report cocaine use
• 0.19% report methamphetamine use
• 0.19% report heroin use

The high concentration of marijuana use among youth drug users (83.33%) suggests it’s the primary gateway substance. The relatively low rates of harder drug use indicate potential success in prevention efforts for more dangerous substances, though any youth drug use remains concerning.

Young Adult Statistics (Ages 18-25)

• 44.8% report marijuana use (past year)
• 8.4% have marijuana use disorder
• 1.7% have opioid use disorder
• 10.6% have illicit drug use disorder
• 20.8% have substance use disorder

The dramatic increase in substance use from teen to young adult years (8.95% to 44.8% for marijuana) indicates a critical intervention window during this transition period. The high rate of substance use disorder (20.8%) suggests a need for enhanced prevention and early intervention programs targeting this age group.

School-Based Statistics

High School Drug Use (2021)

1.2% reported lifetime cocaine use

Gender differences:

• Males: 1.7% cocaine use
• Females: 0.6% cocaine use

Grade-level statistics:

• 9th grade: 1.5% cocaine use
• 11th grade: 1.5% cocaine use

Racial/ethnic differences:

• Hispanic students: 1.4%
• Black students: 0.4%
• White students: 1.2%

Significant decrease from 8.3% lifetime cocaine use in 2007

School-based statistics show encouraging decreases in cocaine use over time, though disparities exist across demographic groups.

Risk Perception Statistics

Youth Risk Perception (Ages 12-17)

• 19.21% perceive great risk from smoking marijuana monthly
• 69.76% perceive great risk from using cocaine monthly
• 88.14% perceive great risk from trying heroin once/twice
• 55.03% of youth perceive great risk from cocaine use
• 67.64% of youth perceive great risk from heroin use

There’s a concerning gap between risk perception and actual use rates, particularly for marijuana, suggesting a need for improved drug education programs.

Substance-Specific Trends

Marijuana Statistics

• 583,000 past year users (all ages)
• 378,000 past month users
• 44,000 first-time users annually
• Past year use by age group: 12-17: 14.08%; 18-25: 43.91%; 26+: 15.64%
• 2.0% of population has marijuana use disorder
• 63,000 people with marijuana use disorder

Marijuana use shows high prevalence across age groups, with particularly high rates among young adults.

Cocaine Trends

• 7.4% of treatment admissions (2020)
• 5,848 treatment admissions
• 43% of overdose deaths involved cocaine (2021)
• 561 deaths involved both cocaine and fentanyl
• 72% of cocaine-involved deaths occurred in urban areas
• Past year use by age group: 12-17: 0.37%; 18-25: 6.21%; 26+: 1.50%

Cocaine use shows strong urban concentration and dangerous mixing with fentanyl, contributing to high mortality rates.

Treatment Statistics

Treatment Focus (2019)

• 49.1% drug problem only
• 38.6% both drug and alcohol problems
• 18,696 people receiving methadone treatment
• 2,463 people receiving buprenorphine treatment

The high percentage of polysubstance issues (38.6% with both drug and alcohol problems) indicates a need for comprehensive treatment approaches. The significant use of medication-assisted treatment shows adoption of evidence-based practices, though buprenorphine appears underutilized compared to methadone.

Treatment Need vs. Access

• 81,000 needed but didn’t receive treatment for illicit drug use
• 221,000 needed but didn’t receive treatment for substance use

Treatment need by age group:

• 12-17: 3.41% needed but didn’t receive treatment
• 18-25: 17.26% needed but didn’t receive treatment
• 26+: 6.05% needed but didn’t receive treatment

Only 25% of facilities offer detox services.

Significant gaps exist between treatment need and access, particularly among young adults.

Treatment Infrastructure

• 233 active rehabilitation centers
• 43,404 patients served annually
• 41,460 patients in outpatient services
• 1,620 patients in residential services
• 324 patients in hospital-based treatment
• Only 1 facility offers completely free treatment

The heavy reliance on outpatient services (95.5% of patients) versus residential treatment suggests potential capacity or accessibility issues for more intensive care options. The single free facility highlights significant barriers to treatment access for economically disadvantaged populations.

Treatment Costs and Funding

Service Type	Average Individual Cost	Public Spending
Residential Treatment	$57,667	$93.42 million (1.8% of U.S. total)
Outpatient Services	$1,705	$70.69 million (3.06% of U.S. total)

The substantial cost difference between residential and outpatient treatment creates significant barriers to accessing comprehensive care.

New Treatment Patterns (2019-2023)

• Methadone treatment increased 32.9% from 2015 to 2019
• Buprenorphine treatment increased 352.8% from 2015 to 2019
• Single-day treatment count increased from 37,817 (2015) to 43,404 (2019)
• 2.61% of 12-17 year olds met criteria for illicit drug use disorder
• 1.86% of 12-17 year olds met criteria for alcohol use disorder
• 9.10% of residents reported past-month illicit drug use (national average: 8.82%)
• 3.48% reported using illicit drugs other than marijuana (national average: 3.33%)

Treatment patterns show significant increases in medication-assisted treatment adoption, particularly buprenorphine, indicating improved access to evidence-based treatments.

Treatment Facility Distribution

• Urban areas: 65% of facilities
• Suburban areas: 22% of facilities
• Rural areas: 13% of facilities

Service availability by county:

• Hartford: 31% of facilities
• New Haven: 28% of facilities
• Fairfield: 21% of facilities
• Other counties: 20% combined

Treatment facility distribution shows urban concentration despite rising rural death rates, indicating potential access issues for rural populations.

Crime and Legal Statistics

• 5,015 DUI arrests (2006)
• 319 drug arrests by DEA agents
• 14,904 drug abuse violations
• 4 drug courts (2007)
• 54% of federally sentenced drug offenders involved crack cocaine
• Connecticut drug-induced deaths (10.4 per 100,000) were lower than national rate (12.9 per 100,000) in 2010

Legal statistics show the significant impact of substance use on the criminal justice system, with drug-related deaths exceeding other common causes of mortality.

Health Impact Statistics

Medical Consequences

• 18,300 hepatitis C cases from IV drug use
• 10,328 HIV/AIDS cases from IV drug use
• 0.97% of births show neonatal Opioid Withdrawal

The health impact extends beyond immediate drug effects, creating significant public health challenges.

Connecticut’s drug crisis shows some signs of improvement with the recent 8.5% decrease in overdose deaths, but significant challenges remain. The high costs of treatment, geographic disparities in death rates, and emergence of new synthetic substances present ongoing challenges. The state’s robust treatment infrastructure provides a foundation for response, but barriers to access and the evolving nature of drug threats require continued adaptation of prevention and treatment strategies.

Statistical Data on Alcohol in Connecticut

Connecticut faces significant challenges with alcohol consumption and related health impacts, showing higher rates than national averages in many categories. The state has experienced concerning trends in alcohol-related deaths and consumption patterns, particularly among young adults, while seeing some improvement in underage drinking rates.

Mortality and Health Impact

Death Statistics (2015-2019)

1,426 annual deaths from excessive alcohol use

Death distribution:

• 474 males over 21
• 166 females over 21
• 21 males under 21
• 9 females under 21
• 68.2% of deaths are male
• 84.9% of deaths occur in adults 35+
• 2.17% of deaths are under age 21

Specific Causes (5-year averages 2015-2019)

• Suicides due to alcohol: 97
• Homicides due to alcohol: 47
• Alcohol Dependence Syndrome deaths: 71
• Coronary Heart disease deaths due to alcohol: 86
• Total alcohol-attributable deaths: 640

Death rates show significant gender disparities and concerning impacts across multiple health categories.

Historical Trends

Death Rate Changes

• 2012: 4.5 per 100,000
• 2022: 12 per 100,000
• 166.67% increase (highest among all U.S. states)
• 55.3% increase in per capita death rate (2015-2019)

Current Impact

• 36,201 years of potential life lost annually
• 55.2% of deaths from chronic causes
• 13.5 deaths per 100,000 (2020)
• Higher than national average death rate

The dramatic increase in alcohol-related death rates over the past decade represents a significant public health crisis, with Connecticut showing the nation’s steepest rise.

Age-Specific Statistics

Adult Alcohol Use (2018-2019)

• 60.03% of population 12+ report past month use (1,837,000 people)
• 28.07% report past month binge drinking (859,000 people)
• 62.1% of adults report past-month use (compared to 51.4% nationally)
• Total alcohol consumption: 7.5 million gallons (2021), decreased to 7.4 million (2022)
• Median drinks per binge: 5.2
• Top 25% most active drinkers: 6.5 drinks per binge
• Median binge frequency: 1.6 times monthly
• Top 25% most active drinkers: 3.5 times per month
• 44.67% perceive great risk from having 5+ drinks 1-2 times/week
• 16.2% of adults reported binge or heavy drinking (ranks 21st nationally)

Connecticut shows significantly higher alcohol use rates than national averages, with particularly concerning levels of binge drinking among frequent users.

Usage by Age Group (in thousands)

Age Group	Past Month Use	Binge Drinking	Alcohol Use Disorder
12-17	30 (11.24%)	15 (5.42%)	5 (1.83%)
18-25	251 (65.61%)	182 (47.60%)	46 (12.05%)
26+	1,555 (64.59%)	662 (27.49%)	138 (5.74%)

Risk Perception by Age

Age Group	Perceive Great Risk from 5+ Drinks Weekly
12-17	43.34% (116,000 people)
18-25	34.90% (134,000 people)
26+	46.38% (1,117,000 people)

Underage Drinking (Ages 12-20)

• 27.31% report past month use (121,000 people)
• 18.50% report binge drinking (82,000 people)
• Decreased from 18.56% (2008-2009) to 11.24% (2018-2019)
• 15.15% reported alcohol use in last 30 days
• 8.10% reported binging on alcohol in last 30 days
• Among youth aged 12-17, 13.0% (35,000) used alcohol in past month. This is similar to regional average (12.6%) and higher than national average (9.4%)

While underage drinking shows encouraging decreases, young adult (18-25) rates remain alarmingly high, with particularly concerning rates of binge drinking and low risk perception.

High School Statistics (2021)

Gender differences:

• Females: 29.2% past month drinking, 8.5% binge drinking
• Males: 14.2% past month drinking, 5.6% binge drinking

Racial/ethnic differences (past month drinking):

• Non-Hispanic whites: 22.4% (10.3% binge)
• Hispanic students: 13.7% (4.0% binge)
• Black students: 12.1% (3.5% binge)

Significant gender and racial disparities exist in high school alcohol use patterns, with females showing notably higher rates than males.

Young Adult Statistics (Ages 18-25)

Past-month binge alcohol use:

• 48.8% (188,000) report past-month binge alcohol use
• Similar to regional average (46.6%)
• Higher than national average (35.4%)

Alcohol use disorder:

• 12.7% (49,000) have alcohol use disorder
• Higher than national average (9.8%)
• Similar to regional average (13.7%)

Young adults show particularly concerning patterns of binge drinking and alcohol use disorder, consistently exceeding national averages.

Treatment Statistics

Treatment Admissions and Needs

• 9,211 admissions for alcohol rehab alone
• 10,703 admissions for alcohol with secondary drug
• Treatment admissions (2021): 67.5% male; 58.0% non-Hispanic White
• 172,000 needed but didn’t receive treatment
• 6.3% (194,000) of people 12+ had alcohol use disorder. This is similar to regional average (6.4%) and higher than national average (5.3%)

Treatment Resources

• 2.62 treatment facilities per 100,000 people
• Ranks 23rd nationally for treatment facilities per capita
• Alcohol accounted for 35% of treatment admissions in 2010
• By 2023, alcohol treatment admissions equal to opioid admissions

Treatment resources appear insufficient for the scale of the problem, with significant gaps in service provision, particularly for young adults.

Driving Statistics (2021)

• 40% of fatal crashes involved BAC above legal limit
• 30% of fatal crashes involved BAC above 0.15%
• Over 8,000 DUI-related crashes
• Over 200 fatal crashes

Drunk driving remains a significant public safety concern, with Connecticut showing particularly high rates of high-BAC fatal crashes.

Economic and Social Impact

Costs and Resources

• $3.029 billion cost to taxpayers (2010)
• Adjusted to $4.089 billion (2022)
• $2.75 per drink in costs

The economic burden is substantial, with treatment resources potentially inadequate for the scale of the problem.

Connecticut faces a severe and worsening alcohol crisis, marked by the nation’s steepest rise in alcohol-related deaths despite showing some positive trends in underage drinking reduction. The combination of high consumption rates, insufficient treatment resources, and substantial economic burden suggests an urgent need for enhanced public health interventions and expanded treatment accessibility. The particular challenges among young adults and the significant gender disparities in both consumption and mortality indicate a need for targeted intervention strategies.

In general, Connecticut faces a severe dual crisis in substance abuse, experiencing both the nation’s steepest rise in alcohol-related deaths (166.67% increase since 2012) and a persistent drug crisis where 85% of overdose deaths involve fentanyl. Despite some positive trends, including an 8.5% decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2023, the treatment infrastructure of 233 rehabilitation centers remains inadequate, with young adults (18-25) particularly vulnerable and annual costs reaching $4.089 billion for alcohol alone.

Sources:

1. Drug Abuse Statistics
2. CONNECTICUT DRUG CONTROL UPDATE Drug Use Trends in Connecticut Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Data
3. UNINTENTIONAL DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS IN CONNECTICUT A FACT SHEET – 2023 UPDATE
4. Mental Health and Substance Use State Fact Sheets: Connecticut | KFF
5. CONNECTICUT – National Survey on Drug Use and Health
6. Drug Abuse Statistics Connecticut | Recovery Connection
7. Behavioral Health Barometer Connecticut, Volume 6
8. Connecticut Department of Public Health Drug Overdose Monthly Report
9. 2022 Connecticut Epidemiological Profile: Cocaine
10. Teens and Substance Abuse in Connecticut
11. The Latest Drug Addiction Statistics in Connecticut
12. CT had the nation’s highest jump in alcohol-related deaths. Why?
13. Alcohol consumption has increased in Connecticut in recent years
14. Explore Excessive Drinking in Connecticut | AHR
15. Alcohol Statistics in Connecticut