New Data Shows Missouri’s Drug Problem is Worse Than We Thought

I've said before that I tend to be naive and I like it that way. Unfortunately, I now have new numbers that are impossible to ignore that shows the drug problem in Missouri really is much worse than we thought.

There's a very recent new study shared by WalletHub of drug use by state in 2024 and it does not reveal good news for Missouri. When it comes to drug use in individual states, Missouri has now soared to 6th worst in America.

The methodology that they used to come up with this ranking is quite complex, but boils down to the following categories:

• Drug Use & Addiction
• Law Enforcement
• Drug Health Issues & Rehab

The numbers shared regarding Missouri's drug issues seem to point to several problem areas including the increased presence of opioids. Here's a stunning statistic from the Missouri Highway Patrol. They say that 3 people overdose from opioids in Missouri every single day. Terrible and tragic. The Missouri Department of Health breaks down the overdose deaths by county and it's also jaw-dropping.

This battle has been raging in Missouri for so long that it feels unbeatable, but surely something can be done to turn this terrible drug trend around, right?