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Simplepowa
In Pursuit of Knowledge


Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 4,310
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How (and how much) the 50 states do drugs, in 5 maps
#19203031 - 11/28/13 11:03 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Rep. Trey Radel’s (R-Fla.) admission this week that he used cocaine has sparked a renewed interest in the popularity of illegal drug use in today’s society.
Petula Dvorak noted in her column today that 1.6 million Americans cop to being regular cocaine users — a fact that surprised The Fix and others on Twitter (but makes more sense when you consider it’s basically 1 out of every 200 people).
But what about all drugs? And do red states and blue states have different drugs of choice?
Here’s a quick rundown:
1) Blue states like drugs more than red states
Below is a 2008 study, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, of how many people 12 or older say they have used illicit drugs in the past year.
You’ll notice the states with the lowest drug use are more red than blue, while the blue states on the West Coast in the Northeast had the highest use rates.
Apparently, Republicans listened to Nancy Reagan more than Democrats.
2) Cocaine is popular in D.C.
Radel’s drug of choice barely registers in much of the Midwest but is much more popular in blue states — as well as the District of Columbia, where Radel was caught buying 3.5 grams.
Radel’s home state of Florida is about average for cocaine use nationwide.
3) California and D.C. have a problem
No state has as much in the way of substance-abuse disorders as the Golden State, according to another recent SAMHSA study. And D.C. is right there too.
The other state with a widespread problem: Rhode Island.
Radel, by the way, comes from Southwest Florida, where substance-abuse disorders are among the lowest in the country.
4) Red states are much more into prescription drugs
While red states don’t do illegal drugs as much, they do have much more of an issue with prescription drugs.
Of the 12 states with the highest percentage of prescription drug overdoses, just one is a solidly blue state: Rhode Island.
5) The state known for Bourbon doesn’t have a problem with alcohol
Let’s switch to alcohol — the substance with which Radel says he has a problem — for a moment.
Now, we expect that Utah would have one of the lowest rates of alcohol use disorders, given the prohibition on alcohol use in the Mormon Church.
But the second-driest state in the Union is none other than … Kentucky?
November 22, 2013 Aaron Blake Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/11/22/how-and-how-much-the-50-states-do-drugs-in-4-maps/
P.s.: images if you follow the link to the original article
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Carl Sagan - "Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people." --- Robert Pirsig - "When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion." --- Brian Cox - "[One] problem with today’s world is that everyone believes they have the right to express their opinion AND have others listen to it. The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense."
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NWlight
Just look


Registered: 01/12/10
Posts: 18,686
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Re: How (and how much) the 50 states do drugs, in 5 maps [Re: Simplepowa]
#19203084 - 11/28/13 11:21 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Fuck yeah PNW
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D.M.T
Shroomery Contaminant



Registered: 10/31/09
Posts: 10,991
Loc: In your brain
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Re: How (and how much) the 50 states do drugs, in 5 maps [Re: NWlight]
#19203108 - 11/28/13 11:31 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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load of
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NWlight
Just look


Registered: 01/12/10
Posts: 18,686
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Re: How (and how much) the 50 states do drugs, in 5 maps [Re: D.M.T]
#19203121 - 11/28/13 11:33 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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what part don't you like?
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D.M.T
Shroomery Contaminant



Registered: 10/31/09
Posts: 10,991
Loc: In your brain
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Re: How (and how much) the 50 states do drugs, in 5 maps [Re: NWlight]
#19203146 - 11/28/13 11:43 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'm thinking the higher "marijuana substance abuse" in MMJ states skews the statistics. all the states with higher substance abuse #s are MMJ states / have higher marijuana acceptance. if you take marijuana out of the equation I think states in the Midwest would end up beating the states out west and definitely the ones on the east coast in terms of substance abuse. meth, pills and now heroin are as common as weed in many areas of the midwest. just a hunch from first glance though maybe I should look a little closer before I go too far in judgement.
for now:
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NWlight
Just look


Registered: 01/12/10
Posts: 18,686
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Re: How (and how much) the 50 states do drugs, in 5 maps [Re: D.M.T]
#19203151 - 11/28/13 11:45 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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you're ignoring the fact that drug-friendly places are more likely to legalize medical marijuana tho.
there is not a clear cause and effect either way
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D.M.T
Shroomery Contaminant



Registered: 10/31/09
Posts: 10,991
Loc: In your brain
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Re: How (and how much) the 50 states do drugs, in 5 maps [Re: NWlight]
#19203181 - 11/28/13 11:59 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I considered that actually but still am lead to think marijuana and alcohol are the dividers making the stats seem much higher in other states. In the conservative states people are a little more afraid to talk about marijuana but I'd say from my own point of view of what I've seen in the US it's about the same all around. except the west has better weed on average.
Indiana doesn't have MMJ and is 'higher' and I'd say their state would be pretty representative of what the rest of the Midwest should show. They force marijuana users, drunk drivers, etc., into rehab for any offense (stiffer prison penalties as well) unlike the other midwestern states so it would seem logical this is why they're higher on the scale.
Will have to dig up this study because the Washington Post are definitely lacking in the details of their conclusions. rather appears they are just regurgitating several studies in an attempt to make a story.

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IoRhinz



Registered: 04/19/13
Posts: 119
Last seen: 8 months, 8 days
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Re: How (and how much) the 50 states do drugs, in 5 maps [Re: D.M.T]
#19204982 - 11/29/13 01:54 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'd say here in SD, it's more like 2%...
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deCypher



Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
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Re: How (and how much) the 50 states do drugs, in 5 maps [Re: IoRhinz]
#19208127 - 11/30/13 10:47 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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The Southernmost part of AZ for the win! 
Gotta love being so close to the Mexican border.
-------------------- We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
 
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