Idaho Drug and Alcohol Statistics - World Forum for Mental Health

Statistical Data on Drugs in Idaho

This comprehensive report presents drug use, overdose, and treatment statistics for Idaho. Idaho’s drug landscape has evolved significantly over the past two decades, with notable increases in overdose deaths, shifts in the types of drugs being used, and changing patterns across different age groups and demographics. While Idaho’s overdose death rate remains below the national average, the state has experienced concerning increases in synthetic opioid deaths, methamphetamine use, and substance use disorders, particularly among specific populations.

Drug Overdose Deaths

Overall Overdose Mortality (2023)

386 total overdose deaths in 2023
20 deaths per 100,000 residents (highest rate since data became available in 1999)
Represents 1.86% of all deaths in the state
0.38% of nationwide overdose deaths occur in Idaho
Idaho’s rate is nearly 35% lower than the U.S. national average

Idaho Overall Overdose-Mortality Statistics

While Idaho maintains a lower overdose death rate than the national average, 2023 marked the highest rate in the state’s recorded history.

Historical Trends

Overdose death rate increased in 17 of the last 24 years
40% increase since 2018
54% increase since 2013
Rate rose from approximately 12.7 per 100,000 in 2013 to 19.6 per 100,000 in 2022-2023
Annual rate of increase: 0.57% over the last 3 years

The consistent upward trajectory over nearly two decades demonstrates a persistent and escalating public health crisis.

County-Level Overdose Death Rates (2023)

Rank	County	Death Rate
1	Bannock County	25.4
2	Bonneville County	21.3
3	Canyon County	20.6
4	Ada County	19.6
5	Kootenai County	16.2

Range: From 16.2 to 25.4 per 100,000

Overdose death rates vary significantly across counties, with Bannock County experiencing rates 57% higher than Kootenai County.

Opioid Epidemic

Opioid Overdose Deaths (Most Recent Data)

2023 Data:

265 opioid overdose deaths (some sources cite 236 for 2021)
Opioids involved in 68.7% of all overdose deaths
14.4 deaths per 100,000 residents
40% lower than the national opioid death rate

Drug-Specific Breakdown:

Synthetic opioids (mainly fentanyl): 81.1% of all opioid overdose deaths, 58% of total overdose deaths
Prescription opioids: 24.5% of opioid overdose deaths
Heroin: Involved in specific cases

Idaho Drug Specific Breakdown Statistics

Synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, have become the dominant driver of opioid deaths.

Opioid Death Rate Trends

Year	Opioid Death Rate (per 100,000)	National Rate (per 100,000)
2010	4.2	7.3
2012	5.1	–
2016	7.4	13.3
2017	6.2	14.6
2021	12.8	24.7
2022	13.9	–

While Idaho consistently maintains lower opioid death rates than the national average, the percentage increase has been dramatic.

Opioid Death Breakdown by Type (2016-2017)

2016:

Total opioid deaths: 119
Prescription opioid deaths: 77 (increased from 45 in 2012)
Synthetic opioid deaths: 20 (increased from 11 in 2012)
Heroin deaths: 25 (increased from 11 in 2014)

2017:

Total opioid deaths: 103
Prescription opioid deaths: 63
Synthetic opioid deaths (mainly fentanyl): 22
Heroin deaths: 23

The 2016-2017 data shows fluctuation in overall numbers but a clear upward trend in synthetic opioid involvement.

Statistics on Other Drugs

Methamphetamine Use and Trends

Recent Data

9% of adults aged 18+ reported ever using methamphetamine in 2021 (down from 9.8% in 2019)
0.92% past-year use among people aged 12+
5-fold increase in meth-related overdose deaths between 2013 and 2023

Idaho Methamphetamine Use and Trends Statistics

Seizure Data (2023)

222% year-over-year increase in methamphetamine seizures
143 kg seized in 2023

Treatment Admissions

39% of drug treatment admissions were for stimulants including methamphetamine (2012 data)
56.3% of meth-related treatment admissions are women (adult women)

Youth Use

1% of high school students reported ever using methamphetamine in 2021
Down from 7% in 2001
Below national average of 1.8%

Age-Specific Rates

Ages 12-17: 0.15% past-year use
Ages 18-25: 0.68% past-year use
Ages 26+: 1.07% past-year use

While lifetime use among adults remains relatively high and seizures have surged, current use rates are low and declining, particularly among youth.

Marijuana Use

Youth Marijuana Use (Ages 12-17)

4.89% (8,000) past-month marijuana use (2017-2019 average: 5.9%)
83.33% of youth who used illicit drugs reported marijuana use
15,000 youth (8.80%) used marijuana in past year
3.26% used marijuana for the first time in their lives

Youth marijuana use in Idaho has declined over the past two decades and remains below or similar to national averages.

Young Adult Marijuana Use (Ages 18-25)

24.51% (48,000) past-month use
28.7% (52,000) past-year use
Lower than regional average (43.0%) and national average (35.0%)

Young adults show significantly higher marijuana use than youth.

Adult Marijuana Use (All Ages 12+)

10.14% (161,000) past-month use
13.4% (193,000) past-year use

Gender Breakdown (2021):

Males: 10.7%
Females: 7%
Adult marijuana use increased from 7% in 2015

Comparison:

Below national average of 18.7% (2021)
Lower than regional average (24.7%)

While marijuana use has increased in Idaho over the past 15-20 years, the state maintains lower usage rates than national and regional averages.

Cocaine Use

Age-Specific Rates

Ages 12-17: 0.23% past-year use
Ages 18-25: 3.69% past-year use (7,000 young adults)
Ages 26+: 0.96% past-year use

Demographic Disparity

American Indian/Alaska Native groups account for 15.6% of cocaine treatment admissions but represent only 3.1% of Idaho’s population

Cocaine use is concentrated among young adults, and there is a striking overrepresentation of American Indian/Alaska Native populations in treatment admissions relative to their population share.

Prescription Pain Reliever Misuse

Opioid Prescription Patterns

2015: 76.4 opioid prescriptions per 100 persons (approximately 1.3 million prescriptions), higher than U.S. average of 70
2017: 70.3 opioid prescriptions per 100 persons, Idaho’s lowest in over 10 years but still higher than national average of 58.7
Current: Doctors write enough prescriptions for 44.2% of residents to have one

While prescription rates have declined, Idaho continues to have higher opioid prescribing rates than the national average.

Prescription Pain Reliever Misuse Rates

By Age Group:

Ages 12-17: 1.58% past-year misuse (3,000 youth)
Ages 18-25: 3.02% past-year misuse (6,000 young adults)
Ages 26+: 2.58% past-year misuse (31,000 adults), above national rates

Adult Self-Reported Behavior (2021):

3.6% of adults reported taking more opioids than prescribed by their doctor
1.2% of adults reported using opioids they had not been prescribed

Prescription pain reliever misuse affects all age groups but is particularly concerning among adults 26+.

Other Illicit Drug Use

Youth Illicit Drug Use (Ages 12-17)

7.3% past-month illicit drug use (11,000 youth)
Lower than regional average (11.0%) but similar to national average (8.2%)
Teenagers in Idaho are 6.87% less likely to have used drugs in the last month than the average American teen

Idaho youth demonstrate lower drug use rates than their regional peers, suggesting some protective factors may be at work in the state.

Young Adult Illicit Drug Use (Ages 18-25)

24.25% past-month illicit drug use (47,000 young adults)
Young adults in Idaho are 13.79% less likely to use drugs than the average American in the same age group

Despite high absolute rates, Idaho’s young adults show relatively lower drug use compared to national peers in this age group.

Substance Use Disorders

Youth Substance Use Disorders (Ages 12-17)

7.09% met criteria for Drug Use Disorder (DUD)
4.04% met criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Youth SUD rates indicate that substance use problems begin early for a significant portion of Idaho’s teenage population.

Young Adult Substance Use Disorders (Ages 18-25)

19.16% drug use disorder (37,000 young adults), exceeding national average of 18.6%
4.3% illicit drug use disorder (2017-2019: 8,000 people)
1.15% opioid use disorder (2,000 young adults)
2.5% marijuana use disorder (2017-2019: 4,000 people)

Young adults face the highest burden of substance use disorders, with nearly one in three affected.

Adult Substance Use Disorders (Ages 26+)

16.37% substance use disorder (200,000 adults)
7.40% drug use disorder (90,000 adults)
2.12% opioid use disorder (26,000 adults)
1.90% pain reliever use disorder (23,000 adults)

Substance use disorders persist into adulthood, with opioid use disorder rates higher among older adults than younger age groups.

Specific Substance Use Disorders (All Ages)

Drug Use Disorder:

8.79% of population aged 12+ (139,000 people)
2.4% illicit drug use disorder (2017-2019: 35,000 people)

Opioid Use Disorder:

1.86% of population (29,000 people)
0.9% past-year opioid use disorder (2017-2019: 13,000 people)
0.8% using or dependent on opioids before the pandemic

Marijuana Use Disorder:

0.9% past-year marijuana use disorder (2017-2019: 13,000 people)
Decreased between 2002-2004 and 2017-2019

Opioid use disorder affects nearly 2% of the population, representing a significant treatment need. The decrease in marijuana use disorder despite increased use suggests changing patterns of consumption.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

Treatment Access and Gaps

14.46% need but do not receive treatment at a specialty facility for substance use (229,000 people)
6.93% need but do not receive treatment for illicit drug use (110,000 people)
Only 6.93% of Idahoans receive specialty SUD treatment, compared to 7.20% nationally

Idaho Treatment Acces and Gaps Statistics

By Age Group – Needing But Not Receiving Treatment:

Age Group	Substance Use	Illicit Drug Use
12-17	7.40% (13,000)	4.69% (8,000)
18-25	25.73% (50,000)	18.32% (36,000)
26+	13.66% (166,000)	5.42% (66,000)
18+	15.32% (216,000)	7.20% (102,000)

A substantial treatment gap exists, with nearly 15% of those needing treatment unable to access specialty facilities.

Treatment Facilities and Enrollment

Facility Infrastructure:

147 substance abuse facilities in Idaho
2 facilities offer free drug rehab treatment for all patients

Total Enrollment:

5,634 patients served annually (2019 single-day count)
Decreased from 6,287 people in 2015

Treatment Focus (2019):

40.5% received treatment for drug problem only
12.9% received treatment for alcohol problem only
46.6% received treatment for both drug and alcohol problems

Despite a growing overdose crisis, treatment enrollment has actually decreased, suggesting potential access barriers or changing treatment modalities.

Outpatient Services

5,452 clients enroll in outpatient services annually

Costs:

$9.24 million spent on outpatient services (0.4% of U.S. public total)
$1,695 average cost per individual patient
Idaho ranks among the top 10 cheapest states for outpatient drug rehabilitation services

Idaho’s low outpatient costs may improve accessibility, though the relationship between cost and quality of care requires consideration.

Residential (Non-Hospital) Treatment

123 clients enroll in residential services annually

Costs:

$5.19 million spent on residential treatment (0.1% of U.S. public total)
$42,195 average cost per individual enrolled
Idaho is the cheapest state for residential rehabilitation (non-hospital)

The extremely low residential enrollment numbers suggest this is an underutilized treatment modality.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Methadone Treatment:

607 people receiving methadone in opioid treatment programs (March 2019)
Increased from 312 people in 2015
94.6% increase over 4 years

Buprenorphine Treatment:

559 people receiving buprenorphine (March 2019)
Increased from 353 people in 2015
58.4% increase over 4 years

Both forms of medication-assisted treatment have expanded significantly, reflecting growing recognition of MAT’s effectiveness for opioid use disorder.

Health Consequences

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) / Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS)

10.3 per 1,000 births diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (2020)
National study showed 5-fold increase in NAS/NOWS from 2004 to 2014 (1.5 to 8.0 per 1,000 hospital births)
One baby born with NAS/NOWS every 15 minutes in the U.S.
Hospital costs increased from $91 million to $563 million (2004-2014, inflation-adjusted)

NAS/NOWS rates in Idaho reflect the broader impact of opioid use disorder on families and the healthcare system, with significant long-term health and cost implications.

HIV/AIDS Linked to Injection Drug Use

3.1 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses connected to intravenous drug use

2016 State Data:

44 new HIV cases in Idaho
Among males: 11.1% of new cases attributed to IDU or male-to-male contact and IDU
Among females: 12.5% of new cases attributed to IDU

Injection drug use contributes to a significant proportion of cases, particularly among women.

Hepatitis C Linked to Injection Drug Use

2022: 3.6 new cases of hepatitis C linked to intravenous drug use (estimated)
2016: 7 cases of acute HCV reported (0.4 per 100,000)
2015: 1,362 cases of chronic HCV
2010: 16,400 persons living with HCV (1,440 cases per 100,000)

Idaho Hepatitis C Statistics

While the absolute numbers are relatively small, injection drug use is a major driver of hepatitis C transmission.

Final Words

Idaho’s drug and overdose statistics reveal a state facing an evolving and complex substance use crisis. While maintaining lower overall rates than national averages, Idaho has experienced dramatic increases in overdose deaths. Young adults face especially high burdens, with nearly 30% meeting criteria for substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder rates exceeding national averages. The data underscores the need for expanded prevention, harm reduction, treatment services, and culturally-responsive approaches to address Idaho’s growing substance use challenges.

Statistical Data on Alcohol in Nebraska

This comprehensive report presents alcohol use, abuse, and related mortality statistics for Idaho. Alcohol remains the deadliest substance in Idaho, responsible for an average of 700 deaths annually. While Idaho generally maintains lower alcohol consumption rates than national averages, the state faces growing challenges including a 41% increase in alcohol-attributable deaths since 2015, rising heavy drinking among women, and concerning rates of alcohol use disorder affecting over 11% of the population.

Alcohol-Related Deaths

Overall Mortality

Annual Death Toll:

732 average annual deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use
700 deaths per year average from 2015-2019

Death Rates:

17.2 deaths per 100,000 people (2020)
One death for every 2,512 people aged 18 and older
5.31 deaths per 10,000 adults
Idaho’s alcohol death rate is lower than the national average of 13.1 per 100,000 (2020)

Idaho Alcohol Death Rates Statistics

Trends:

41% increase in alcohol-attributable deaths from 2015 to 2019/2021
5-year average annual rate increased by as much as 43.6% from 2015 to 2019

Despite maintaining a lower death rate than the national average in 2020, the dramatic 41% increase in alcohol deaths over a 4-6 year period represents a severe escalation in alcohol-related harm.

Demographics of Alcohol Deaths

Age Distribution:

85.9% of deaths are adults aged 35 years and older
3.0% of deaths are people under age 21
60.8% of deaths are from chronic causes, such as Alcohol Use Disorder
39.2% of deaths are from acute causes

Gender Distribution:

68.6% of deaths are male
31.4% of deaths are female

Detailed Age/Gender:

Breakdown (5-year average 2015-2019)

Male over 21: 207 deaths
Female over 21: 80 deaths
Male under 21: 15 deaths
Female under 21: 6 deaths

Alcohol-related deaths predominantly affect older, chronic users, with males accounting for more than two-thirds of fatalities.

Specific Causes of Death (5-year average 2015-2019)

Cause of Death	Annual Deaths (5-year avg)
Suicides due to alcohol	89
Coronary Heart Disease due to alcohol	38
Alcohol Dependence Syndrome	19
Homicides due to alcohol	16
All causes attributable to alcohol	287

Suicide represents the leading specific cause of alcohol-related death in Idaho, accounting for nearly one-third of all alcohol-attributable deaths.

Lost Potential Life Years

CDC estimates 18,119 years of potential life lost to excessive alcohol use each year.

The nearly 18,000 years of potential life lost annually demonstrates the profound impact of alcohol on premature mortality.

Alcohol Use Patterns

Overall Adult Alcohol Use (Ages 18+)

Past-Month Use:

48% (648,000) of adults aged 18+ used alcohol in the past month
41.5% of people aged 12+ reported using alcohol (2021)
Lower than national average of 47.6% (ages 12+) or 52% (ages 18+)
Rates have remained relatively stable over the past 20 years

While nearly half of Idaho adults consume alcohol, usage rates remain below national averages and have been stable for two decades.

Alcohol Use by Age Group (2021)

Past-Month Alcohol Use:

Age Group	Percentage	Number of People
12+	41.51%	658,000
12-17	5.95%	10,000
18-25	52.61%	102,000
26+	44.76%	546,000
18+	45.84%	648,000

Young adults aged 18-25 show the highest alcohol use rates at over half the population.

Youth Alcohol Use (Ages 12-17)

Past-Month Use:

5.95% (10,000) of youth aged 12-17 used alcohol in the past month
Decreased between 2002-2004 and 2017-2019
Both state and national prevalence dropped by approximately 10% over the past two decades

High School Students:

23% of high school students reported using alcohol (2021)
Above the national average of 22.7%
17% reported having their first alcoholic drink before age 13

While past-month use among 12-17 year-olds has declined significantly and remains below national averages, the fact that 23% of high school students report alcohol use and 17% started before age 13 indicates continued challenges with youth access and early initiation.

Underage Drinking (Ages 12-20)

Past-Month Use:

12.66% (29,000) of people aged 12-20 reported alcohol use in the last 30 days
14.6% nationally (5.6 million youth) reported drinking beyond “just a few sips”

Binge Drinking:

6.82% (16,000) of people aged 12-20 reported binge drinking in the last 30 days

More than 1 in 8 underage individuals consume alcohol, with over half of those who drink also engaging in binge drinking.

Binge Drinking

Overall Binge Drinking Rates

Past-Month Binge Drinking (All Ages):

15% of adults binge drink (defined as 4+ drinks for women or 5+ drinks for men in a single occasion)
16.4% of adults report excessive drinking (binge or heavy drinking combined)
19.34% of people aged 12+ engaged in binge drinking
Lower than national average of 27%

While Idaho’s binge drinking rates are lower than national averages, nearly one in five residents engages in this high-risk behavior.

Binge Drinking by Age Group (2021)

Past-Month Binge Alcohol Use:

Age Group	Percentage	Number of People
12+	19.34%	306,000
12-17	3.36%	6,000
18-25	30.81%	60,000
26+	19.76%	241,000
18+	21.29%	301,000
12-20	6.82%	16,000

Young adults aged 18-25 show dramatically elevated binge drinking rates at nearly 30%, more than 50% higher than the overall adult population and nearly 9 times the rate of younger teens.

Binge Drinking Intensity

Drinks Per Binge:

Median 5.8 drinks per binge session
Top 25% most active drinkers: Median 9.1 drinks per binge

Binge Frequency:

Median 2.0 times monthly among binge drinking adults
Top 25% most active drinkers: 4.5 times per month

Idaho Binge Drinking Intensity Statistics

Not only is binge drinking common, but the intensity is concerning, with the most active quarter of binge drinkers consuming nearly twice the median amount and doing so more than twice as frequently.

Gender Differences in Binge Drinking (2023)

Past 30-Day Binge Drinking (Ages 18+):

Males: 19%
Females: 11%

Trends from 2014:

Males 2014: 20.8% → 2023: 19% (relatively steady)
Females 2014: 9.1% → 2023: 11% (relatively steady)

Males binge drink at nearly twice the rate of females, though both genders have maintained relatively stable rates over the past decade.

Youth Binge Drinking

16% of high school students binge drink in Idaho
3.7% of 12-17 aged youth shows past-month binge drinking, similar to national rate of 3.6%
Slight decline from 5% in 2015-2016

While youth binge drinking has declined slightly, the fact that 16% of high school students engage in this behavior represents a significant health and safety risk for developing adolescents.

Young Adult Binge Drinking Trends

Ages 18-25 (2017-2019 average):

29.9% engaged in past-month binge drinking (54,000 young adults)
Similar to regional average (33.4%)
Lower than national average (35.4%)

Despite being below national averages, the fact that nearly one in three young adults binge drinks monthly indicates this age group requires targeted prevention and harm reduction efforts.

Heavy Drinking

Gender Breakdown (2023, Ages 18+):

Females: 6.4% engaged in heavy drinking
Males: 5.2% engaged in heavy drinking

Female Trends:

2014: 4.5%
2018: 5.9%
2021: 7.1%
2023: 6.4%

Male Trends:

2014: 5.6%
2023: 5.2%
Remained relatively steady

The rise in heavy drinking among women represents a concerning 42% increase and reverses traditional gender patterns, with female heavy drinking now matching or exceeding male rates.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Overall AUD Prevalence (All Ages, 12+)

11.56%(183,000) past-year alcohol use disorder (2021)
5.9% past-year AUD (2017-2019 average: 85,000 people)
6% of adults over 18 diagnosed with alcoholism in the past year

More than one in ten Idahoans aged 12+ meet criteria for alcohol use disorder.

AUD by Age Group (2021)

Past-Year Alcohol Use Disorder:

Age Group	Percentage	Number of People
12+	11.56%	183,000
12-17	4.55%	8,000
18-25	17.96%	35,000
26+	11.53%	141,000
18+	12.41%	175,000

Alcohol use disorder affects all age groups, with particularly high rates among young adults.

Youth AUD (Ages 12-17)

4.04% (8,000) met criteria for AUD
1.7% of teens diagnosed with alcoholism

While lower than adult rates, the fact that 4% of adolescents meet AUD criteria indicates that problematic alcohol use begins during the teenage years for thousands of Idaho youth.

Young Adult AUD (Ages 18-25):

9.5% past-year AUD (2017-2019 average: 17,000 people)
17.96% past-year AUD (2021 data: 35,000 people)
Similar to regional average (10.7%) and national average (9.8%) for 2017-2019 data

Nearly 1 in 10 young adults has alcohol use disorder, with more recent data suggesting rates may be approaching 1 in 5.

Perception of Risk

Perception of Great Risk from 5+ Drinks Once or Twice a Week:

Age Group	Percentage	Number of People
12+	41.61%	659,000
12-17	40.32%	69,000
18-25	32.45%	63,000
26+	43.27%	527,000
18+	41.77%	590,000

Young adults aged 18-25 perceive the least risk from regular heavy drinking, which correlates with their higher rates of binge drinking and alcohol use disorder.

Treatment Needs and Gaps

By Age Group – Needing But Not Receiving Treatment:

Age Group	Percentage	Number of People
12+	10.73%	170,000
12-17	4.05%	7,000
18-25	17.80%	35,000
26+	10.55%	129,000
18+	11.55%	163,000

Nearly 11% of the population needs alcohol treatment but cannot access it, with young adults facing the highest treatment gap at nearly 18%.

Alcohol-Related Offenses

Fell from 7.3 to 4.7 per 1,000 residents between 2013 and 2022
36% decrease over 9 years

The significant decline in alcohol-related offenses per capita suggests either improved enforcement strategies, changing drinking patterns, or shifts in how alcohol-related crimes are categorized and prosecuted.

Economic Impact

Total Economic Impact:

$1.138 billion in 2010
$1.536 billion when adjusted for inflation to 2022 US$

Cost Per Drink:

$2.19 per drink sold per year

Idaho Economic Impact Statistics

Excessive alcohol use costs Idaho taxpayers over $1.5 billion annually (inflation-adjusted), representing a massive economic burden.

Final Words

Alcohol remains Idaho’s deadliest substance, causing 700 deaths annually. While Idaho maintains lower overall alcohol consumption rates than national averages, with relatively stable use patterns over two decades, several concerning trends emerge: young adults show exceptionally high rates of binge drinking and alcohol use disorder; female heavy drinking has increased significantly over the past decade; and nearly 11% of the population needs but cannot access alcohol treatment. The $1.5 billion annual economic burden, 18,119 years of potential life lost, and persistent underage drinking underscore the need for enhanced prevention, treatment access, and targeted interventions for high-risk groups, particularly young adults and women.

Conclusion

In general, Idaho faces an escalating substance use crisis with drug overdose deaths reaching a record 386 in 2023 and alcohol-related deaths climbing to 700 annually. Young adults are disproportionately affected, with nearly 30% meeting criteria for substance use disorder and exceptionally high rates of binge drinking. Despite lower rates than national averages, massive treatment gaps exist with 229,000 people needing but unable to access specialty care. The combined economic burden exceeds $1.5 billion annually, with fentanyl and alcohol driving most deaths and demanding urgent expansion of prevention, harm reduction, and treatment services.