Substance Use Topic Guide

Substance use means using products like alcohol, tobacco, or drugs that are swallowed, smoked, injected, or inhaled. These substances can affect the body and mind and may lead to health problems or dependence. Substance use can involve legal products, such as alcohol and tobacco, as well as illegal drugs and inhalants.

A substance use disorder (SUD) is a long-term but treatable health condition. It happens when a person keeps using a substance even though it causes serious problems in their life, such as issues with health, work, or relationships. Doctors look at patterns of symptoms to diagnose SUD and connect people to treatment. SUDs can be mild or severe and affect people of all backgrounds. They can involve alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens, inhalants, or other substances.

American Indian/Alaska Native

In 2024, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults ages 21 and over were 3% more likely than all U.S. adults over 21 to have binged alcohol in the past month. In 2024, AI/AN adults were 9% more likely than U.S. adults overall to have ever used an illicit drug. In 2024, AI/AN adults were more than 3 times as likely to receive substance use treatment in the past year as U.S. adults overall. In 2024, AI/AN youth ages 12 to 17 were 19% more likely than people from that age group overall to have participated in an alcohol, tobacco, or drug prevention program outside of school in the past year. In 2024, AI/AN adults were 37% more likely than U.S. adults overall to have substance use disorder together with mental illness. In 2022, AI/AN people were twice as likely to die from a drug overdose and more than 5 times as likely to die of an alcohol-induced death than the U.S. population overall.

For additional data on substance use and American Indians/Alaska Natives, please visit our Population Profiles.

Asian American

In 2024, Asian American adults ages 21 and over were 46% less likely than all U.S. adults over 21 to have binged alcohol in the past month. In 2024, Asian American adults were 49% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have ever used an illicit drug. In 2024, Asian American adults were 75% less likely to receive substance use treatment in the past year than U.S. adults overall. In 2024, Asian American youth ages 12 to 17 were 13% less likely than people from that age group overall to have participated in an alcohol, tobacco, or drug prevention program outside of school in the past year. In 2024, Asian American adults were 58% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have substance use disorder together with mental illness. In 2022, Asian Americans were 84% less likely to die from a drug overdose than the U.S. population overall.

For additional data on substance use and Asian Americans, please visit our Population Profiles.

Black/African American

In 2024, Black/African American adults ages 21 and over were 4% more likely than all U.S. adults over 21 to have binged alcohol in the past month. In 2024, Black/African American adults were 7% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have ever used an illicit drug. In 2024, Black/African American adults were 11% more likely to receive substance use treatment in the past year than U.S. adults overall. In 2024, Black/African American youth ages 12 to 17 were 14% more likely than people from that age group overall to have participated in an alcohol, tobacco, or drug prevention program outside of school in the past year. In 2024, Black/African American adults were 11% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have substance use disorder together with mental illness. In 2022, Black/African Americans were 46% more likely to die from a drug overdose than the U.S. population overall.

For additional data on substance use and Black/African Americans, please visit our Population Profiles.

Hispanic/Latino

In 2024, Hispanic/Latino adults ages 21 and over were 17% more likely than all U.S. adults over 21 to have binged alcohol in the past month. In 2024, Hispanic/Latino adults were 18% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have ever used an illicit drug. In 2024, Hispanic/Latino adults were 17% less likely to receive substance use treatment in the past year than U.S. adults overall. In 2024, Hispanic/Latino youth ages 12 to 17 were 6% more likely than people from that age group overall to have participated in an alcohol, tobacco, or drug prevention program outside of school in the past year. In 2024, Hispanic/Latino adults were 5% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have substance use disorder together with mental illness. In 2022, Hispanics/Latinos were 30% less likely to die from a drug overdose than the U.S. population overall.

For additional data on substance use and Hispanics/Latinos, please visit our Population Profiles.

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

In 2024, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI) adults ages 21 and over were 31% less likely than all U.S. adults over 21 to have binged alcohol in the past month. In 2024, NHPI adults were half as likely as U.S. adults overall to have ever used cocaine. In 2024, NHPI adults were 28% less likely to receive substance use treatment in the past year than U.S. adults overall. In 2024, NHPI youth ages 12 to 17 were 48% less likely than people from that age group overall to have participated in an alcohol, tobacco, or drug prevention program outside of school in the past year. In 2024, NHPI adults were 75% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have substance use disorder together with mental illness. In 2022, NHPI people were 42% less likely to die from a drug overdose than the U.S. population overall.

For additional data on substance use and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, please visit our Population Profiles.