Revised December 2012 A major source of information on sub-
stance use, abuse, and dependence among Americans aged 12 and
older is the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health
(NSDUH) conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration. Following are facts and statistics on
substance use in America from 2011, the most recent year for
which NSDUH survey data have been analyzed. Illicit Drug Use
Illicit drug use in America has been increasing. In 2011, an
estimated 22.5 million Americans aged 12 or older—or 8.7 percent
of the population—had used an illicit drug or abused a
psychotherapeutic medication (such as a pain reliever,
stimulant, or tranquilizer) in the past month. This is up from
8.3 percent in 2002. The increase mostly reflects a recent rise
in the use of marijuana, the most commonly used illicit drug.
Marijuana use has increased since 2007. In 2011, there were 18.1
million current (past-month) users—about 7.0 percent of people
aged 12 or older—up from 14.4 million (5.8 perc