Illicit Drug Use - Women in United States

United States

The use of illicit drugs, including the use of prescription drugs without a doctor's guidance, can be dangerous and have lasting consequences. The adverse effects of drug misuse vary by drug and can include heart attack, stroke, psychosis and death. Substance abuse can also lead to addiction, which often requires medical or therapeutic intervention. Drug use during pregnancy increases the risk of negative birth outcomes such as preterm labor, miscarriage and stillbirth.

The health consequences of illicit drug use are costly to individuals and society. In 2007, the economic burden of illicit drug use in the U.S. was an estimated $193 billion. Emergency room visits for drug misuse among those ages 18-34 have increased since 2008-2009, from 45.4 visits per 10,000 people to 76.0 visits per 10,000 in 2016-2017.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the prevalence of illicit drug use is higher among:

• Women ages 18-25 compared with women in other age groups.
• Multiracial and American Indian/Alaska Native people compared with Black, white, Hispanic and Asian people. 
• Men compared with women; the death rate associated with illicit drug use is higher among men, but women are more likely to relapse after treatment. 

Mental illness and substance use disorders are frequently related, though one can rarely be said to cause the other. More than 1 in 4 individuals with a severe mental health disorder will develop a substance use problem during their lifetime. Additionally, research has found that women who have experienced intimate partner violence have a higher risk of substance use.

Illicit drug use can be prevented and treated. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has screening tools and prevention strategies that health care professionals can use for substance abuse prevention. In 2018, the National Institutes of Health received funding from Congress for the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, which supports the development of drug abuse prevention strategies, non-addictive pain management methods and treatments for opioid misuse and addiction. 

When prevention is no longer an option, there are evidence-based treatment programs. SAMHSA’s treatment locator can help individuals find state-licensed providers that specialize in substance use disorders. SAMHSA also collects resources on evidence-based practices for treatment facilities and medical practitioners providing substance abuse treatment and recovery.

Healthy People 2030 objectives related to illicit drug use include:

• Reducing the proportion of adults who used drugs in the past month.
• Reducing the proportion of people who misused prescription drugs in the past year.
• Reducing the proportion of people who used heroin in the past year.
• Reducing the proportion of women who use illicit opioids during pregnancy. 
• Increasing abstinence from illicit drugs among pregnant women.

“2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Among Females Aged 12 or Older.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2023. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt41854/NSDUH%20highlighted%20population%20slides/For%20NSDUH%20highlighted%20population%20slides/2021NSDUHPopulationSlidesFemales050323.pdf.

“Highlights by Race/Ethnicity for the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2024. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42731/2022-nsduh-race-eth-highlights.pdf.

“National Drug Threat Assessment 2011.” Johnstown, PA: U.S. Department of Justice, National Drug Intelligence Center, August 2011. https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs44/44849/44849p.pdf.

Rui, Pinyao. “QuickStats: Number of Emergency Department Visits for Substance Abuse or Dependence per 10,000 Persons Aged ≥18 Years, by Age Group — United States, 2008–2009 and 2016–2017.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 68, no. 50 (December 20, 2019): 1171. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6850a7.