According to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 10.6 percent of people in the United States who are 12 years old or older used illegal drugs in the past month in 2016. Even though there have been many efforts to educate and deal with drug abuse, it seems like the problem is getting worse. In 2017, there were more than 72,000 drug overdose deaths reported in the country. This is an increase of almost 6,600 deaths compared to 2016. Here is a list of the cities in the United States that are currently dealing with serious drug problems:
Top Cities With The Worst Drug Problems
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city with over 290,000 residents, and 26 percent of them are living in poverty. The city’s economy focuses on industries such as healthcare, social assistance, and retail trade, among others. Cincinnati is currently facing a serious problem with a high number of drug overdose deaths. This is mainly due to the availability of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs in the area. In 2016, 174 people in Cincinnati overdosed after using heroin mixed with carfentanil, a drug similar to fentanyl.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a city in coastal southeastern North Carolina. It has a population of over 100,000. The economy of Wilmington focuses on providing accommodations and food services, as well as rental and leasing services, due to its proximity to the ocean. Although there are many people with jobs, the poverty rate in the city remains high at 22.9%. Out of all the areas in North Carolina, Wilmington is known to have a high number of people who abuse opioids. It seems that 11.6% of the people living in the port city have a habit of misusing prescription drugs. Additionally, nearly 54% of all opioid prescription drugs in Wilmington are being misused.
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Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the biggest city in Kentucky, with a population of over 770,000. Unfortunately, being a big city also means it has some of the worst drug problems. The city’s economy is focused on businesses related to cargo and shipping due to its location. The city is not only focused on improving the lives of 17.4 percent of families living in poverty, but also on addressing its worsening drug crisis. In Louisville, there are 43 deaths for every 100,000 people due to a drug overdose. This is more than double the national rate for overdose fatalities. Metro Emergency Services received 52 emergency calls related to overdoses in a span of 32 hours. Considering the size of the problem,
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Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the biggest city in Michigan and has over 670,000 people living there. About 35.7% of the population is living in poverty. The city’s economy focuses on manufacturing, administration, and waste management services. Detroit has a struggling economy, high poverty and crime rates, and is also dealing with drug issues. In Metro Detroit, the number of deaths from drug overdoses is increasing. This is mainly due to the presence of Fentanyl, which has caused a 56% increase in drug overdose deaths from 2015 to 2016.
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in Ohio, but it has the highest number of drug problems compared to other cities in Ohio. It has a population of over 140,000 people. The city’s economy is mainly based on industries that involve providing accommodations and food services, manufacturing, and healthcare. Dayton has a high poverty rate of 34.5% and a significant issue with drug use.
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is ranked 6th on our list of cities with the worst drug problems. There is a city in Montana that has a population of more than 70,000 people. Many residents work in agriculture, forestry, educational services, and other industries. However, 19.3% of the population still live in poverty. Missoula, like the rest of Montana, has a significant issue with drug problems, especially methamphetamine. Keep in mind that half of the adults in the state are currently in prison for crimes related to methamphetamine.
Espanola, New Mexico
Espanola is a place where around 10,000 people live, and about 32.1% of them are living in poverty. The population of Espanola is small, but it has a surprisingly high drug use problem. This can be seen in the battle cry of Drug-FreeEspanola.org, which asks: “What else do we need to do to come together and end the drug addiction epidemic once and for all?” In this city, there have been a significant number of deaths caused by drug overdoses, with a rate of 42.5 deaths per 100,000 people.
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