Minnesota Drug and Alcohol Statistic

Statistical Data on Drugs in Minnesota

Minnesota, like many states, faces significant challenges related to drug abuse and overdose deaths. While the state has lower rates of drug use and overdose deaths compared to national averages in some categories, the opioid crisis and other substance abuse issues continue to have a major impact on public health, families, and communities across Minnesota.

Opioid Crisis

• 343 people die from opioid overdose in one year in Minnesota.
• The opioid overdose death rate is 6.3 per 100,000 residents, which is 56.8% below the national rate.
• 0.48% of hospital births involve cases of neonatal Opioid Withdrawal syndrome.
• Doctors write enough opioid prescriptions for 35.5% of Minnesota residents to have one.
• Prescription opioids are a factor in 39.7% of opioid overdose deaths.
• Heroin is a factor in 27.1% of opioid overdose deaths.
• 58.9% of opioid overdose deaths involve synthetic opioids.
• Opioids are a factor in 53.9% of all overdose deaths in Minnesota.

While Minnesota’s opioid death rate is lower than the national average, opioids still account for over half of all overdose deaths in the state. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are involved in the majority of opioid deaths, indicating the increasing danger of these potent drugs. The neonatal withdrawal rate suggests a concerning impact on infants born to opioid-using mothers.

Overall Drug Overdoses

• 792 overdose deaths occur per year in Minnesota.
• 1.77% of all deaths in Minnesota are from drug overdose.
• Overdose deaths increased at an annual rate of 5.46% over a recent 3-year period.
• The overdose death rate is 14.2 per 100,000 residents, 31.40% lower than the national average.
• Minnesota accounts for 1.13% of nationwide overdose deaths.

While Minnesota’s overdose death rate is lower than the national average, the steady increase in deaths over recent years is concerning. The state’s share of national overdose deaths is roughly proportional to its population.

Drug Use Among Youth

8.15% of 12-17 year olds in Minnesota report using drugs in the last month, 2.14% lower than the national average.

• 80.56% of teen drug users report using marijuana in the last month.
• 12.45% of all 12-17 year olds used marijuana in the last year.
• 0.45% of teens used cocaine in the last year.
• 0.23% used methamphetamines.
• Up to 0.11% used heroin (limited data).
• 2.26% misused pain relievers.
• 3.40% of 12-17 year olds met criteria for illicit drug use disorder in the last year.
• 1.59% met criteria for alcohol use disorder.

While teen drug use rates are slightly lower than national averages, marijuana use is prevalent among teen drug users. Misuse of pain relievers is also notable. The rates of diagnosed substance use disorders indicate a need for youth treatment services.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

• The average total cost for individual drug rehabilitation in Minnesota is $56,630.
• Marijuana is the most commonly cited drug among primary drug treatment admissions.
• In 2011, 19% of treatment admissions were for non-heroin opiates and 18% were for stimulants.
• Heroin treatment admissions surpassed cocaine admissions in 2011.

The high cost of rehabilitation may present a barrier to treatment for many individuals. The prevalence of marijuana, opioid, and stimulant admissions reflects the most commonly abused substances in the state.

Recent Trends

• Overdose deaths held steady from 2021 to 2022 (1,356 to 1,343 deaths).
• Fentanyl was involved in 92% of all opioid-involved deaths and 62% of all overdose deaths in 2022.

• Opioid-involved deaths increased 3% from 2021 to 2022.
• Deaths involving heroin fell to a 10-year low, decreasing 56% from 2021 to 2022.
• Cocaine-involved deaths increased 27% from 2021 to 2022.
• For every drug overdose death, there were nearly 13 nonfatal overdoses in 2022.

While the stabilization of overall overdose deaths is positive, the continued dominance of fentanyl in opioid deaths is alarming. The sharp decrease in heroin deaths may be due to fentanyl replacing heroin in the drug Supply. The rise in cocaine deaths suggests a concerning trend.

Racial Disparities

• Minnesota has experienced the worst race-rate disparity in the nation for opioid-involved deaths among its American Indian population.
• The American Indian population represents 1.5% of Minnesota’s total population but 8% of all drug overdose deaths.
• The African American population represents 7% of the total population and 13% of all drug overdose deaths.
• In 2017, the drug overdose mortality rate was 12.1 per 100,000 for white residents, 76.2 per 100,000 for American Indian residents, and 27.6 per 100,000 for African American residents.

These statistics reveal severe racial disparities in drug overdose deaths, with American Indian and African American populations disproportionately affected. This suggests a critical need for targeted prevention and treatment efforts in these communities.

Methamphetamine Trends

• In 2016, 7,664 people in Greater Minnesota sought treatment for methamphetamine addiction, a 25% increase from the previous year.
• In 2017, 74% of drug arrests across the state were for meth, up from 27% in 2001.
• Minnesota law enforcement seized nearly 1,150 pounds of meth in 2018, five times the amount seized in 2014.

These figures indicate a significant and growing methamphetamine problem in Minnesota, particularly in rural areas. The sharp increase in meth-related arrests and seizures suggests an expanding Supply and user base.

Polysubstance Use

• In 2023, 77% of samples tested by the Minnesota Drug Overdose and Substance Use Surveillance Activity (MNDOSA) were positive for two or more substance types.
• The percentage of cases where two or more substances were detected has fluctuated but generally increased from 31% in Q4 2017 to 67% in Q4 2022.

The high rate of polysubstance use indicates that many drug users in Minnesota are at increased risk due to the dangers of combining different substances. This trend complicates treatment approaches and increases overdose risks.

Economic Impact

• Excessive drinking alone cost Minnesotans $7.85 billion in 2019 through lost productivity, healthcare costs, and other expenses.
• This equates to $1,383 per Minnesota resident.

The economic burden of substance abuse in Minnesota is substantial, affecting not only individual users but the entire state economy through various direct and indirect costs.

Statistical Data on Alcohol in Minnesota

Minnesota faces significant challenges related to alcohol use and abuse. The following statistics provide an overview of alcohol consumption patterns, binge drinking rates, alcohol-related deaths, and youth alcohol use in the state. These figures highlight the need for targeted interventions and public health initiatives to address the impact of alcohol on Minnesota’s population.

Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking

Statistic	Percentage
Adults who consume alcohol	59.5%
Men who consume alcohol	62.5%
Women who consume alcohol	56.6%
Adults who binge drink (at least once per month)	21.7%
Adults who reported binge drinking in 2021	17.9%
Men who reported binge drinking in 2021	21.9%
Women who reported binge drinking in 2021	13.9%

• Median number of drinks per binge: 5.5
• Median number of drinks per binge for the top 25% most active drinkers: 7.7
• Median binge drinking frequency: 1.5 times monthly
• Binge drinking frequency for the top 25% most active drinkers: 3.7 times per month

Minnesota has a high prevalence of alcohol consumption and binge drinking, with men consistently showing higher rates than women. The data reveals a concerning pattern of excessive drinking among a significant portion of the adult population.

Alcohol-Related Deaths

• Average annual deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use: 2,082
• Percentage increase in 5-year average annual rate of excessive alcohol deaths (2015-2019): Up to 53.0%
• Death rate: 1 death per 2,741 people aged 18 and oldis substantial, affecting taxpayers and the state’s resources significantly.

Youth Alcohol Use

Grade	Percentage Who Drank Alcohol in The Past 30 Days
8th grade	7.9%
9th grade	11.2%
11th grade	24.6%

• Overall percentage of students in grades 8, 9, and 11 who reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days: 13.9%
• Decrease in youth alcohol use from 2013 to the current report: 2.9 percentage points (from 16.8% to 13.9%)

Additional youth statistics:

• 10.87% of all 12- to 17-year-olds used alcohol in the last month
• Minnesota youth are 18.79% more likely to use alcohol than the average American in their age group

While there has been a slight decrease in youth alcohol use since 2013, the prevalence remains concerning, especially among older teenagers. The higher likelihood of alcohol use among Minnesota youth compared to the national average highlights the need for targeted prevention efforts.

Trends in Alcohol-Attributable Deaths

• Increase in 100% alcohol-attributable deaths (2000-2017): 94%
• Largest increase seen among those 50 years aer (4.74 deaths per 10,000 adults)
• Gender distribution of alcohol-related deaths: 67.3% male
• Age distribution of alcohol-related deaths:
  • 87.3% aged 35 years and older
  • 2.31% under the age of 21
• Causes of alcohol-related deaths: 65.2% from chronic causes (e.g., Alcohol Use Disorder)
• Estimated years of potential life lost annually due to excessive alcohol use: 50,092

The data shows a significant increase in alcohol-related deaths over recent years, with a disproportionate impact on males and older adults. The high percentage of deaths from chronic causes suggests long-term alcohol abuse is a major contributor to mortality.

Economic Impact

• Total cost to Minnesota taxpayers due to excessive alcohol use (2010): $3.886 billion
• Adjusted cost for inflation (2022): $5.247 billion
• Cost per drink (2022): $2.35

• The economic burden of excessive alcohol use in Minnesota nd older
• American Indians in Minnesota (2012-2016):
  • Died of 100% alcohol-attributable causes at rates four times higher than whites
  • 44.1 per 100,000 for American Indians vs. 10.9 per 100,000 for whites

The sharp increase in alcohol-attributable deaths, particularly among older adults and American Indians, underscores the growing severity of alcohol-related health issues in Minnesota and the need for culturally-sensitive interventions.

Sources

1. Opioid Crisis Statistics [2023]: Prescription Opiod Abuse
2. Minnesota Drug Overdose and Substance Use Surveillance Activity (MNDOSA) – MN Dept. of Health 
3. Alcohol and Other Drugs Quick Facts – MN Dept. of Health
4. Minnesota Substance Abuse Statistics | Lakeview Health
5. Minnesota Drug and Alcohol Abuse Statistics
6. Youth Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco Use – Results of the 2016 Minnesota Student Survey
7. Minnesota Drug Overdose and Substance Use Surveillance Activity (MNDOSA): Opioids, Amphetamines, Cocaine, Marijuana, and Synthetic Cannabinoid/Cathinones Detection by Quarter
8. MINNESOTA DRUG CONTROL UPDATE Drug Use Trends in Minnesota Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Data
9. Minnesota Drug Overdose and Substance Use Surveillance Activity (MNDOSA): Percentage of MNDOSA Cases with More Than One Substance Detected by Quarter
10. Teenage Drug Use Statistics [2023]: Data & Trends on Abuse
11. Alcohol Abuse Statistics [2023]: National + State Data – NCDAS
12. Drug Overdose Death Statistics [2023]: Opioids, Fentanyl & More
13. Alcohol-Related Deaths in Minnesota
14. Minnesota’s Growing and Evolving Opioid Crisis | SHADAC