Missouri Drug and Alcohol Statistics

Statistical Data on Drugs in Missouri

Missouri faces significant challenges with substance use disorders, ranking among the states with serious drug problems nationwide. According to available data, Missouri faces a growing substance use crisis with escalating overdose death rates that surpass national averages, indicating an urgent need for enhanced intervention strategies.

Drug Overdose Statistics

• 2,178 overdose deaths in 2022 (2.3% increase from 2021)
• Annual overdose death increase: 4.84% over 3 years
• Overdose death rate: 26.9 per 100,000 (29.95% higher than national average)
• 70-73% of overdose deaths involve opioids

The consistent year-over-year increases in overdose deaths, particularly concentrated in metropolitan areas, suggest both geographic disparities in substance use patterns and potential gaps in prevention and treatment resources.

Demographics of Overdose Deaths (2021 vs 2020)

Demographic	2020	2021	Change
Male	1,273	1,458	15%
Female	605	670	11%
Black	503	545	8%
White	1,349	1,550	15%

Drug overdose deaths increased across all demographic groups from 2020 to 2021, with males experiencing a higher rate of increase (15%) compared to females (11%). Deaths among White individuals increased at a higher rate (15%) than among Black individuals (8%).

St. Louis County Drug-Involved Deaths (2018-2022)

• 449 deaths in 2022 (11% decrease from 2021)
• Rate: 47.2 deaths per 100,000
• Black men dying at 2.5 higher rate than other demographics
• Highest mortality: ages 25-44

While St. Louis County saw its first decrease in drug deaths since 2015, significant racial disparities persist, with Black men facing disproportionate risk and specific ZIP codes bearing the heaviest burden.

Young Adult & College Substance Use

• 18-25 year-olds are 8.16% less likely to use drugs than national average
• 11.8% had substance use disorder (below regional and national averages)
• 29% of college students used cannabis in past year
• 8% report prescription drug use without prescription
• Stimulants (4.9%) most commonly misused prescription drugs among students

College environments present unique substance use challenges, particularly regarding cannabis use and prescription stimulant misuse, suggesting a need for campus-specific prevention and harm reduction strategies.

Youth Substance Use (12-17 years)

• 7.46% report using drugs in the last month (10.39% below national average)
• 77.14% of teen drug users report using marijuana
• 2.77% report pain reliever misuse
• 3.20% meet criteria for illicit drug use disorder

While teen substance use is below national averages, pain reliever misuse among adolescents reflects the broader opioid challenges facing the state and highlights the need for targeted youth prevention programming.

Adult Substance Use

• 15.2% of people aged 12+ used marijuana in the past year
• 3.8% (197,000 individuals) misused prescription pain relievers
• 23,000 had pain reliever use disorder

While marijuana remains the most commonly used illicit substance, prescription pain reliever misuse affects a significant portion of the population, highlighting the need for continued focus on preventing non-medical use of prescribed medications.

Substance-Specific Statistics

• Marijuana: 777,000 of residents used in past year; average first use age: 14.4 years
• Methamphetamine: 45,000 past-year users; 27% of treatment admissions
• Heroin: 14,000 past-year users
• Prescription Pain Relievers: 13,000 adolescents and 177,000 adults misused

The varying patterns of use across substances indicate the need for multifaceted approaches to prevention and treatment rather than one-size-fits-all strategies.

Opioid Epidemic Statistics

• 1,582 opioid overdose deaths in 2021 (73% of all drug overdose deaths)
• Opioid death rate: 19.6 per 100,000 (34.2% above national rate)
• Synthetic opioids involved in 76.7% of opioid deaths
• Fentanyl involved in 67% of all overdose deaths in 2022
• Doctors write prescriptions for 63.4% of residents (national average: 51.4%)

The opioid crisis in Missouri is increasingly driven by synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, while prescription rates remain above national averages, suggesting the need for both improved prescribing practices and enhanced fentanyl detection and intervention efforts.

Methamphetamine Problem

• 37% increase in meth lab seizures (2008-2011)
• 5,088 treatment admissions for amphetamine addiction (2010)

Year	Meth Lab Seizures	Opioid Death Rate (per 100k)
2008	1,510	9.2
2011	2,068	12.2
2016	1,475	15.9
2020	1,210	~32.4 (all drug ODs)

While meth lab seizures have declined since 2011, methamphetamine remains a significant issue as the second most common reason for addiction treatment, with stimulant-involved deaths continuing at high rates.

Marijuana Use Statistics

• 14.3% (742,000 individuals) used marijuana (2021)
• 65% increase in marijuana use since 2002
• 12,052 marijuana addiction treatment admissions (2007)

Marijuana remains the most commonly cited drug for treatment admissions, with use increasing significantly over two decades, while treatment for other substances reflects the diversified nature of Missouri’s drug problem.

Law Enforcement and Social Impact

• 1,251 drug-impaired driving crashes (543 injuries)
• 36,665 arrests for drug possession; 3,033 for manufacturing/sales
• Parental drug use cited in 3,340 child out-of-home placements
• 1,727 student suspensions for drug policy violations

The impacts of substance use extend well beyond individual health outcomes, affecting public safety, family stability, child welfare, and educational systems throughout Missouri.

Treatment Statistics

• 293 treatment facilities serving approximately 20,000 clients annually
• Only 20% of those who fatally overdose had sought treatment
• Average costs: $1,710 for outpatient rehab, $56,782 for residential treatment
• Only 8 facilities offer free treatment for all clients

Despite significant treatment infrastructure, the gap between those needing and receiving treatment remains substantial, with high costs likely serving as a major barrier to access, particularly for intensive residential programs.

Missouri faces substantial challenges with substance use disorders, particularly regarding opioids and synthetic drugs like fentanyl, with overdose death rates continuing to rise above national averages. Despite some promising expansion of evidence-based treatments, significant barriers remain in treatment access and affordability, while regional and racial disparities highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing social determinants of health.

Statistical Data on Alcohol in Missouri

Missouri faces significant challenges related to alcohol consumption across different age groups, with concerning rates of alcohol-related deaths, disorders, and risky behaviors impacting public health and safety throughout the state.

Alcohol-Related Deaths and Consequences

• 2,877 annual deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use
• 6.02 deaths per 10,000 adults from excessive alcohol use
• Death profile: 70.5% male; 52.5% from chronic causes; 3.72% under age 21
• 77,921 years of potential life lost annually
• 134 traffic crash deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers (2019)
• 28% of motor vehicle deaths involved alcohol impairment (2021)

Alcohol-related mortality disproportionately affects males and shows alarming growth, with excessive alcohol death rates increasing up to 50.4% from 2015-2019. The human cost extends beyond immediate deaths to significant years of potential life lost and preventable traffic fatalities.

Alcohol Use Disorder

• Past-year alcohol use disorder (2017-2019): 7.2% (approximately 45,000 young adults)
• Regional average (2017-2019): 10.5%
• National average (2017-2019): 9.8%

Missouri’s young adults show a lower prevalence of alcohol use disorder compared to both regional and national averages. The decreasing trend since the early 2000s suggests effective prevention and intervention efforts for this age group.

General Alcohol Consumption

• 46.4% of Missourians aged 12+ reported past-month alcohol use (2021)
• 17.3% of adults reported excessive drinking
• 18.9% of adults binge drink at least monthly
• Median drinks per binge: 5.5 (general population); 7.7 (heaviest 25% of drinkers)
• Frequent binge drinkers (top 25%) binge 4.8 times monthly

Missouri’s adult drinking rates hover near national averages, but concerning patterns emerge among frequent binge drinkers who consume significantly more alcohol at higher frequencies, representing a high-risk subpopulation requiring targeted interventions.

Youth and Young Adult Alcohol Use

Age Group	Past-Month Alcohol Use	Past-Month Binge Alcohol Use
Ages 12-20 (Underage)	20.0% (142,000)	13.5% (96,000)
Adults 21+	54.6% (2,408,000)	25.5% (1,124,000)

• Past-month alcohol use among ages 12-17 decreased from 19.7% (2003) to 9.2% (2019)
• College students: 73% past-year use; 22% binge drinking (below 38% national average)
• 69% of college students first drank before age 21

While youth drinking shows encouraging downward trends, underage drinking remains prevalent, particularly among 18-20 year-olds. College environments present particular risks, with nearly 1 in 4 students engaging in binge drinking despite rates below national averages.

Geographic Variations

• St. Charles County: 23% excessive drinking (highest in state)
• Camden and Jefferson Counties: 22%
• State average: 20% (above 19% U.S. average)

Excessive drinking varies significantly by location, with several counties exceeding both state and national averages, suggesting the need for locally-tailored prevention and treatment approaches.

Alcohol Use Disorders and Treatment

• 267,000 residents had alcohol use disorders (2019); increased to 10.2% of population (2021)
• Treatment gap: 256,000 needed but didn’t receive specialized treatment (2019)
• 28,000 ER/hospital visits for alcohol disorders (56% of all substance disorder treatments)
• Only 7,680 residents entered state-supported treatment programs (FY 2020)

Missouri faces a substantial treatment gap, with less than 3% of those needing specialized alcohol treatment receiving it through state-supported programs. The dramatic increase in disorder prevalence (from 5.1% to 10.2%) between 2019-2021 signals a worsening crisis requiring expanded treatment capacity.

Social and Economic Impact

The annual cost to taxpayers (2022 adjusted dollars) is $6.215 billion.

• 344 prison admissions for drunk driving (FY 2020)
• 346 juvenile court alcohol referrals
• 382 out-of-home child placements noting parental alcohol use

Alcohol misuse creates substantial economic burden for Missouri taxpayers while straining criminal justice, child welfare, and healthcare systems. The $2.47 per-drink social cost highlights how the economic impact extends far beyond the price of beverages.

Missouri’s alcohol statistics reveal a complex public health challenge with some encouraging trends alongside persistent concerns. While youth drinking has declined, treatment gaps remain substantial, and alcohol-related mortality continues to rise. Targeted interventions for high-risk populations, expanded treatment access, and stronger prevention efforts—particularly in counties with elevated rates—are essential to addressing Missouri’s alcohol-related challenges.

In general, Missouri faces a dual crisis of drug and alcohol misuse, with overdose death rates 29.95% higher than the national average and alcohol-related issues costing $6.2 billion annually. Despite having 293 treatment facilities, only 20% of fatal overdose victims sought treatment before death, revealing a critical treatment access gap that demands urgent attention alongside targeted prevention efforts for high-risk populations and communities.

Sources:

1. Drug Abuse Statistics
2. Missouri Statewide Reports — MIMH Addiction Science
3. 2020 Status Report on Missouri’s Substance Use and Mental Health
4. Mental Health and Substance Use State Fact Sheets: Missouri | KFF
5. Behavioral Health Barometer: Missouri, Volume 6
6. Key Findings from the 2020 Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors
7. Explore Excessive Drinking in Missouri | AHR
8. Map: These Missouri counties are home to the most excessive drinkers, study finds
9. Updated Drug and Alcohol Statistics for Missouri
10. Missouri 2022 State Report – Underage Drinking Prevention and Enforcement
11. Drug-involved Deaths St. Louis County, Missouri, 2018-2022
12. Missouri Drug Abuse Statistics | Recovery Connection