DOJ Reports Increase in Use of Illegal Drugs

The percentage of the U.S. population aged 12 or older who use illegal drugs rose from an estimated 8.0% in 2008 to 8.7% in 2009. That is according to the U.S. Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center’s 2011 National Drug Threat Assessment.

According to the study, marijuana use is most prevalent, followed by the non-medical use of controlled prescription drugs. The study found that marijuana use among teens has begun to increase after a decade of slow decline. The study also found that the number of overdose deaths from prescription drugs exceeded the number from cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine deaths combined.

The study estimated that the economic cost of illegal drug use in 2007 was more than $193 billion, including direct and indirect costs related to crime, health care, and lost productivity. The nation’s southwest border remains the primary gateway for transporting illegal drugs into the country, and the overall availability of drugs is increasing.