ILLICIT DRUG USE

Illicit drug use is a persistent public health concern, which can lead to ill health, socioeconomic ill-being and premature death. Between 2005 and 2017, overall rates of illicit drug use remained relatively stable, with only a slight increase observed over time. Education level plays a significant role, as those with higher education, particularly those who graduated college, report almost no illicit drug use. However, there has been a dramatic rise in illicit drug use in recent years among Americans with the lowest income. Males are consistently more likely than females to use illicit drugs, and married individuals are much less likely to engage in illicit drug use compared to their unmarried counterparts.