U.S. Cocaine Use Drops Significantly as Marijuana Use Rises

Cocaine use in the United States has seen a significant and encouraging drop, according to a study conducted by government researchers. Not so surprising are reports that combine number for legal and illegal marijuana use has increased significantly over the past decade.

According to the report, between 2000 and 2010, marijuana use rose overall in the U.S. by nearly 30 percent. Likewise, methamphetamine consumption saw a massive spike in use, but fell off quickly around 2008.

Interestingly, while most illegal drugs saw a even minor rise in use, cocaine use in the U.S. dropped by over 50 percent, according to the researchers' findings.

According to the report, it was discovered that annual spending among U.S. drug abusers on illegal substances stayed stable throughout the observed decade, even with a significant and unexplained drop in cocaine consumption. About $100 billion was spent yearly between 2000 and 2010, but largely it was found that across the country marijuana spending filled the gap that a decreased amount of cocaine spending left behind. Researchers did note that since the data trail stops at 2010, it does not include data that reflects the current "opoid overdose epidemic" in the U.S. nor does it include data that reflect the revolutionary changes in drug policy with the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington.

Still, the research does clearly show that increasing acceptance of Medical marijuana across the states significantly contributed to increased marijuana use. After 2000, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont, Michigan, New Jersey, and Arizona all had legislation passed -- if not enacted -- defending the use of medical marijuana.

Why cocaine rates went down during this same time remains unclear, but researcher suspect it may simply have had to do with the increasing  efficiency of drug control during those years, severely hampering the availability and U.S. supply of some hard drugs, particularly cocaine and meth.

This data was based on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which questioned approximately 70,000 individuals each year. The data was then adapted for the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program (ADAM). 2013 was the last year for the ADAM program after it lost its funding.

The original information was published by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Press release.