WalletHub: Cassandra Happe on Substance Issues in States
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/07/23
Cassandra Happe is a WalletHub Analyst. Here we talk about some states most and least affected by drug issues based on a report by WalletHub.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Let us focus on the states in the United States that have been most effective in combating illicit substance use and preventing overdoses. Which two states stand out most prominently?
Happe: Regarding drug use, specifically states that are managing well and have fewer problems, Hawaii stood out in this particular study. To provide context, we examined all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 20 metrics. These metrics can be grouped into three key categories: drug use and addiction, law enforcement, and drug health issues and rehabilitation. Hawaii performed exceptionally well in the drug health issues and rehabilitation category, ranking 49th overall. They excelled particularly in the metric of opioid pain reliever prescriptions per 100 people, where they ranked 51st, indicating a lower prevalence of these prescriptions within the state.
Regarding the state with the second least problem in terms of drug use, that would be Utah. Utah ranked 50th overall in the study and 48th in the drug use and addiction category. They performed particularly well in the metric of youth who have used illicit drugs in the past month, where they ranked 50th. This suggests that fewer teenagers in Utah are experimenting with drugs at a young age, which is significant because youths who start using drugs early often struggle more with addiction in their adult years.
Jacobsen: What challenges further exacerbate these struggles for youth as they enter adulthood?
Happe: One significant factor that exacerbates these issues is the lack of access to necessary resources for individuals trying to overcome addiction. From personal experience, knowing people who have dealt with addiction, I recognize the crucial need for support when combating addiction. For instance, Hawaii ranked 47th overall in the share of adults who could not access treatment for illicit drug use in the past year. This indicates that fewer people in Hawaii struggle to access treatment compared to states like New Mexico, which ranked first in the study for having some of the worst drug issues. New Mexico ranked second in the share of adults unable to access treatment, highlighting a significant problem where many adults in need cannot obtain the necessary help.
Jacobsen: One overarching legal and policing problem in the United States is what has been politically or colloquially termed the “war on drugs.” We have organizations like the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy in Canada. In Vancouver, where I reside, there are four pillars based on harm reduction policies that effectively address these issues rather than punishing individuals for a medical problem. Over the decades, how has this overarching philosophy of a “war on drugs” exacerbated these issues across the United States?
Happe: For this particular study, we didn’t look closely at that topic, so I can’t speak confidently to that question.
Jacobsen: Okay, that’s fair. Which areas have seen the most progress in terms of the health of people struggling with various types of addiction? Whether it’s leniency regarding laws, getting medical and other help, or reducing contaminated illicit supplies.
Happe: Again, it’s difficult to speak to that because we didn’t specifically look at it, and I’m just speaking to the data from this particular study. Since I wasn’t given any additional direction, I could only do further research within the scope of this data.
Jacobsen: No worries at all. Regarding the two worst states for drug abuse and prevention, what areas are they most struggling in?
Happe: New Mexico, which topped the list for the highest drug use issues in the United States, struggled particularly in the drug use and addiction category. They ranked first overall in the share of teenagers who have tried to abuse illicit drugs in the past month and the share of teenagers who have tried marijuana before the age of 13. These indicators suggest that more youth are being exposed to illicit drugs, with marijuana often being considered a gateway drug. Exposure at a younger age could lead to higher rates of addiction as they grow older. It’s crucial to identify this early on and help teenagers understand the associated dangers. In West Virginia, which came in second overall in this study, the main struggle was with law enforcement and the protections and policies to support them in combating drug use. Specifically, West Virginia ranked first overall in drug arrests on college campuses, indicating a high prevalence of drug use and the need for law enforcement intervention on these campuses.
Jacobsen: Where can people learn more about your research and the studies you’ll be conducting in the future?
Happe: All of our studies are available on wallethub.com. You should have the link for this study, which you’re welcome to share. The easiest way to access our study is with that direct link. We update the study annually, so around this time next year, people can check back for updated data based on the most recent information from reputable sources.
Jacobsen: Excellent. Cassie, thank you very much for your time today.
Happy: You’re very welcome. I hope you have a great rest of the day.
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