Kansas, Missouri found to be among states with highest drug usage
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A recent report found Kansas and Missouri to be among the states with the largest drug usage issues.
With National Prevention Week nearly here and trillions spent on the war on drugs, personal finance website WalletHub.com says it recently released its report on the States with the Biggest Drug Problems. Kansas and Missouri were found among those with the highest drug usage.
“Drug problems can start from multiple sources, like taking illegal substances with friends or getting hooked on a prescription that was originally given for a legitimate medical issue,” said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst. “As states fight drug addiction, they need to consider all angles and make sure they are not just addressing things from a law enforcement perspective but also providing the resources necessary to help people with addictions get clean.”
WalletHub noted that to find which states have the largest drug addictions, experts compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in terms of key metrics that ranged from arrest and overdose rates to opioid prescription use and employee drug testing laws.
The report found that Missouri has the 6th largest drug usage problem. The Show-Me State ranked 19th for drug use and addiction, 4th for law enforcement and 17th for drug health issues and rehab for a total score of 55.93.
Meanwhile, Kansas was found to have the 19th biggest drug issue. The Sunflower State ranked 27th for drug use and addiction, 24th for law enforcement and 14th for drug health issues and rehab for a total score of 45.97.
“New Mexico has the biggest drug problem in the U.S., especially when it comes to teenagers. The state has the highest percentage of teens using illicit drugs, and the highest share of teenagers who report having tried marijuana before age 13,” Happe noted. “New Mexico has the third-highest share of adults who use illicit drugs, as well. In addition, New Mexico has a large number of drug overdose deaths per capita, and that rate is growing faster than in most other states.”
The study found the locations with the largest drug issues are:
- New Mexico
- West Virginia
- Nevada
- Washington, D.C.
- Colorado
Meanwhile, the states with the smallest drug issues were found to be:
- Hawaii
- Utah
- Nebraska
- Florida
- Maryland
However, there is still time to help rectify the issue. Experts agree that state and local authorities could take further measures to fight the opioid epidemic.
“Given where we are in the epidemic, it appears that we may know much more about what does not work than what does at this moment in time. What has been clear is that we cannot arrest our way out of the opioid epidemic,’ said Maryann Mason, Ph.D. “The most promising options we currently have are Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) which are proven effective in treating OUD. However, there are issues with MOUD in terms of access and maintenance.”
Dr. Mason indicated that MOUD has already been integrated into correctional systems, recommended through telehealth, introduced to Emergency Departments, integrated into primary care and special crediting has been eliminated.
“However, there is more work to be done in this area. Another promising area is harm reduction which works with people who use drugs, meeting them where they are to provide safer alternatives for drug use,” Mason concluded. “These include syringe exchanges, naloxone, fentanyl, xylazine, and now benzodiazepine test strip distribution, community outreach, and education on safer use strategies - go slow, never use alone, consider smoking or snorting as alternatives to injection. Drug testing is emerging as a potential strategy, but its efficacy is unknown.”
In 2024, National Prevention Week will take place between May 12 and 18. For more information or to see where other states fall, click HERE.
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