1. Introduction
- In the US, the latest trend of both illicit and legalized substances is ringing alarming bells. Statista research concluded that, at present, California is at the top of the list of consuming alcohol, with an average of 88,586 people.
- According to CDPH, the prevalence represents a spike of increase in several people who started to consume alcohol to an extreme level. From 2015 to 2020, the number has increased to 17.3%. These number shows how people are inclined towards alcohol.
- According to the study conducted by the National Institute of Health, in comparison to 2022, in 2023, the percentage of people consuming alcohol has increased by 51.%, nicotine vaping has reached 23.2%, cannabis 8.3%, and abstaining 62.6%. Moreover, the concerning factor is that the 18 to 25 age group shows the highest number of people with an addiction, with 54.5%.
- When it comes to the reason behind the consumption of substances in California, homelessness is one of the reasons, as 31% of the people who consume drugs or alcohol are homeless.
Don’t you think this is concerning, as the use of drugs and alcohol is continuously growing?
Roll your sleeves and understand the current statistics of California on Drugs and alcohol addiction.
2. Current Statistics on Drug and Alcohol Addiction
– Condition of California
California holds the most significant alcohol market in the US. The drug policy of California has implemented various regulations, and it is illegal for adults below the age of 21 to consume alcohol. But still, despite the laws, the cases of alcohol and drug consumption are continuously increasing.
Not only this, San Fransisco is one the city which has the highest number of cases of substance use. Nearly half of the population has become addicted to either drugs or alcohol. However, a location located 1.5 hours north of San Fransisco called Santa Rosa-Petaluma ranked in first place with Golden State, with 23.2% of adults drinking alcohol excessively.
– Comparison to national averages
However, we got to know that California has become the hub of drugs and alcohol in the US. But when it comes to comparison of California with national averages, in California, only 10.47% of residents reported using illicit drugs, while the national average is 8.82%.
Similarity-
The rate of consuming illicit drugs in California is around 3.3%, while the national average is 3%. Marijuana consumption in the Californian percentage reached 3.53, while the overall US average is 3.33%.
Differences-
When it comes to overall comparison, California might have a slightly higher addiction rate in contrast to the overall average. Such as, the national survey indicated that overall, 9.7% consume alcohol and have a substance use disorder, while in California only, this data reached 9%. Moreover, Californians drink 51% more wine than the national average.
3. Most Commonly Abused Substances
Alcohol
– Prevalence of alcohol use
The prevalence of alcohol abuse in California is a concerning topic. Out of every 12 adults is estimated to consume alcohol, and they have become alcohol dependent, which highlights the widespread nature of alcohol-related problems. Based on the 2023 survey, more than 1.1 million people have received treatment for drug use disorder. On the other side, in 2021, 5.6 million people aged 12 and older are involved in consuming prescription drugs, including pain relievers. This is equivalent to 25% of the overall population.
The rates of binge and chronic drinking, along with drug abuse, are particularly alarming, especially in young adults. In 2023, the authorities of California invested $430 million to treat people with substance use disorder.
– Demographic status of California
Let’s understand the factors based on the several factors-
- Gender- the conducted survey by the California Department of Public Health stated that 20.3% of men and 11.0% of women are consuming substances at high levels.
- Age- the portion of adults aged between 18 and 34 years are estimated to consume substances more than the older age group.
- Socioeconomic status- majorly, lower-income communities have higher rates of substance use disorder, and this is because of stress, inability to access healthcare, lack of knowledge, inability to acquire jobs, and trying to escape from reality.
Opioids
In California, almost 35% of the population consumes any sort of substance three times a week, while 31% consume amphetamines, 3% opioids, and 11% consume cocaine. However, the rate of prescription opioid death has dropped by 30% from 2011. In the northern region of California, the highest number of deaths happened, and this increased to 5.4 per 100,000. After 2006, there is a sudden spike in growth in the use of opioids.
However, since the government increased the penalties for the illicit trafficking of opioids, the opioid crisis took place. And the epidemic also happened because of a combination of the rise of dispended prescriptions. More than 12,000 Californians died due to the overdose of opioids, and this includes the prescribed and late heroin. Between 2019 and 2021, the cases of death doubled, in which fentanyl accounted for 83% of the deaths. Due to the increased cases, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a public safety alert that warned people about the sharp increase in the trafficking of Xylazine and Fentanyl. These combined opioids are becoming a threat to the country.
Not only this, abused prescription drugs are highly purchased by Californians because it is readily available on the streets. Here is the list of commonly used abuse prescription opioids-
- Oxycodone (OxyContin)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Meperidine (Demeral)
The purpose of these is to treat pain. However, people have started to consume them because they prevent the brain from receiving pain messages and produce a feeling of euphoria.
Other substances
- Methamphetamine- it is an odorless crystalline powder which quickly dissolves in water. Once taken, the person experiences a sudden spike of wakefulness, rapid flow of ideas, increased libido, etc. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 150 die every day on average from drug overdose like meth.
- Cocaine- an addictive stimulant made from leaves of the coca plant. In 2022, 10,952 died because of drug overdose per 100,000 people. The ratio is concerning, as more and more people are getting inclined towards drugs.
- Marijuana- a plant-based dry compound that people consume through smoking, eating, drinking, or inhaling. In California, the use has increased by 14%.
Trends of substance in California
Consumption of drugs or alcohol has become common in adults, older people, and youngsters, but over the past years, half of Californians over age 12 have started to consume. This rate has reportedly increased by 20%.
But when it comes to a high-consumed substance, it is an amphetamine, as the emergency cases related to this have increased nearly by 50% since 2018.
4. Demographic Trends
Age and gender
- Drug overdose has become a leading cause of death amongst people age group between 15 to 64.
- 25 to 44 age group people majorly consume opioid and fentanyl-related substances.
- 39% of the age group between 18 and 25 are using drugs, while 34% aged 26 to 29 are inclined towards drugs.
- The male population has a high tendency to abuse drugs. The ratio of men and women using drugs is 22:17.
In the research conducted by CDPH, based on race and ethnicity, most of the people who have died due to substance use in California belong to American Indian/ Alaska Natives, who hold more than 55% of the population. At the same time, Black and White communities have 50% and 30% of the community, respectively. Moreover, based on the addiction center, addiction to substance use is more common in people with low economic status.
Difference in substance abuse pattern-
- Marijuana- 56% of the homeless men in Los Angeles use marijuana.
- Cocaine- the rate of overdose or death due to cocaine is twice as high for men in comparison to women.
- Alcohol- in comparison to women, men drink alcohol twice as much as women.
Apart from that, studies showed that men are more likely to use illicit drugs than women. And because of that, they are more exposed to health issues.
Geographic distribution
Areas in California with the highest addiction rate, which include 21 cities/ zip codes with the worst fatal opioid poisoning:
- Korbel
- Litchfield
- Scotia
- Palermo
- Pine valley
- Hornbrook
- Lodoga
- Point area
- Columbia
- Pala
- Standish
- Millville
- Laytonville
- Smartville
- Carlotta
- Boonville
- Eureka
- Newport Beach
- Sutter creek
- Potter valley
- Bakersfield
Trends in urban and rural areas
- When it comes to opioid users, between 2004 and 2017, people in rural areas consumed higher amounts of drugs. However, since 2017, the average has become equal in rural and urban areas.
- Kern County, a rural area in California, was found to be highly addicted to methamphetamine.
- 5.8% of people consumed smokeless tobacco; in small and large metro areas, the number is 3.5% and 1.9%, respectively.
- In comparison to small and large metro areas where the percentage of marijuana is 22.1 and 22.6, the rural areas are slightly lower with 19%.
Socioeconomic factors
Influence of socioeconomic status on addiction rates
There is a complex relationship between socioeconomic status and economic rates. Here is the breakdown of SES’s influence on addiction:
- Lower socioeconomic status-
- Poverty and unemployment- nearly 13.2% of the population of California comes under the poverty line. Due to the lack of opportunities and being poor, the factors create chronic stress. Not only this, due to employment, most of the people started to drive substances for selling purposes. This also increases the rate of addiction among people.
- Stress and depression- the rate of depression is steadily high among teens in California, and half of the adolescents who are experiencing depressive episodes have not received any sort of treatment. This also leads their path towards addiction to cope with depression.
- Homelessness- living in a disadvantaged neighborhood with a high crime rate and being homeless with lower social cohesion increases the risk of substance use
- Higher socioeconmic status-
- Peer pressure- due to societal pressure, people tend to start drinking, and they don’t even realize that casual drinking becomes their habit. Almost 11% of the population of America admit that, due to peer pressure, they consumed alcohol before they were 18.
- Prescription opioids- due to the easy accessibility of prescribed opioids for pain management and other treatments, the risk of addiction is high.
5. Impact on Public Health and Safety
Impact on physical and mental health
- Based on the KFF analysis of the US Census Bureau, it has been found that 31.7% and 32.3% of Californians and people of the US are facing symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorder because of the consumption of substances.
- ·When it comes to the death rate, it has increased from 10.7 per 100,000 in 2011 to 26.6 per 100,000 in 2021. And these are because of the overdose of substances that lead to severe heart and physical issues.
- In younger people, the suicidal tendency has increased, which has reached 14.1% in 2021. Almost 19.8% of adults are dealing with mental, emotional, and substance abuse problems.
Crime and safety
- Drug-related crime, where methamphetamine trafficking is the major contributor in north California. At the same time, law enforcement officials reported that 90% of burglaries, assaults, and domestic violence have nexus to meth.
- The purchase of legal handguns has increased in California, and most of them have a history of drug-related, marijuana, and violent crimes.
- About 35% of the state prisoners reported using drugs and have committed violent crimes in the past. Out of that, 34% were also involved in consuming alcohol.
6. Efforts to Combat Addiction
State and local initiatives
Here is the list of initiatives proposed by state and local initiatives-
- California Drugs and Substance Abuse Programs and Policies- this includes eight state agencies and 12 legislative communities that are involved in helping people through drug programs and policies.
- California Harm Reduction Initiative- this was established in 2019 and crossed the budget of $15.2 million. This also includes the support of syringe services programs and raising equity and inclusivity.
- Orange County Alcohol and Substance Use services- this offers both residential and outpatient programs to reduce the consumption of substances among people. It also provides detoxification, counseling, treatment, and support group services.
Non-profit organizations initiatives
- She Recovers- this non-profit organization provides support to the community to women who seek recovery from addiction, trauma, and significant life challenges. This includes the program and services, including online meetings, retreats, and coaching programs.
- Faces and voices of recovery- They tirelessly advocate for evidence-based treatment, recovery support services, and policies that support those needing recovery, particularly those with criminal records, fostering a sense of support and understanding.
- National Drugs Dependency and Alcohol Awareness- since 1944, they have been spreading awareness related to drugs and alcohol addiction.
- Shatterproof- this offers tools and resources through helplines, support groups, and comprehensive addiction treatment programs.
7. Prevention and Education
Public awareness campaigns
The government of California started the “Elevate Youth California” campaign, which is a statewide program to support the youth in mental health and prevent them from substance use. Since 2019, the government has supported 78,539 youth and held 41,185 prevention program events, including 296,435 participants.
Statewide opioid prevention and education media program
This program includes ages between 16 to 35. The purpose of the program is to bring awareness among families and communities. This is anticipated from March 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025, and till then, they want to engage local communities to amplify the core message related to opioids.
This program aims to build an emergency room and primary access point for treatment. It offers 24/7 treatment to every community in the state.
This is an easy-to-use online service for substance use disorder facilities. It helps people know about the facilities that offer support to people with an addiction.
It is one of the leading efforts to design a statewide multi-media campaign that targets every individual and family with an emphasis on developing connections to treatments.
Note: In addition, there are programs run by the government and several other organizations that offer support and treatment to people who want to overcome substance use.
Go To: https://californiaopioidresponse.org/projects/current-projects/
School and youth program
UCSF Youth Outpatient Substance Use Program (YoSUP)
It offers addiction-related treatment for youth up to age 25. This is a team-based approach to help through comprehensive care and addiction treatment.
School-Based Health Centers Help Prevent & Treat Substance Use
It is a wellness center that identifies youths using substances and offers them evidence-based services to inform the youth related to health risks involved with substances.
Harm Reduction Strategies
Here are some of the harm reduction strategies-
- Overdose prevention strategies- establishment of overdose prevention sites as well as safe consumption services to protect people from drug overdose deaths.
- Syringe services programs- this includes the needle exchange distribution programs, which reduce the sharing of substance use equipment. This is to protect from the spreading of infectious diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV.
- Outreach and support programs- Conduct outreach programs to foster relationships between people and engage them in health and social services.
Substance use disorder treatment integration- this incorporates approaches including medication-assisted treatment and counseling. This effort is to remove the barriers to accessing treatment.
FAQ’s
Q: What is the most commonly consumed substance in California?
A: Marijuana, prescription painkillers, Hallucinogens, cocaine, LSD, Ecstasy, heroin, etc., are some of the commonly used substances.
Q: What age group is majorly inclined towards substance?
A: The Age group between 18 and 35 is highly inclined to use substances.
Q: What is the prevalence of substance use disorder amongst teenagers?
A: Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are commonly used. Moreover, due to peer pressure, teenagers start to consume alcohol at an early age, which leads to addiction in their adult age.
Q: What are the critical trends of substance use in California?
A: In comparison to urban areas, rural areas are the ones who started to use substances at higher levels. In recent years, drugs have become a commonly used addiction, whereas the opioid crisis contributed to the rise of substance use disorder.
References
https://www.statista.com/statistics/442859/alcohol-consumption-of-all-beverages-in-the-us-by-state