Legal drugs have the highest recreational use, but Americans partake in plenty of illegal substances as well. Here's a breakdown.
America's vices: Alcohol, tobacco and more
From alcohol to cigarettes, most adults have tried some form of recreational drug. Fewer people have experimented with prescription medication for recreational reasons, but certain areas of the country are experiencing a serious problem with opoid addiction. Other drugs like cocaine and LSD, are used sporadically among adults in the U.S.
Using data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive, the experts at HealthGrove, a health data site, ranked the 25 most commonly used recreational drugs. The substances are ordered by the increasing percentage of people age 12 and over who used the drug recreationally in 2015. In the case of a tie, the drug with a higher classification by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is ranked higher.
To collect this data, SAMHDA conducts the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in which they record use of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco in the U.S. population aged 12 or older. It is important to note that this data only includes recreational use of drugs, not proper medical use.
Drugs that are legal, alcohol and tobacco, have the highest recreational use. According to the survey, nearly one in five people over the age of 12 also used marijuana in 2015. As the drug becomes legal in more states, recreational use is likely to increase. Other Schedule I drugs (drugs determined to have no medical benefit by the DEA) including heroin and DMT had a recreational prevalence rate of less than 1 percent in 2015.
Note: Not all images in slideshow depict the exact drugs.
#25. Ketamine
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.17 percent Drug category: Hallucinogen DEA Schedule: III Common forms: Liquid, powder
#24. Oxymorphone
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.18 percent Drug category: Opioid DEA Schedule: II Common forms: Tablet
#23. DMT
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.2 percent Drug category: Hallucinogen DEA Schedule: I Common forms: Powder, crystal
#22. Carisoprodol (Soma)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.21 percent Drug category: Tranquilzer DEA Schedule: IV Common forms: Pill
#21. Methadone
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.23 percent Drug category: Opioid DEA Schedule: II Common forms: Tablet, dispersible tablet, liquid
#20. Lorazepam (Ativan)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.33 percent Drug category: Sedative DEA Schedule: IV Common forms: Pill, capsule, liquid
#19. Morphine
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.37 percent Drug category: Opioid DEA Schedule: II Common forms: Tablet, liquid, capsule, suppository
#18. Buprenorphine
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.38 percent Drug category: Opioid DEA Schedule: III Common forms: Pill
#17. Heroin
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.39 percent Drug category: Opioid DEA Schedule: I Common forms: Powder, tar
#16. Zolpidem (Ambien)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.45 percent Drug category: Sedative DEA Schedule: IV Common forms: Pill, capsule, liquid
#15. Diazepam (Valium)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.54 percent Drug category: Tranquilzer DEA Schedule: IV Common forms: Pill, capsule, liquid
#14. Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.6 percent Drug category: Tranquilzer DEA Schedule: IV Common forms: Pill
#13. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.61 percent Drug category: Stimulant DEA Schedule: II Common forms: Liquid, tablet, capsule
#12. Methamphetamine
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.68 percent Drug category: Stimulant DEA Schedule: II Common forms: Powder, pill, crystal
#11. Tramadol
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 0.77 percent Drug category: Opioid DEA Schedule: IV Common forms: Pill
#10. LSD
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 1.07 percent Drug category: Hallucinogen DEA Schedule: I Common forms: Tablet, capsule, liquid, paper
#9. MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 1.5 percent Drug category: Hallucinogen DEA Schedule: I Common forms: Tablet, capsule, liquid
#8. Alprazolam (Xanax)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 2.05 percent Drug category: Tranquilzer DEA Schedule: IV Common forms: Pill, capsule, liquid
#7. Oxycodone (OxyContin)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 2.05 percent Drug category: Opioid DEA Schedule: II Common forms: Capsule, liquid, tablet
#6. Cocaine
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 2.19 percent Drug category: Stimulant DEA Schedule: II Common forms: Powder, crystal
#5. Amphetamine (Adderall)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 2.8 percent Drug category: Stimulant DEA Schedule: II Common forms: Tablet, capsule
#4. Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 3.17 percent Drug category: Opioid DEA Schedule: II Common forms: Pill
#3. Marijuana
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 17.68 percent Drug category: Depressant DEA Schedule: I Common forms: Plant, resin, oil
#2. Tobacco
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 31.1 percent Drug category: Stimulant DEA Schedule: N/A Common forms: Cigarette, cigar, bidi, hookah, snuff, chew
#1. Alcohol
Recreational use prevalence (2015): 61.42 percent Drug category: Depressant DEA Schedule: N/A Common forms: Liquid
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