Study: Nebraska No. 7 least impacted by current drug epidemic

News Release

A new study shows Nebraska is the No. 7 Least state impacted by the current drug epidemic in America. 

The effects of drugs on American society in 2020 is widespread: 500,000 people are incarcerated, more than 700,000 have overdosed since 1999, and addiction costs our economy $250 billion annually.US Drug Test Centers today released a study, Impact of Drugs Across America using the latest data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FBI.

The rankings were determined by comparing data for all states in four areas: illicit drug use, drug overdose deaths, substance use disorder and arrests for drug offenses.

Here are key findings in Nebraska:

·         No. 6 least-affected state taking all categories into account.

·         No. 1 lowest rate of illicit drug use, 7.8%.

·         No. 22 lowest rate in drug overdose deaths, 17.4 per 100,000 people.

·         No. 2 lowest rate of substance use disorder, 6.42%.

·         No. 46 lowest drug-related arrest rate, 732.4a per 100,000 people.           

Here are key national findings:

·         Top 10 Least Impacted States: Kansas, Texas, Mississippi, Hawaii, Maryland, Utah, Nebraska, Wyoming, Oregon and Washington.

·         Top 10 Most Impacted States: New Hampshire, West Virginia, Maine, Colorado, District of Columbia, Vermont, North Dakota, Indiana, Connecticut and Louisiana.