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Arizona Value:
Percentage of women ages 18-49 who reported misusing prescription psychotherapeutics (pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants or sedatives) or using cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants or methamphetamine in the past year
Arizona Rank:
Percentage of women ages 18-49 who reported misusing prescription psychotherapeutics (pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants or sedatives) or using cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants or methamphetamine in the past year
6.7% - 9.5%
9.6% - 10.4%
10.5% - 11.0%
11.1% - 12.8%
12.9% - 19.9%
US Value: 10.5 %
Top State(s): Connecticut: 6.7 %
Bottom State(s): Oregon: 19.9 %
Definition: Percentage of women ages 18-49 who reported misusing prescription psychotherapeutics (pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants or sedatives) or using cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants or methamphetamine in the past year
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Survey on Drug Use and Health State Estimates of Substance Use and Mental Disorders, 2022-2023
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Survey on Drug Use and Health State Estimates of Substance Use and Mental Disorders, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
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 adverse 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 illegal drug use in the U.S. was an estimated $193 billion. While newer estimates are not available for all illicit drug use, the cost of opioid use disorder and opioid overdose deaths alone was $1.02 trillion in 2017. Additionally, between 2018-2019 and 2020-2021, emergency room visits for substance use disorder increased 42% among adults ages 18-34 and 38% among adults age 35 and older.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the prevalence of illicit drug use is higher among:
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, nonaddictive 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:
Florence, Curtis, Feijun Luo, and Ketra Rice. “The Economic Burden of Opioid Use Disorder and Fatal Opioid Overdose in the United States, 2017.” Drug and Alcohol Dependence 218 (January 2021): 108350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108350.
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.
O’Jiaku-Okorie, Adaeze, Xianghua Yin, and Christine Lucas. “QuickStats: Rate of Emergency Department Visits for Substance Use Disorders Among Adults Aged =18 Years, by Age Group — National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, United States, 2018–2019 and 2020–2021.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 72, no. 39 (September 29, 2023): 1073.https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7239a6.
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