RI Has Highest Percentage of Teenage Drug Users in U.S., According to New Study

RI Has Highest Percentage of Teenage Drug Users in U.S., According to New Study

Rhode Island is ranked among states with the biggest drug problems.

According to a recent study completed by WalletHub, RI has the 11th biggest drug problem in the U.S.

Within the numbers, RI has the highest percentage of teenage drug users in U.S. In addition, Rhode Island is ranked sixth in the country for drug use and addiction.

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“Drug abuse has a long and storied history in the United States, and we’ve been 'at war' with it since 1971 under the Nixon administration. But no matter who is in office, the federal drug budget continues to increase. It’s moved from $23.8 billion in 2013 to over $27.7 billion in 2018,” said WalletHub.

RI’s Rankings

• 6th - Drug Use & Addiction
• 45th - Law Enforcement
• 6th - Drug Health Issues and Rehab
• 1st - Highest % of Teenage Drug Users
• 5th - Highest % of Adult Drug Users
• 46th - Fewest Drug Arrests per Capita

 

The Rankings

Rhode Island is ranked behind Colorado and New Mexico, who rank 9th and 10th respectively.

RI is ranked ahead of Oregon and Nevada, who rank 12th and 13th respectively.

According to WalletHub, the District of Columbia has the biggest drug problem in the country, while Minnesota has the smallest problem.

See the Rankings in the Map Below

 

The Method

In order to determine which states have the biggest drug problems, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia in three overall categories: 1) Drug Use & Addiction, 2) Law Enforcement and 3) Drug Health Issues & Rehab.

Those categories include a total of 22 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights.

Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the biggest drug problem.

WalletHub then determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score.

This total score was the basis for the final ranking.

Drug Use & Addiction – Total Points: 50

• Share of Teenagers Who Used Illicit Drugs in the Past Month: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)
• Share of Teenagers Who Tried Marijuana Before Age 13: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• Share of Teenagers Offered, Sold or Given an Illegal Drug on School Property in the Past Year: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• Share of Adults Who Used Illicit Drugs in the Past Month: Triple Weight (~8.82 Points)
• Share of Children Who Lived with Anyone Who Had a Problem with Alcohol or Drugs: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
• Number of Opioid Pain Reliever Prescriptions per 100 People: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)
• Number of Clandestine Drug Laboratories or Dumpsites: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)
• Overdose Deaths per Capita: Quadruple Weight (~11.76 Points)
• Overdose Deaths Growth (2017 vs 2016): Full Weight (~2.94 Points)

 

Law Enforcement – Total Points: 25

• Drug Arrests per Capita: Half Weight (~2.78 Points)
• Drug Arrests on College Campuses per 1,000 Students: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)
• Prescription Drug Monitoring Laws: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)
• Maternity Drug Policy (Is Substance Abuse During Pregnancy a Crime?): Full Weight (~5.56 Points)
• States with Employee Drug Testing Laws: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)

 

Drug Health Issues & Rehab – Total Points: 25

• Share of Adults Who Couldn’t Get Treatment for Illicit Drug Use in the Past Year: Triple Weight (~6.82 Points)
• Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities per 100,000 People Using Illicit Drugs: Double Weight (~4.55 Points)
• Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services per 100,000 People Using Illicit Drugs: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
• Naloxone Availability without Individual Prescription: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
• Drug Treatment Programs Availability for Pregnant Women: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
• Share of Addiction Treatment Medication Paid by Medicaid: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
• Narcotics Anonymous & Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings Accessibility: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
• Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counsellors per Capita: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)