RI Ranks Fifth on 'States with the Biggest Drug Problems' List: Wallet Hub

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island is losing the war against drugs, according to a new study from Wallet Hub, the personal finance website. Their data indicates Rhode Island teens are more likely than youngsters in other states to be drug users. And the Ocean State also has one of the highest percentages of adult drug users. In a comparison of 50 states and the District of Columbia, Rhode Island ranked fifth worst in the nation for drug problems. It also has the fifth most overdose deaths per capita. Only West Virginia, New Hampshire, Kentucky and Ohio fared worse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came up with a similar list for overdose deaths in 2015. West Virginia had 41.5 deaths per 100,000 people; New Hampshire had 34.3; Kentucky and Ohio each had 29.9 per 100,000. Rhode Island had 28.2 drug overdose deaths per 100,000, the CDC said.

The Wallet Hub study also indicated Rhode Island has a high percentage of drug users, both teenagers and adults.

Rhode Island has the nation's third highest percentage of adult drug users, behind Colorado and the District of Columbia. Looking at teenage drug users, Rhode Island came in fifth behind Colorado and the District of Columbia, Vermont and Oregon. But the state's rehab programs are not keeping pace with the need, and law enforcement is making few arrests. Rhode Island had the second highest percentage of adults with unmet drug rehab needs, meaning people who needed treatment over the past year and didn't get any.

But despite those problems, Rhode Island was one of the state's with the fewest drug related arrests. It ranked 47th for arrests per capita, beating out Alaska, Massachusetts and Vermont.

To see the complete study, click here.

Courtesy Photo of Heroin: Drug Enforcement Administration