New York Drug and Alcohol Statistics

Statistical Data on Drugs in New York

New York is grappling with significant substance abuse challenges, as evidenced by recent data on drug and alcohol use, overdose fatalities, and treatment needs. The statistics reveal patterns across various demographics, substances, and regions within the state.

Drug-Related Trends

Overdose Fatality Increase

  • 71% rise in drug overdose deaths from 2010 to 2015
  • Death rate climbed from 9.1 to 15.2 per 100,000 individuals
  • 14,173 drug-related deaths occurred between 2010-2015, compared to 9,754 in 2004-2009

New York Drug Statistics

This significant increase in overdose deaths indicates a worsening drug crisis in New York. The sharp rise suggests that existing prevention and intervention strategies may not be keeping pace with the growing problem.

Recent Data

  • 2022: Approximately 2.8 million New Yorkers (12+ years) had a Substance Use Disorder
  • 2022 provisional data: 6,358 drug overdose deaths and 2,003 alcohol-related deaths

These numbers highlight the widespread nature of substance abuse issues in New York, affecting a substantial portion of the population. The high number of overdose deaths underscores the urgent need for more effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Overdose Fatality Progression

Year Deaths Death Rate (per 100,000)
2010 9.1
2015 3,009 15.2
2022 3,026
2023 (Q1) 712

The continued increase in overdose deaths through 2022 and into 2023 suggests that the crisis is not abating. The first quarter data for 2023 indicates the problem may be accelerating, necessitating immediate action.

Most Affected Counties (2015 death rates per 100,000)

  • Erie: 31.7 (256% increase from 2010)
  • Niagara: 24.9
  • Dutchess: 22.0
  • Onondaga: 21.6 (145% increase from 2010)
  • Bronx: 20.4

These county-level statistics reveal significant regional disparities in overdose death rates. The dramatic increases in Erie and Onondaga counties suggest localized factors exacerbating the crisis, which may require targeted interventions.

Opioid Crisis Impact (2022)

  • 44% increase in opioid-related deaths in 2020, 17% increase in 2021 (4,946 deaths)
  • 84.3% of drug overdose deaths involved opioids
  • Fentanyl present in 81% of overdose cases
  • Opioid involvement in overdose deaths rose from 69% (2010) to 85% (2021)
  • Synthetic opioid involvement increased from 11% (2010) to 78% (2021)
  • 34.0 opioid prescriptions per 100 persons in 2018 (U.S. average: 51.4)
  • 116,000 hepatitis C cases linked to intravenous drug use
  • 126,495 HIV/AIDS cases attributed to intravenous drug use

These statistics highlight the central role of opioids, particularly synthetic opioids like fentanyl, in driving the overdose crisis. The increase in related health issues like hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS underscores the broader public health impact of the opioid epidemic.

Demographic Breakdown (2015)

Most affected age group: 45-54 years (27.4 deaths per 100,000)

Gender disparity: Men died at 2.5x the rate of women (22 vs 8.7 per 100,000)

Race/Ethnicity death rates per 100,000:

  • White: 18.4
  • Hispanic/Latino: 12.1
  • Black/African American: 10.0
  • Asian/Pacific Islander: 2.4

Middle-aged adults (45-54) appear to be at highest risk for drug-related deaths. The significant gender disparity suggests men are more vulnerable. Among racial/ethnic groups, White individuals have the highest death rate, while Asian/Pacific Islanders have the lowest, indicating potential cultural or socioeconomic factors influencing drug use patterns.

General Drug Use (2021-2022)

  • 17.24% of NY residents (12+ years) used illicit drugs in past month
  • 22.19% used marijuana in past year
  • 3.39% used illicit drugs other than marijuana in past month

Nearly one-fifth of New York residents use illicit drugs, with marijuana being the most common. The relatively low rate of other illicit drug use suggests targeted interventions for marijuana and harder drugs may need different approaches.

Substance Use Disorder Rates by Age (2021-2022)

Age Group Percentage
12-17 9.53%
18-25 25.22%
26+ 16.71%
Overall (12+) 17.13%

Young adults (18-25) have the highest rate of substance use disorders, more than double the rate for adolescents. This indicates a critical need for prevention and intervention efforts targeting this age group.

Drug Use Among 12-17 Year Olds
  • 8.31% (112,000 teens) used drugs in the last month
  • 0.25% less likely to use drugs than average American teen
  • 86.61% of teen drug users report marijuana use in the last month
  • 13.13% used marijuana in the last year
  • 0.30% used cocaine in the last year
  • 0.15% used methamphetamines
  • 1.85% misused pain relievers
  • 2.89% met criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD) in the last year


While New York teens are slightly less likely to use drugs than the national average, marijuana remains the predominant substance of abuse, with over 8 in 10 teen drug users consuming it.

Young Adult Drug Use (Ages 18-25)
  • 782,000 young adults used drugs in the last month
  • 8.79% more likely to use drugs than average American in same age group

The transition from teenage years shows a significant increase in drug use likelihood among New York’s young adult population.

Criminal Justice Intersection

  • 42% of NYC jail inmates have a substance use disorder
  • 83% of state prison population needed substance abuse treatment (2010)
  • 33% of jail inmates have a serious mental illness, 50% with co-occurring substance abuse

The high prevalence of substance use disorders and mental illness among incarcerated individuals highlights the interconnection between addiction, mental health, and criminal justice. This suggests a need for comprehensive treatment programs within the justice system.

Treatment Statistics (2022)

  • 3,249,000 people needed substance use treatment
  • 921,000 received treatment
  • Treatment gap: 2,415,000 people

There’s a significant treatment gap, with only about 28% of those needing treatment receiving it. Expanding affordable treatment options could help address this gap.

Treatment Infrastructure and Capacity

Patient Volume
  • 113,028 patients treated annually for drug rehabilitation
  • 104,280 patients in outpatient services annually
  • 7,109 patients in residential (non-hospital) services
  • 1,639 patients in hospital-based drug rehabilitation

Facility Statistics
  • 998 active substance abuse facilities statewide
  • 5 facilities offer free treatment for all patients
  • New York treats more patients for substance abuse disorder than any other state

New York’s extensive treatment network reflects both the scale of the problem and the state’s significant investment in addressing substance abuse.

Treatment Costs

Service Type New York Average Cost National Context
Outpatient per individual $1,706 Tied with PA, AZ, IN, MI
Residential per individual $56,653 22nd most expensive state
Public Spending Breakdown
  • $177.9 million (7.70% of U.S. total) spent on outpatient services
  • $402.7 million (7.76% of U.S. total) spent on residential treatment

New York’s treatment costs are moderate compared to other states, but the total public investment is substantial due to high patient volume.

Policy and Prevention Measures

Prescription Drug Monitoring

  • 2012: Required prescribers to check state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) before prescribing opioids
  • 2013: Achieved 75% reduction in patients seeking multiple doctors/prescribers for the same drugs

New York’s early implementation of prescription monitoring systems demonstrates proactive policy intervention that yielded measurable results in reducing prescription drug abuse.

New York faces a severe substance abuse crisis with overdose deaths rising 71% from 2010-2015, primarily driven by opioids and fentanyl, affecting 2.8 million residents with substance use disorders. Despite extensive treatment infrastructure and $580 million in public investment, only 28% of those needing treatment receive it, creating a critical gap of 2.4 million people. The crisis disproportionately impacts middle-aged adults and men, while young adults show the highest disorder rates at 25%. Current prevention and treatment efforts, though substantial, are insufficient to address the escalating epidemic, requiring immediate expansion of services and innovative interventions

Alcohol-Related Statistics

New York presents a complex picture of alcohol use and its impacts across different demographic groups. The state shows some concerning trends in alcohol-related deaths and economic costs, though it maintains the third-lowest number of alcohol-related deaths per capita among U.S. states. This analysis explores key statistics on alcohol consumption patterns, health consequences, high-risk populations, and economic burdens to provide a comprehensive overview of New York’s alcohol use landscape.

Alcohol-Related Deaths

Category Number of Deaths
Male over 21 1,841
Female over 21 619
Male under 21 99
Female under 21 31
Total Deaths 6,701

These figures highlight a significant gender disparity in alcohol-related deaths, with males accounting for over two-thirds of fatalities. The vast majority of deaths occur in adults over 21, suggesting that while underage drinking is a concern, the bulk of alcohol-related mortality affects the adult population.

Key Death-Related Percentages

  • 67.2% male victims
  • 86.4% aged 35 and older
  • 2.03% under age 21
  • 63.3% deaths from chronic causes

This data reinforces the gender disparity and shows that alcohol-related deaths predominantly affect older adults. The high percentage of deaths from chronic causes indicates that long-term alcohol abuse is a major factor in mortality

Death Rates (2020)

  • 24.8 deaths per 100,000 people due to excess alcohol use
  • 89% higher than national average of 13.1 per 100,000

Specific Causes of Death (Annual 5-year averages)

  • 604 deaths from Coronary Heart Disease due to alcohol
  • 401 suicides due to alcohol
  • 280 homicides due to alcohol
  • 264 deaths from Alcohol Dependence Syndrome

Alcohol-related mortality in New York significantly exceeds national rates, with cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of alcohol-related deaths.

Adult Alcohol Use Patterns (Ages 18+)

Overall Adult Usage (2022)

  • 50.86% of adults reported alcohol use in the last 30 days
  • 23.92% reported binge drinking in the last 30 days
  • 43.40% perceive drinking more than 5 drinks in one session as a great risk

Historical Context (2019)

  • 18.2% of New Yorkers reported binge drinking in the past 30 days
  • 14.8% of women engaged in excessive drinking (above national average of 14.1%)
  • 21.9% of men engaged in excessive drinking (below national average of 22.7%)

Over half of New York adults consume alcohol monthly, with nearly a quarter engaging in binge drinking. The perception of risk suggests awareness of excessive drinking dangers, though this doesn’t translate to reduced consumption rates.

Excessive Drinking Trends (2020-2022)

Year Binge Drinking Heavy Drinking Total Excessive Drinking
2020 14.7% 6.5% 16.7%
2021 14.9% .5% 16.4%
2022 16.6% 6.1% 18.4%

Binge drinking increased significantly from 2021 to 2022 (14.9% to 16.6%), representing a concerning upward trend. Heavy drinking remained relatively stable around 5.5-6.5%.

Youth Alcohol Use (Ages 12-20)

Underage Drinking Statistics

  • 16.43% of people aged 12-20 reported alcohol use in the last 30 days
  • 9.24% reported binge drinking in the last 30 days
  • 6.8% of children ages 12-17 reported drinking alcohol in the past month

Youth Trends (2017-2019)

  • 9.7% of youth aged 12-17 used alcohol in past month (133,000 individuals)
  • 8.9% initiated alcohol use for the first time (122,000 individuals)
  • Rates similar to regional and national averages

While youth drinking rates appear lower than adult rates, the initiation statistics show significant numbers of young people beginning alcohol use, establishing potentially problematic patterns early.

Young Adults (Ages 18-25)

Binge Drinking and Disorders (2017-2019)

  • 37.5% engaged in past-month binge drinking (774,000 individuals)
  • 9.0% had alcohol use disorder in past year (185,000 individuals)
  • Binge drinking rates decreased between 2015-2017 and 2017-2019

Young adults show the highest binge drinking rates of any age group, with over one-third engaging in this risky behavior monthly.

Drinking Patterns (2022)

  • Overall excessive alcohol use: 18.4% of adults
  • Binge drinking rate: 16.6% (up from 14.9% in 2021)
  • Heavy drinking rate: 6.1%

Nearly one in five adults in New York engages in excessive alcohol use, with binge drinking being the most common form. The increase in binge drinking from 2021 to 2022 is concerning and may indicate a growing public health issue.

Binge Drinking Patterns

  • Average episodes: 4.3 times per month
  • Median episodes: 1.7 times per month
  • Average drinks per episode: 7.1
  • Median drinks per episode: 5.4

The discrepancy between average and median values suggests that while most binge drinkers do so less frequently, there’s a subset of heavy users significantly pulling up the averages. This indicates a need for targeted interventions for high-risk individuals.

High-Risk Groups (2022)

Highest Binge Drinking Rates

  • Cannabis users: 36.0%
  • Current smokers: 27.4%
  • People with mental distress: 23.0%
  • White, non-Hispanic adults: 18.9%

Highest Heavy Drinking Rates

  • Cannabis users: 13.6%
  • Current smokers: 13.6%
  • Mental distress individuals: 10.3%
  • White, non-Hispanic adults: 7.9%

These statistics reveal strong correlations between alcohol misuse and other substance use or mental health issues. This suggests that comprehensive approaches addressing multiple risk factors may be more effective in reducing alcohol-related harm.

Economic Impact (2010 data, adjusted to 2022)

  • Total cost to taxpayers: $22.046 billion
  • Cost per drink: $3.08
  • Tax revenue per drink: $0.17

The economic burden of alcohol use far outweighs the tax revenue generated, indicating that current alcohol policies may not adequately address the societal costs of drinking.

Health Impact

Years of potential life lost annually: 159,338

  • Average annual suicides (2015-2019): 401
  • Average annual homicides (2015-2019): 280
  • Average deaths from Alcohol Dependence Syndrome: 264
  • Average deaths from Coronary Heart Disease due to alcohol: 604

Alcohol use contributes significantly to premature mortality and various causes of death, including suicide and homicide. The high number of years of potential life lost underscores the long-term impact on public health and productivity.

Motor Vehicle Incidents (2014)

Category Number Percentage
Total Drivers in Crashes 10,623 100%
Drinking Drivers 7,465 70.3%
Total Fatalities 163 100%
Drinking Driver Fatalities 152 93.3%

Alcohol plays a major role in motor vehicle crashes and fatalities, with drinking drivers involved in over 70% of crashes and 93% of fatalities. This highlights the critical importance of drunk driving prevention efforts.

Treatment Statistics (2012-2013)

  • 50,393 individuals admitted to treatment for alcohol abuse alone
  • 59,864 sought treatment for alcohol with secondary drug addiction
  • Only 5.3% of those with alcohol dependence/abuse received treatment (2009-2013)

Treatment access remains critically low, with fewer than 1 in 20 people with alcohol problems receiving help. The large numbers needing treatment highlight the scope of the problem.

New York State faces a severe alcohol-related public health crisis, with death rates 89% higher than the national average and an annual economic burden exceeding $22 billion. The data shows alarming trends including rising binge drinking rates and strong correlations between alcohol misuse and mental health issues, yet only 5.3% of those with alcohol dependence receive treatment. With alcohol involved in 93% of traffic fatalities and affecting over 18% of adults through excessive drinking patterns, these statistics highlight the urgent need for comprehensive intervention strategies and expanded treatment access.

In general, New York State confronts a dual public health crisis with both drug and alcohol abuse reaching alarming levels, evidenced by a 71% increase in drug overdose deaths since 2010 and alcohol-related mortality rates 89% above the national average. The state’s 2.8 million residents with substance use disorders face a critical treatment gap, with only 28% of those needing help actually receiving it despite substantial public investment of over $580 million annually. Young adults emerge as the highest-risk population, showing substance use disorder rates of 25%, while the opioid epidemic drives 84% of overdose deaths with fentanyl present in 81% of cases. These statistics underscore an urgent need for expanded treatment capacity, targeted prevention programs, and comprehensive policy interventions to address what has become one of New York’s most pressing public health emergencies.

Sources:

  1. Drug Abuse Statistics
  2. New York Drug And Alcohol Addiction Statistics
  3. Mental Health and Substance Use State Fact Sheets: New York | KFF
  4. The Growing Drug Epidemic in New York | Rockefeller Institute of Government
  5. Samhsa.gov
  6. New York Substance Abuse Statistics | Lakeview Health
  7. Substance Abuse Statistics by State – New York
  8. OASAS Addiction Data Bulletin 2023-01
  9. Binge and Heavy Drinking | New York State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Brief
  10. Alcohol Statistics in New York
  11. Explore Alcohol Use – Youth in New York | AHR
  12. Addressing Excessive Alcohol Use: State Fact Sheets
  13. New York Substance Abuse Statistics | Lakeview Health
  14. Behavioral Health Barometer: New York, Volume 6

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