Substance Abuse in WV

Substance abuse is arguably the most pervasive problem facing WV and the nation. It is a complex problem that crosses age, gender, economic, social and cultural boundaries.

Reports

Alcohol

  • Although WV’s population decreased between 1995 and 2005, alcohol sales in the state increased by 9%. Annual alcohol sales exceed 44 million gallons per year—about 30 gallons of alcoholic beverage each year for every West Virginian age 14 and older. (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, 2007).

  • Nearly 300,000 West Virginians age 18 and up reported binge drinking (having five or more drinks in a row) over the past month (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2005/2006).

  • More than 70,000 underage youth in West Virginia drink each year.

  • Underage drinkers in WV consumed about 21% of all alcohol sold in the state.

  • 42% of high school students report having a drink on one or more occasions in the past 30 days.

  • 29% of high school students report binge drinking (5 or more drinks in a row) in the past 30 days.

Tobacco

  • WV has the third highest smoking rate (26.7%) in the U.S. (WV DTP).

  • WV has the highest spit tobacco use rate among men (15.9%) (WV DTP).

  • One-fourth (25.3%) of high school students smoke (WV DTP).

  • More than 100,000 kids are exposed to second-hand smoke at home each year (WV DTP).

  • Approximately 4,000 adults die each year in WV due to smoking (WV DTP).

Prescription Drugs

  • In 2005-2006, WV exceeded the national rate on self-reported “Nonmedical Use of Pain Relievers in the Past Year” in all age groups, especially 18 to 25 year olds (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2008).

  • Nationally in 2007, nearly 90% of nonmedical users of prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs reported getting the most recently used drug from a friend or relative for free, bought them from a friend or relative, stole them from a friend or relative, or got them from just one doctor (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2008).

  • Between 1999 and 2004, WV had a 550% increase in unintentional poisoning deaths—more than double that of any other state (Center for Disease Control Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2007).

  • Of unintentional poisoning deaths from 2001 through 2006, about 97% involved drugs or alcohol rather than other noxious substances (Aron J. Hall, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008).

  • Of 295 fatal overdoses in West Virginia in 2006, prescription pain medication contributed to 93.2% of those deaths (Hall et al. Journal of the American Medical Association, 2008).

Illegal Drugs

  • Illegal drug use in WV is generally below national averages. In 2005-2006, however, WV exceeded national rates on self-reported “Illicit Drug Use Other Than Marijuana.“ This was especially true for cocaine among youth age 12 to 17 and for 18 to 25 year olds. (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2008)

  • Between 2003 and 2006, the number of West Virginians in treatment for alcohol and drug addiction increased by 50%. The number in treatment for cocaine increased by 80%. (Drug and Alcohol Services Information System, 2008)