Statistical Data on Drugs in Massachusetts
Massachusetts faces significant challenges with substance abuse, particularly with opioids and stimulants. The state has consistently ranked above national averages in several drug-use categories, though recent data shows some improvement in certain areas. Here’s a detailed statistical breakdown based on the provided data:
Overall Drug Use and Overdose Death Trends
- 12.12% of residents reported past-month illicit drug use (national average: 8.82%)
- 4.24% report using illicit drugs other than marijuana (national average: 3.6%)
- Drug overdose death rates increased from 12.7 per 100,000 in 2011 to 36.8 per 100,000 in 2021
- 25% of residents have lost a loved one to opioid overdose
- 70% of residents consider the opioid crisis one of the state’s most serious problems
Massachusetts faces a significant drug problem, evidenced by illicit drug use rates exceeding national averages and a devastating opioid crisis. The high rate of overdose deaths and widespread personal impact underscores the severity of the situation.
Stimulant-Related Trends
- Deaths increased from 0.3% (188) in 2000 to 2.2% (1,411) in 2021
- 82% of stimulant-related deaths also included opioids (2019-2021)
- Highest EMS runs: 902 (May 2021)
- Peak ED visits: 183 (June 2020)
Stimulant-related deaths have dramatically increased, often in conjunction with opioid use, highlighting a growing and complex substance abuse crisis.
Opioid-Related Deaths (2023-2024)
- 2023 Total Deaths: 2,125 (10% decrease from 2022)
- Q1 2024 Preliminary: 507 deaths (9% decrease from Q1 2023)
- Demographics (2023): 72% male (1,513 deaths) and 28% female (591 deaths)
2023 decline represents the largest single-year decrease since 2009-2010, suggesting that recent intervention strategies may be having a positive impact.
Age Distribution of Opioid Deaths (2023)
| Age Group | Deaths | % of Total |
| <15 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 15-24 | 64 | 3.0% |
| 25-34 | 388 | 18.4% |
| 35-44 | 605 | 28.8% |
| 45-54 | 483 | 22.9% |
| 55-64 | 425 | 20.2% |
| 65+ | 135 | 6.4% |
| Unknown | 2 | 0.1% |
The data shows that adults aged 25-44 account for nearly half of all opioid-related deaths, indicating a critical need for intervention in this age group.
Toxicology Findings in Opioid Deaths (2023)
- Fentanyl: 90%
- Cocaine: 54%
- Alcohol: 26%
- Benzodiazepines: 25%
- Amphetamines: 11%
- Prescription opioids: 7%
- Heroin: 5%
- Xylazine: 9% (up from 5% in 2022)
The high presence of fentanyl in deaths indicates it remains the primary driver of the opioid crisis, while the rising presence of xylazine presents a new concern.
Deaths by County 2023 vs 2022
| County | 2023 | 2022 | % Change |
| Suffolk | 330 | 304 | +8.6% |
| Essex | 217 | 277 | -21.7% |
| Middlesex | 301 | 380 | -20.8% |
| Worcester | 278 | 331 | -16.0% |
| Bristol | 261 | 276 | -5.4% |
| Hampden | 231 | 230 | +0.4% |
| Plymouth | 154 | 190 | -18.9% |
| Norfolk | 165 | 160 | +3.1% |
| Barnstable | 72 | 87 | -17.2% |
| Berkshire | 48 | 47 | +2.1% |
| Franklin | 28 | 26 | +7.7% |
| Hampshire | 29 | 37 | -21.6% |
| Dukes | 6 | 6 | 0.0% |
| Nantucket | 4 | 2 | +100.0% |
Overall, deaths decreased in most counties, with Essex, Middlesex, and Worcester experiencing the most significant declines. However, Suffolk County saw a notable increase in deaths.
Youth and Young Adult Statistics
Youth Drug Use (Ages 12-17)
- 11.11% reported using drugs in past month
- 86.79% of users reported marijuana use
- 0.42% reported cocaine use
- 0.21% reported methamphetamine use
- 0.10% reported heroin use
- 1.89% reported pain reliever misuse
- 10.90% reported alcohol use
Young Adults Drug Use (18-25)
- 46.2% past-year marijuana use
- 5.8% marijuana use disorder
- 1.2% opioid use disorder
- 8.3% illicit drug use disorder
- 19.0% substance use disorder
Marijuana dominates youth and young adult drug use, while harder drug use remains relatively low but present.
Treatment Statistics
- Active substance abuse clinics: 487
- Annual patients treated: 66,912
- Outpatient services: 62,250
- Residential treatment: 3,431
- Hospital-based: 1,231
- Free treatment facilities: 16
Average Treatment Costs
| Type | Cost per Individual |
| Residential | $56,725 |
| Outpatient | $1,703 |
The significant cost difference between residential and outpatient treatment may impact accessibility to intensive care options.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
- Methadone: 19,830 people (increased from 17,633 in 2015)
- Buprenorphine: 11,316 people (increased from 4,113 in 2015)
The increased use of both methadone and buprenorphine indicates a growing reliance on medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.
Criminal Justice Statistics (2021)
- DUI arrests: 7,486 (43% increase from 2020)
- Drug/narcotic violations: 10,057 (13% increase from 2020)
- Drug seizures: 12,421 (15% increase from 2020)
The substantial increases in DUI arrests, drug/narcotic violations, and drug seizures suggest a heightened focus on drug-related law enforcement.
Substance Abuse Prevention Data
Current Investments
- $597.2 million allocated for recovery and prevention programs (FY23)
- 210,000 naloxone kits distributed since March 2020
- 504,000 fentanyl test strip kits distributed
Additional Funding
- $1.7 million for naloxone access
- $3 million for opioid use disorder medications
- $5 million for low-threshold housing
- $2.9 million for BIPOC-led organizations
Prescription Monitoring (Q1 2024)
- Total Schedule II Opioid Prescriptions: 432,462
- Individuals receiving prescriptions: 200,333 (2.8% of the population)
- The average rate of individuals with concerning activity: 0.8 per 1,000
The relatively low percentage of prescription recipients suggests tighter controls on opioid prescriptions, though monitoring for concerning patterns remains important.
This statistical overview shows that while Massachusetts continues to face significant substance abuse challenges, there are some positive trends, particularly in the reduction of opioid-related deaths. However, the high presence of fentanyl and emerging threats like xylazine indicate ongoing challenges that require continued attention and intervention.
Statistical Data on Alcohol in Massachusetts
Massachusetts faces significant challenges with alcohol use, though it performs better than the national average in some metrics. The state shows concerning trends in binge drinking, particularly among young adults, while maintaining relatively lower rates of underage alcohol-related deaths compared to other states.
Annual Death Statistics
Total alcohol-related deaths: 2,760 per year
Breakdown by demographic:
- 68.4% male
- 84.4% aged 35 and older
- 1.88% under age 21
Primary Causes
- Alcohol poisoning: 641 deaths
- Alcoholic liver disease: 350 deaths
- Alcohol-related cancers: 294 deaths
- Liver cirrhosis: 211 deaths
The majority of alcohol-related deaths occur among older adult males, with chronic conditions being the primary cause (59.3% of deaths).
General Alcohol Use Statistics in Massachusetts
- Adult alcohol use (past 30 days): 55.92%
- Adult binge drinking rate: 21.1% (compared to the national rate of 16.2%)
- Excessive drinking rate: 18.1% (ranks 36th among states)
- Median drinks per binge: 5.4 drinks
- Median binge frequency: 1.5 times monthly
- Top 25% heaviest drinkers: consume 7.0 drinks per binge; binge 3.6 times per month
Massachusetts shows higher rates of binge drinking compared to national averages. This suggests a significant public health concern, despite the state's population reporting generally good overall health.
Young Adult and Underage Statistics (2017-2019)
- Past-month alcohol use (ages 12-17): 13.6% (65,000 youth)
- Past-month binge drinking (ages 18-25): 45.9% (362,000 young adults)
- Alcohol Use Disorder (ages 18-25): 13.9% (110,000 young adults)
Massachusetts shows higher rates than the national average in all youth and young adult categories, particularly concerning the high rate of binge drinking among young adults.
Economic Impact
- Total cost to the state (2010): $5.635 billion ($7.607 billion in 2022 dollars)
- Cost per drink (2022): $2.61
- Underage drinking cost (2010): $1.4 billion, where the cost per underage youth is $2,193/year and the cost per underage drink is $3.17
Underage Drinking Costs Breakdown (2010)
| Category | Cost (millions) |
| Youth Violence | $959.7 |
| Traffic Crashes | $140.7 |
| High-Risk Sex | $89.7 |
| Property Crime | $85.4 |
| Youth Injury | $37.5 |
| Poisoning/Psychoses | $18.2 |
| FAS (Mothers 15-20) | $20.2 |
| Alcohol Treatment | $63.1 |
| Total | $1,414.5 |
The economic burden of alcohol use is substantial, with youth violence representing the largest cost component of underage drinking. The inflation-adjusted costs show a significant increase over time, while alcohol taxes have decreased in real value by 72% since their last adjustment.
This comprehensive data indicates that while Massachusetts has some strengths in managing alcohol-related issues, particularly regarding underage drinking deaths, it faces significant challenges with binge drinking among young adults and bears substantial economic costs from alcohol-related problems.
In general, Massachusetts struggles with substance abuse, with rates of illicit drug use and binge drinking exceeding national averages. Despite recent progress in reducing opioid deaths, the crisis persists, exacerbated by the prevalence of fentanyl and the particular vulnerability of young adults to both drug and alcohol misuse. The state is making considerable investments in drug recovery and prevention, yet the economic burden of substance abuse remains significant.
Sources:
- Drug Abuse Statistics
- Stimulant-Related Data Among Massachusetts Residents
- Data Brief: Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths among Massachusetts Residents | Mass.gov
- Number of Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths, All Intents by County, MA Residents: 2013-2023
- Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths, All Intents, MA Residents – Demographic Data Highlights
- MASSACHUSETTS DRUG CONTROL UPDATE Drug Use Trends in Massachusetts Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Data
- Substance Use Statistics and Treatment in Massachusetts | AdCare
- Mental Health and Substance Use State Fact Sheets: Massachusetts | KFF
- The Economics of Drug Use in Massachusetts
- DPH report: Massachusetts opioid-related overdose deaths decreased 10 percent in 2023 | Mass.gov
- Behavioral Health Barometer: Massachusetts, Volume 6
- Explore Excessive Drinking in Massachusetts | AHR
- Alcohol Causes 1 in 20 Deaths in Massachusetts | SPH
- Underage Drinking in Massachusetts
- Alcoholism Statistics in Massachusetts | Evoke Wellness at Cohasset
- Alcohol Statistics in Massachusetts