# Most-Drugged Cities in the US **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 30, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194 "2017-06-30T12:56:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/1 "2017-06-30T12:56:23Z")
I am stealing this from one of those [clickbait news things.](https://healthversed.com/2016/07/20-most-drug-addicted-cities-in-america/) Let me transcribe it for you. 1. Elizabeth, NJ (no percentage reported) 2. Atlantic City, NJ (no percentage reported) 3. Kermit, WV (no percentage reported) 4. Portland, ME (no percentage reported) 5. Baltimore, MD (no percentage reported) (10% of the city is addicted to heroin) 6. Missoula, MT 13.8% 7. Cook County, IL (no percentage reported) 8. Española, NM (no percentage reported) (leads the nation in drug death rate) 9. Washington, DC (no percentage reported) 10. Wilmington, NC \>11.6 11. Anniston, AL 11.6% 12. Panama City, FL 11.5% 13. Enid, OK 10.2% 14. Hickory, NC 9.9% 15. Pensacola, FL 9.8% 16. Gadsden, AL 9.1% 17. Montgomery, AL 8.8% 18. Johnson City-Bristol, TN-VA 8.6% 19. Texarkana, TX-AR 8.5% 20. Tuscaloosa, AL 8.2% 21. Jacksonville, NC 8.2% 22. Amarillo, TX 8.1% 23. Terre Haute, IN 8.1% 24. Odessa, TX 8% 25. Oklahoma City, OK 8% 26. Longview, TX 8% 27. Fayetteville, NC 7.9% 28. Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY 7.8% 29. Chattanooga, TN 7.7% of the population uses illegal opioids. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/2 "2017-06-30T13:23:30Z")
What exactly are these percentages supposed to mean? Number of people addicted to drugs? In that case, you’d be hard-pressed to find a city below 50%, between caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Number of people who have ever used an illegal drug? Number of people currently using? Number of people who have demonstrable problems as a result of drug use, or of illegal drug use? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/3 "2017-06-30T13:35:25Z")
[quote=“Chronos, post:2, topic:790194”] What exactly are these percentages supposed to mean? Number of people addicted to drugs? /QUOTE] The source claims it to be the percentage of the population addicted to illegal opioids. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/4 "2017-06-30T14:23:30Z")
Saw an article a few days ago that said **Dayton, OH** , was the overdose capital of the U.S. Interesting it didn’t even make this list. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/5 "2017-06-30T14:36:31Z")
I’ve seen Modesto called the meth capitol. Or Methdesto if you prefer. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/6 "2017-06-30T15:00:41Z")
My town didn’t make the list. Dammit, people! I can’t do all the heavy lifting. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/7 "2017-06-30T15:28:17Z")
There are no sources listed aside from a single reference to Castlight Health, whatever that is. That said, I do know that heroin (and meth) is the white people’s crack, and the illegal heroin industry is focused on small towns and not big cities. This is a major problem because these small towns don’t have the resources to fight it, whether it be in the form of treatment or law enforcement. It’s white America’s worst nightmare come true. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/8 "2017-06-30T15:30:02Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > There are no sources listed aside from a single reference to Castlight Health, whatever that is. In truth the data probably ought to be taken with a grain of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/9 "2017-06-30T15:37:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What exactly are these percentages supposed to mean? The company [says](http://www.castlighthealth.com/press-releases/new-study-reveals-32-percent-of-total-opioid-prescriptions-are-being-abused/): > [@](#): > > For the purposes of this analysis, opioid abuse was defined as meeting the following clinical guidelines: Receiving greater than a cumulative 90-day supply of opioids and receiving an opioid prescription from four or more providers over the five-year period between 2011 and 2015. It appears that they analyzed data from employer group insurance plans (i.e., not Medicare/Medicaid or the uninsured, although I suppose it includes dependents of employees on family plans). Hence, I think the percentages are of people covered by such plans. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/10 "2017-06-30T15:48:48Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/11 "2017-06-30T15:49:50Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > The company [says](http://www.castlighthealth.com/press-releases/new-study-reveals-32-percent-of-total-opioid-prescriptions-are-being-abused/): > > It appears that they analyzed data from employer group insurance plans (i.e., not Medicare/Medicaid or the uninsured, although I suppose it includes dependents of employees on family plans). Hence, I think the percentages are of people covered by such plans. I would call the data fairly useless, then. It’s usage of medications, and we don’t know the context or reasons. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/12 "2017-06-30T15:54:08Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Saw an article a few days ago that said **Dayton, OH** , was the overdose capital of the U.S. Interesting it didn’t even make this list. Yes, people are flying over there. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/13 "2017-06-30T16:07:51Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > In truth the data probably ought to be taken with a grain of salt. With a grain of bath salts. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/14 "2017-06-30T18:51:22Z")
When did Cook County, IL become a city? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/15 "2017-06-30T19:07:22Z")
The fact that Kermit is high [sub]heh[/sub] on the list doesn’t surprise me. It’s not easy being green. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/16 "2017-06-30T20:07:12Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > The fact that Kermit is high [sub]heh[/sub] on the list doesn’t surprise me. It’s not easy being green. Now I have a vision of the muppet cringing, head in hands, crying, “Oh God, the rush! The\* rush\*!” ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/17 "2017-07-01T02:00:11Z")
Who knew New Mexico was such a hotbed of drug abuse? [I made a table.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_New_Mexico) ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/18 "2017-07-01T02:01:32Z")
Interesting that no cities in the legal Marijuana states made the list. Makes the theory that Marijuana leads to other, more dangerous drugs look a bit shaky. I had heard that opiods were an enormous problem in WV. Apparently cash-strapped families get the script in order to sell the pills. Prices for generic opiods with any kind of insurance coverage is low, so a low income family can usually afford to purchase them and make a significant profit selling them on the black market. Physicians know this and are quietly complicit. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/19 "2017-07-01T06:54:39Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’ve seen Modesto called the meth capitol. Or Methdesto if you prefer. It’s the #2 car theft city, if you prefer. Lots of cities get meth puns, if the name allows it. E.g. Methford. still better than Bakersfield > [@boffking](#): > > When did Cook County, IL become a city? Chicago metro if you prefer. Because in many big cities, living in the suburbs doesn’t make it a different place. > [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Interesting that no cities in the legal Marijuana states made the list. Makes the theory that Marijuana leads to other, more dangerous drugs look a bit shaky. > > I had heard that opiods were an enormous problem in WV. Apparently cash-strapped families get the script in order to sell the pills. Prices for generic opiods with any kind of insurance coverage is low, so a low income family can usually afford to purchase them and make a significant profit selling them on the black market. Physicians know this and are quietly complicit. Not much west of the Mississippi is on there. Sounds like a statistical coincidence. There arent enough marijuana states to draw a conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194/20 "2017-07-01T07:05:26Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Interesting that no cities in the legal Marijuana states made the list. Makes the theory that Marijuana leads to other, more dangerous drugs look a bit shaky. > > I had heard that opiods were an enormous problem in WV. Apparently cash-strapped families get the script in order to sell the pills. Prices for generic opiods with any kind of insurance coverage is low, so a low income family can usually afford to purchase them and make a significant profit selling them on the black market. Physicians know this and are quietly complicit. Legal marijuana and the stupendous increase in opioid abuse are not related at all. The opioid problem is a direct result of an increase in prescribing due to a misinformation campaign from the drug companies and new and more potent forms of opioids. As a result, prescribing practices are becoming much more stringent and the supply of “legal” narcotics is finally starting to decrease. Cheap heroin and other “illegal” narcotics are rapidly increasing to fill that void. Legalization of marijuana may, at some point, contribute to opioid abuse, but what has been happening for the last 20 years isn’t due to marijuana. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-drugged-cities-in-the-us/790194.md?page=2)