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Arizona Ranks 8th Nationwide for Overall Drug Use

According to a newly published study by WalletHub, Arizona placed in the top 10 states for drug use. Ranking at 8th, researchers were surprised to see Arizona on the list, considering that it does not place within the top 10 states with the highest populations. In terms of drug use, it placed higher than states such as California and New York per capita.

Teen Drug Use
With teens who have either used a narcotic, or encountered the ability to purchase one on campus, Arizona also ranked in the top 10. Per capita, the state ranks at 18th in fatalities caused by drug overdose.

With consideration of the national opioid epidemic, Arizona placed at 26th in opioid prescriptions per capita. In terms of adults who required, but did not receive drug treatment, Arizona placed at 4th. The state ranked at 24th for drug related arrests per person.


Billions of dollars in taxpayer money has been put toward drug-control attempts. President Trump is the first president in recent history, to not admit to drug use. Thus far, the Trump administration has not laid out a serious plan to tackle drug abuse. Rather than viewing drug abuse as a developed disease, the administration seems to be leaning toward seeing it as a pre-existing condition.

Facing The Opioid Epidemic
Both Arizona, and the nation as a whole, continue to seek solutions to the problem of drug abuse. Due to the nature of the national opioid crisis, many questions have arisen. Whether or not drugs such as Naloxone (opioid blocker) should be more easily obtained, is currently being debated. Also, whether or not federal officials should play a more proactive role, in the addicted individuals process toward drug treatment, is a conversation that is being had. National leaders are also considering whether doctors are to blame, in the recent surge of opioid related deaths.