Cocaine Statistics

Cocaine is one of the most deadly and addictive substances in the world. Learn more about cocaine abuse statistics.

Cocaineis a stimulant made from the leaves of the South American coca plant and is considered one of the most addictive substances in the world. In 2016, nearly2 millionindividuals ages 12 and older reported cocaine use in the United States.Cocaine facts and statisticssuggest that cocaine use differs by age, ethnicity, gender and employment status, among other factors. Since 2013, cocaine use has been on the rise in the United States, partly due to its accessibility in major cities and how easily it is obtained by individuals.

Cocaine Statistics by Age

According to a 2018Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)study based on data from 2016, approximately 1.9% of teenagers ages 12 to 17 reported cocaine use. In contrast, the next two chronological age groups represent the highest rates of cocaine use. Young adults ages 18 to 25 reported cocaine use at 5.6% followed by adults ages 26 to 34 at 3.8%.These results indicate that age is a large factor in cocaine use.

Perhaps younger generations now receive better education regarding the dangers of cocaine use, or maybe cocaine use spikes due to the stresses of college and entering the workforce. Additionally, thehigh cost of cocaineis generally prohibitive for younger teens relative to other drugs like marijuana, alcohol or tobacco.

Cocaine Statistics in Adults

Cocaine use typically begins in early adulthood and declines thereafter. Cocaine use also varies by geographical location in the United States, with higher use reported in the northeast and in several western states. The 2014-2015National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)found that the states with the highest cocaine use in young adults ages 18-25 were: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont.

One reason for higher rates of cocaine use in young adults and adults aged 26 and older is due to supply and demand. Since 2013, the world’s largest supplier of cocaine,Colombia, has increased its supply by more than double, making it much easier for individuals to obtain. Some other interesting statistics oncocaine use in adultsinclude:

• Young adults ages18 to 25were the heaviest cocaine users in 2016 and 2017
• In individuals aged18 and older, lifetime cocaine use was reported in more men than women in 2016 and 2017
• In2017, approximately 1.3% of females and 2.6% of males reported using cocaine in the past month when the study was conducted

Cocaine Statistics in Teens

According to the CDC report (2018), cocaine use in teens was highest in individuals ages 16-17 at3.6%.Possible risk factors includepeer pressureand other life stresses that may initially influence use in this age group. Otherteen-related cocaine use statisticsfrom the 2017 NSDUH report include:

• 0.5%of teenagers ages 12 to 17 reported cocaine use in the past year (2016)
• 0.1%of teenagers ages 12 to 17 reported using cocaine usein the past monthwhen the study was conducted (2016)
• Cocaine use in an individual’s lifetime was near0.8%for teenagers ages 12 to 17 in this study (2016)

Cocaine Statistics in Seniors

Although cocaine use typically declines bylate adulthood(ages 35 and older), there is a staggering incidence of cocaine use in older adults. InNSDUHreports from 2007 to 2014, older adults were asked about their cocaine use in the past month from when the surveys were conducted. Approximately 4,300 older adults reported using cocaine on an average day in the past month during these years. Other interestingcocaine use statistics in seniorsinclude:

• A study from2009determined that cocaine use in seniors aged 50 and older was near 2.3%
• In the same study,13%of cocaine users with a lifetime history reported currently using cocaine at the time the study was conducted
• Elderly individuals who are dependent on cocaine or other substances have on averageshorter lifespansthan their non-dependent counterparts
• According to the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) conducted in 2012, in adults ages 65 and older, 2 out of 14,230 total admissions tosubstance abuse treatment programswere due tococaine use
• In 2011, the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) found that there were 13emergency department visitsdue tococaine misuseon an average day in seniors ages 65 and older

Cocaine Statistics by Gender

While cocaine use occurs in both genders, males disproportionately use cocaine over females. According to the 2018 CDC report, approximately2.5%of adult males and1.3%of adult females report cocaine use. Othercocaine use statistics by genderinclude:

• Starting at age 18 and older,more males than females reportedcocaine use in their lifetime, in the past year, and in the past month when these studies were conducted (2015 and 2016)
• From 2016-2017, adult males ages26 and olderreported slightly higher rates of cocaine use, whereas adult females reported similar rates of cocaine use for both years.
• Females may bemore sensitiveto the physiological effects of cocaine use than males
• Females may bemore protectedfrom the negative effects of cocaine use on the brain than males

Cocaine Statistics in Pre-Pubescents

The2016 NSDUHreport surveyed middle school and high-school aged students about the use of cocaine in their lifetime, the past year (2015) and the past month that the survey was conducted. This study found that middle school and high schoolers reported significantly lower levels of cocaine use than their adult counterparts. Some statistics on cocaine use inmiddle and high schoolstudents include:

• Lifetime cocaine use was reported at1.4%in 8th grade students
• Lifetime cocaine use was reported at2.6%in 10th grade students
• Lifetime cocaine use was reported at3.9%in 12th grade students

Additionally, there are several risk factors that predispose adolescents to use cocaine. Risk factors can be subdivided byfamily, individual and miscellaneous risk factors. Some of these include:

• Lack of parental supervision
• Lack of family communication
• Parental cocaine use
• History of early childhood aggression
• Childhood physical, sexual, mental or emotional abuse
• Lower socioeconomic status and education levels
• Ease of obtaining cocaine

Cocaine Statistics by Ethnicity

Cocaine is used mostly by Caucasian Americans relative to other ethnicities in the United States. However, the United States is a predominantly Caucasian country (76.6%of the 2018 population). When normalized to the number of individuals in an ethnic population, rates of cocaine use are similar among different ethnicities. In 2017, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)reported ratesof cocaine use in the following populations:

• Caucasian Americans – 3.9 million users (~2.0%of Caucasian Americans use cocaine)
• Hispanic Americans – 1 million users (~1.7%of Hispanic Americans use cocaine)
• African Americans – 657,000 users (~1.5%of African Americans use cocaine)
• Two or more ethnic backgrounds – 190,000 users (~2.2%of individuals with two or more ethnic backgrounds use cocaine)
• Native American/Alaska Natives – 52,000 users (~1.2%of Native Americans/Alaska Natives use cocaine)
• Asian Americans – 140,000 users (~0.7%of Asian Americans use cocaine)

Cocaine Statistics by Education Level

Education level is also a factor in cocaine use. A study conducted in 2007found a correlationbetween cocaine use and education level. The authors determined that individuals with less education had decreased access to information about the dangers of cocaine use than those who received more education. Additional statistics from the2017 SAMHSA report, regardingcocaine use by education levelinclude:

• The highest use of cocaine in thepast year(2015) was among individuals who attended college
• In adults ages26 and older, cocaine use was highest in individuals who had at least some college or an associate’s degree

Cocaine Statistics by Employment Status

Since cocaine is a stimulant, users may experience cognitive difficulties in work-related tasks and have trouble maintaining employment status. In astudyconducted in 2013, 112 patients were monitored over a period of 25 weeks for cocaine cravings. The results showed that individuals’ cocaine cravings were higher Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, during typical business hours. This study suggests that cocaine use was suppressed during business hours, despite cravings. Other interesting statistics aboutcocaine use by employment statusinclude:

• In 2016 or 2017, cocaine use in thepast monthwhen the survey was conducted, was highest in individuals who wereemployedfull-time
• In 2016 and 2017, cocaine use in thepast yearwas highest inunemployedadults aged 26 and older

Driving Under the Influence of Cocaine Statistics

Like other stimulants, cocaine use can impair an individual’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), using cocaine while driving can make an individual more prone to aggression and recklessness. In2007, the percentage of fatally injured drivers that tested positive for drugs was at 25% and has increased to 42% by 2016. More startling statistics ondriving under the influence of cocaineinclude:

• In 2017, approximately31%of drug enforcement evaluations were due to stimulant use including cocaine, while driving
• In the same study,37%of drug enforcement evaluations were due to the use of multiple drugs including cocaine, while driving
• Usingcocaine simultaneouslywith another drug can amplify the effects of each drug while driving

Cocaine Overdose Statistics

Hospitalization and deaths due to cocaine use have been on the rise since 2017, and may be attributed tohow easilyan individual can obtain cocaine. Since cocaine is an illegal drug, it may be mixed with other substances that are extremely dangerous unbeknownst to the individual using cocaine. When adjusting for age, the rates ofcocaine-related deaths increased by52.4%from 2015 to 2016. Morestartling cocaine overdosestatistics include:

• Age-adjusted overdose deaths involving cocaine went from 4.7% to 6.2% inmalesfrom 2016 to 2017.
• Age-adjusted overdose deaths involving cocaine went from 1.8 to 2.5% infemalesfrom 2016 to 2017
• The incidence of cocaine overdosesare estimated at25 Caucasians, 17.1 African and 9.5 Hispanic Americans per 100,000 cases (standardized to the United States population)
• According to the2018 CDC report, approximately 9.2% of adults ages 35 to 44 and 13.2% of adults ages 45 to 54 received hospitalization for cocaine poisoning in 2015.

Rates of Cocaine Relapse

TheNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)reports that the overall relapse rates for substance use disorders range from 40 to 60%. It is common for previous cocaine users to relapse within the first year of recovery, particularly if users receive no medical treatment or support. In order toprevent cocaine relapse, individuals should focus on:

• Maintaining healthy support systems
• Continuing therapy
• Avoid situations involving cocaine use

Statistics on Cocaine Treatment and Recovery

According to theNIDA, typical treatment for cocaine use consists ofcognitive behavioral therapyand social programs. Participation in religious organizations, social events and recovery-based 12 step programs can be effective measures for maintaining long-term sobriety.The Recovery Village ®offers various types ofcocaine treatmentincluding:

• Inpatient rehab
• Outpatient rehab
• Group therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Treatment for co-occurring disorders

If you or a loved one struggle with a cocaine addiction,The Recovery Village ®can help. Call today to speak to arepresentativeabout individualized treatment programs for a cocaine addiction and any co-occurring mental health disorders.