Cocaine Statistics

Cocaine statistics help to show the who, what, where, when and why of cocaine use. According to the 2009 Monitoring the Future survey—a national survey of 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders—there were continuing declines reported in the use of powder cocaine, with past-year usage levels reaching their lowest point since the early 1990s. Significant declines in use were measured from 2008 to 2009 among 12th-graders across all three survey categories: lifetime use decreased from 7.2 percent to 6.0 percent; past-year use dropped from 4.4 percent to 3.4 percent; and past-month use dropped from 1.9 percent to 1.3 percent. Survey measures showed other positive findings among 12th-graders as well; their perceived risk of harm associated with powder cocaine use increased significantly during the same period. Additionally, survey participants in the 10th grade reported significant changes, with past-month use falling from 1.2 percent in 2008 to 0.9 percent in 2009.

Below are additional relevant cocaine statistics:

• 10 percent of publicly-funded drug abuse center admissions in 2006 were for crack cocaine.
• Approximately 36.8 million Americans ages 12 and older had tried cocaine at least once in their lifetimes.
• 19.5% of eighth graders, 28.2% of tenth graders, and 38.9% of twelfth graders surveyed in 2008 reported that powder cocaine was "fairly easy" or "very easy" to obtain (Whitehouse Drug Policy, 2008).
• 3.3% of students (high school and college) reported being current users of cocaine, meaning that they had used cocaine at least once during the past month.
• 1 out of 4 Americans between the age of 26 and 34 have used cocaine in their lifetime.
• Over 15,000 deaths annually associated with stimulants in the US (APA).
• In 1988, about 300,000 infants were born addicted to cocaine.
• During 2004, cocaine statistics report that cocaine was the primary drug involved in Federal drug arrests. There were 12,166 Federal drug arrests for cocaine in 2004. (ONDCP).
• Cocaine hydrochloride is very stable. It binds closely to the ink in paper currency. FBI chemists have discovered that traces of cocaine can be found on almost every dollar bill in circulation. (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration).
• The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that in 2004, 27.5% of those incarcerated had been regular users of cocaine/crack – regular was defined as using at least once a week for at least a month.
• Use statistics by race/ethnicity: Percentages of past year cocaine use, persons aged 12 or older
  • American Indians/Alaskan natives: 3.8%.
  • 2 or more races: 3.7%
  • Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders: 3.1%
  • Hispanics: 2.8%
  • African Americans, 2.6%
  • Caucasians: 2.5%
  • Asians: 0.7%
• Cocaine statistics show that crack cocaine use affects people in the United States from every region, race or ethnic group, gender, age, and economic status, though some groups are more affected by crack abuse than other groups. People who use crack cocaine are more likely to be:
  • Young
  • Male
  • Unmarried
  • Unemployed
  • High school dropouts
  • Living below the poverty level
• Crack cocaine users can be any age, but young adults aged 18 to 25 are the age group most likely to use crack cocaine. Teens are less likely than young adults to use crack, but the awareness among teens of the dangers of crack cocaine use is declining, which could lead to more abuse of crack among teens. About 4 percent of high school seniors are estimated to have used crack cocaine, and about 1 percent may use it in any given month.
• After marijuana and amphetamines, cocaine is considered to be the most widely available drug on high school and college campuses in the United States. Over 600,000 Americans are currently cocaine addicted. Given the smaller number of individuals who smoke the “rock” form of the drug, this makes it one of the most addictive forms of cocaine use in the country. Cocaine use by college students reached a ten-year high in 2006 when over 5% reported having used the drug during their time in school. The low during that period was 2.1% in 1996.
• Cocaine statistics notes that up to 75% of people who try cocaine will become addicted to it. Only one out of four people who try to quit will be able to do so without help. Cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S. More than 34 million Americans (14.7%) age 12 or older have used cocaine at least once in their lifetime. Over 15,000 deaths annually associated with stimulants in the US.
• Each day 5,000 more people will experiment with cocaine. Cocaine addiction was responsible for 14 % of the 1.6 million admissions in 1999 to publicly funded drug addiction facilities.

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