Approximately 5% of the global population annually, 200 million people, use illicit drugs.
In 2014, it was estimated at 27 million Americans is 12 years and older, representing 10.2% of the population have used illicit drugs in the past month.
The National Survey on Drug Use Health estimates approximately 9% of Americans age 12 years or older, an estimated 22 1/2 million people use illicit drugs during the past 30 days in the US.
The UN office on Drugs and Crime estimated that 149-271,000,000 people a 15-64 years used an illicit drug at least once in 2009.
Global cannabis users estimated at 125-20 3 million people in 2009, accounting for 2.8-4.5% of the global population aged 15-64 years.
Estimated 15-39,000,000 problem drug users globally.
The major types of illicit drugs include amphetamine type stimulants, cannabis, cocaine, and opioids.
Estimated 13 million parenteral drug abusers worldwide.
In 2017 and estimated 7.9% of individuals age 12-17 years reported illicit drug use in the previous month, and an estimated 50% of adolescents used illicit drugs by the time they graduated from high school.
Illicit drug use 16.2% among pregnant teens, and 7.4% among pregnant women aged 18-25 years.
Young adults aged 18-25 years have a high rate of current illicit drug use with about 23% currently using illicit drugs.
Infections are the most serious complications of drug use.
Has a major role in the transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Infectious diseases are commonly complicated by illicit drug abuse.
Contaminated drug paraphernalia and drug user’s own flora play a role in disease transmission.
Cannabis and opiates can suppress immune function.
Global number of cannabis users estimated to be 125-203,000,000 people, or 2.8-4.5% of the global population aged 15-64 years in 2009 (UNODC).
Estimated 15-56,000,000 people age 15-64 years estimated to have used an amphetamine type stimulants, which is 0.3-1.3% of global population.
Health risks of illicit drugs increases with frequency and quantity of use.
Illicit drugs can cause physical and psychological harm and dependence.
A common temporal ordering of drug initiation of errors with alcohol and tobacco, followed by cannabis use and in other illicit drugs, but this pattern is not consistent among all countries.
Illicit drug use is consistentLy more common in boys and men than in girls and women.
Many patients who use illicit drugs who use more than one of 4 drug types.
Cannabis use peaks in young adulthood and decreases as young people enter relationships, marry, have children, advance their education, and enter into the workforce.
Four broad types of adverse effects on health exists from the use of illicit drugs: acute toxic effects, acute effects of intoxication, dependence, and adverse effects of sustained use.
Among adverse health effects in the above categories are included- overdosage, accidental injury and violence, and the development of chronic diseases such as cirrhosis and cardiovascular disease, bacterial and viral infections and mental disorders.
Substance abuse disorders are characterized by prolonged duration, intermittent acute and chronic exacerbations, and significant morbidity and mortality.
Substance dependence disorders are influenced by genetic and environmental factors and and have psychosocial components.