How many people have problems with drug addiction in Florida? The State of Florida collects information about substance use and uses it to identify trends. This helps to provide programs and services to those who are at risk.
Overall Substance Use Patterns in Florida
According to the Model-Based Prevalence Estimates from the 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the overall percentage of people age 12 and older who reported using illicit drugs in Florida was estimated at 13.27%. These estimates were broken down into age groups as follows:
- Age 12 – 17: 6.63%
- Age 18 – 25: 24.83%
- Age 26 and over: 12.41%
The number of people age 12 and older who reported having a substance use disorder was estimated at 14.73%, with percentages for types of substance abuse listed here:
- Alcohol Use Disorder: 9.25%
- Drug Use Disorder (including illicit and prescription drugs): 7.64%
- Pain Reliever Use Disorder: 1.75%
- Opioid Use Disorder: 1.81%
These statistics show that drug use in Florida is most prevalent among adults age 18 to 25. Alcohol is used slightly more often than drugs.
Overdose Patterns in Florida
The Florida Department of Health collects annual statistics for drug addiction in Florida, including those related to overdoses and deaths. For the year 2022, the most recent year with available statistics, the department reports the following regarding overdose patterns:
- Number of EMS responses to overdose reports: 105,490
- Number of doses of Naloxone administered: 51, 752
- Number of fatal overdoses: 7.769
The 2022 annual age-adjusted death rate for drug overdoses was 35.9 per 100,000 people. Of these, 29.0 were opioid-related overdoses.
Additional statistics are available for the number of emergency department visits for non-fatal overdoses in Florida for the year 2023:
- All drugs: 10,186
- Opioids: 3,902
- Heroin: 507
- Stimulants: 462
Similar numbers are reports for non-fatal overdose hospitalizations for 2023:
- All drugs: 7,012
- Opioids: 1,969
- Heroin: 154
- Stimulants: 875
As shown by these numbers, substance use, and substance overdoses continue to be a problem in Florida.
Treatment for Drug Addiction in Florida
The 2021-2022 NSDUH also shows statistics on people age 12 and over who reported needing treatment for substance use in Florida as a percentage of the total number of people who reported substance use:
- Percentage of people classified as needing substance use treatment: 16.86%
- Percentage of people classified as needing substance use treatment who did not receive treatment: 74.59%
While many of the reasons why people do not seek out treatment for drug addiction in Florida are well known, such as financial barriers and a lack of social support, a study reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse sheds light on the reasons why physicians are reluctant to provide treatment for drug addiction. This study focused on the barriers that physicians report from the perspective of the facility and the healthcare staff available to provide treatment. The top reasons for this reluctance to provide intervention for drug addiction were reported as follows:
- Institutional environment: 81%—this included a lack of support from the doctor’s facility or employer, a lack of staff and staff training, and the overall culture of the practice.
- Insufficient skill in managing drug addiction – 74%
- A lack of the cognitive capacity (on the part of the patient) to manage a certain level of care – 74%
- Inadequate knowledge of treatment methods for drug addiction – 72%
- Negative beliefs about public and social perceptions of treatment for drug addiction – 66%
- Fear of harming the patient-physician relationship – 56%
Barriers to treatment for drug addiction in Florida are not limited to those on the part of people who need treatment but also involve barriers for doctors and other health care providers as well.
Where to Find Treatment for Drug Addiction in Florida
These statistics for drug addiction in Florida emphasize the size of the substance abuse problem in the state, as well as the fact that many people who need treatment for drug addiction continue to fall through the cracks and not get the care they need. Caring family and friends can help reduce this disparity by encouraging their loved ones to seek help, even if barriers exist.
Premiere Addiction Recovery is one of the top drug rehab programs in the state of Florida. As soon as you contact our Central Florida treatment center, our helpful admissions team walks the person needing treatment through the initial assessment, any insurance issues, and how to get to the facility. We will answer any questions and reduce barriers to treatment as best as possible, making the person’s transition to treatment smooth. If you know someone who needs substance abuse treatment and isn’t getting it, don’t let them be a statistic. Call Premiere Addiction Recovery at (321) 386-2510.