A Neighboring Idaho State Has One Of The Biggest Drug Problems

Drug problems plagued the United States well before 1971 when President Nixon declared a "war on drugs," to this day, we continue to struggle to make significant progress, with more than 103,500 drug overdose deaths from November 2021 through November 2022. Fentanyl is a big problem not only in Idaho but across the country. So what could that number look like late this year? 

According to KREM, they spoke with ISP Captain John Kempf earlier this year, who said, "Already this year, we have seen over 600 fentanyl overdoses in Idaho, and 10 of those have been fatal overdoses." 

WalletHub released "Drug Use By State: 2023's Problem Areas." Reading through the results of their findings, Idahoans shouldn't be so worried about Oregon or Washington. One state, in particular, is in the top 10 worst states; before you say it, it's not California. 

Idaho has 2023's 5th smallest drug problem. 

The share of teenagers who have used illicit drugs in the past month ranked 34th. For adults who used illegal drugs in the past month, Idaho is 40th, and Idaho is 44th for drug overdoses per capita. Idaho's overall score is 35.63, with Minnesota, Florida (shocking), Utah, and Hawaii rounding out the top 5. 

Which neighboring state has the most significant drug issue, and should Idaho be concerned? 

First, to determine which states have the biggest drug problems, Wallethub compared three categories: 1) Drug use & addiction, 2) Law Enforcement, and 3) Drug health issues & rehab. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most significant drug problem. 

Should we be concerned about the drug problem in Nevada? 

Nevada is the highest-ranked state neighboring Idaho, ranked 8th. Oregon is ranked 19th, Washington is ranked 33rd, Wyoming is ranked 15th, and Montana is ranked 29th on the list of the states with the biggest drug problems.