How many people on average do drugs? Understanding the latest statistics

September 25, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the UNODC's World Drug Report, an estimated 316 million people worldwide used drugs in 2023, representing a notable increase over the past decade. Understanding how many people on average do drugs requires examining the data across different regions, timeframes, and substances to get a complete picture.

Quick Summary

Globally, hundreds of millions use drugs annually, with the UNODC reporting 316 million users in 2023. In the U.S., surveys indicate tens of millions use illicit substances monthly, with trends varying by substance and demographic.

Key Points

Global Use Is Increasing: The UNODC reported that approximately 316 million people worldwide used drugs in 2023, a rising trend driven by population growth and expanding markets.
U.S. Monthly Use: In the U.S., the 2023 NSDUH found that 16.8% of the population aged 12 or older, or 47.7 million people, used an illicit drug in the past month.
Cannabis Is the Most Common: Both global and U.S. data show cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug, with millions reporting recent use.
Young Adults at Highest Risk: Drug use rates are consistently highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 in the U.S., though use is also increasing among older adults.
Overdoses Remain a Major Issue: Despite a slight decrease in synthetic opioid overdose rates in 2023, overdoses remain a significant public health crisis, with rates for cocaine and psychostimulants rising.
Significant Treatment Gap: A major challenge highlighted by reports is that many people with drug use disorders do not receive the treatment they need, indicating a large, unmet need for care.

Understanding the Numbers: A Look at Global and National Data

When answering the question of how many people use drugs, it is important to distinguish between global and national reporting. International bodies like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) collect data on a worldwide scale, while national surveys, such as the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) conducted by SAMHSA in the U.S., provide more specific domestic insights. Both sources measure different timeframes, such as lifetime use versus use within the past year or month, which impacts the final figures.

Global Drug Use: Insights from the UNODC

Key findings from the UNODC's World Drug Report in June 2025 indicated that approximately 316 million people globally used drugs in the past year, marking an increase over the preceding decade. This growth suggests that a larger percentage of the world's population is now using drugs. Cannabis remains the most used drug globally, with an estimated 244 million users in 2023. Opioids were used non-medically by about 61 million people in 2023 and contribute significantly to drug-related harm. Synthetic drug and cocaine markets also saw rapid expansion in 2023.

U.S. Drug Use: A Closer Look at the National Landscape

According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 16.8% of Americans aged 12 or older (47.7 million people) used an illicit drug in the past month. Marijuana was the most used illicit drug, with 61.8 million people (21.8%) aged 12 or older using it in the past year, and 43.6 million in the past month. In 2023, 48.5 million Americans aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder (SUD). More than half of Americans aged 12 or older have used illicit drugs at least once in their lifetime.

Prevalence by Age Group and Gender

Data shows varying drug use rates among different demographics. Young adults aged 18 to 25 typically have the highest rates of past-month illicit drug use (39% in 2023), compared to those aged 26 and older (23.9%). Initiating illicit drug use before age 15 increases the likelihood of developing an SUD. Males generally report higher rates of illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse, although the gender gap is narrowing for some substances in certain regions. Geographically in the U.S., drug use appears slightly more common in larger metropolitan areas.

Understanding the Drug Use Landscape: Key Data Comparison

This table highlights the difference in reporting between a recent UNODC global survey and the 2023 U.S. NSDUH.


Metric	Global (UNODC 2025, 2023 data, age 15-64)	U.S. (NSDUH 2023, past month data, age 12+)
Overall Drug Use	~316 million (past year)	47.7 million (illicit)
Cannabis Users	~244 million (past year)	43.6 million (past month)
Opioid Users	~61 million (non-medical, 2023)	~8.9 million (misuse, 2022 data)

Trends and Public Health Impact

Recent data indicates evolving trends and significant public health consequences. While overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl decreased slightly between 2022 and 2023, they remain a major crisis. Overdose deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants increased during the same period. Rates of drug overdose deaths for adults aged 55 and older have also unfortunately risen. A significant challenge is the treatment gap, with an estimated only one in 12 people with drug use disorders receiving necessary treatment in 2023.

For more comprehensive data and reports, see the UNODC World Drug Report 2025.

Conclusion: The Bigger Picture

While it's impossible to give a single number for how many people on average do drugs, recent data from authoritative sources reveals a landscape of increasing global drug use, particularly with cannabis, synthetic drugs, and cocaine. In the U.S., tens of millions of individuals have used illicit substances in the past month, with prevalence varying significantly by substance, age group, and gender. The overall trend indicates a persistent and evolving public health challenge, emphasizing the critical need for effective prevention, treatment, and harm reduction strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Statistical reports often specify the type and frequency of use. For instance, the U.S. NSDUH defines 'illicit drug use' and reports data for lifetime, past-year, and past-month use. Globally, organizations like the UNODC similarly measure use prevalence over specific timeframes.

Drug use refers to the consumption of illicit substances, while a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a medical condition defined by a pattern of use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. Statistics show a large number of users but a smaller proportion who meet the criteria for an SUD.

Globally, the number of people using drugs is increasing, outpacing population growth. In the U.S., while overall drug use has seen fluctuations, recent reports indicate rising rates for certain substances like cannabis and psychostimulants, particularly in specific age groups.

Around the world, cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance. In the U.S., marijuana is also the top illicit drug, followed by the misuse of prescription medications, cocaine, and methamphetamines.

No, drug use prevalence varies significantly by age. Younger adults, typically aged 18 to 25, consistently show the highest rates of drug use compared to adolescents and older adults. However, some reports indicate an increasing trend among older demographics.

Drug use statistics are estimates because the data is typically collected through self-reported surveys, which can be influenced by underreporting due to the illegal or stigmatized nature of drug use. National and international organizations use rigorous methodologies to create the most accurate picture possible from available data.

National surveys like the NSDUH track both types of substance use by asking specific questions. 'Illicit drug use' includes substances like cannabis, cocaine, and heroin, while 'misuse of prescription drugs' is a separate category focusing on non-medical use of prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives.