R.I. second in nation for near-daily use of mood-altering drugs

RHODE ISLAND ranked second, behind only West Virginia, for highest drug and medication use in the nation, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. / COURTESY GALLUP-HEALTHWAYS WELL-BEING INDEX
RHODE ISLAND ranked second, behind only West Virginia, for highest drug and medication use in the nation, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. / COURTESY GALLUP-HEALTHWAYS WELL-BEING INDEX

PROVIDENCE – Nearly 26 percent of Rhode Islanders report near-daily use of drugs or medications that alter their mood or help them relax, according to Gallup’s latest “State of the States” series.
The Ocean State was behind only West Virginia in the list of the top 10 states whose residents reported near-daily drug use. West Virginia’s percentage was 28.1, while Rhode Island’s was 25.9.

Interviews with at least 450 residents from each state and the District of Columbia were conducted in 2014, as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
They were asked if they took drugs to affect their mood or to help relax, and the interpretation of that description was left to respondents and could include prescription drugs, recreational drugs, alcohol or nicotine.
More than one in five residents of Kentucky, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi and Missouri report using a drug or medicated substance to alter their mood or relax on a near-daily basis.
Kentucky’s percentage was 24.5 percent; Alabama, 24.2 percent; Louisiana, 22.9 percent; South Carolina, 22.8 percent; Missisippi, 22.3 percent; and Missouri, 22.2 percent.
Indiana and Oregon rounded out the top 10 at 22.1 percent and 21.9 percent, respectively.
Alaska topped the list of states with the lowest drug/medication use at 13.5 percent, followed by Wyoming at 15.5 percent; California, 15.8 percent; Illinois, 16 percent; North Dakota, 16.4 percent; New Jersey, 16.5 percent; Colorado and Texas, 16.7 percent; Utah, 16.8 percent; and Maryland and Hawaii, 17.3 percent.
Nationally, 18.9 percent of Americans reported using a mood-altering substance nearly every day. The poll found that two in 10 Americans report using drugs or medication rarely or sometimes.
Gallup noted that Americans take drugs and medication for a variety of reasons.

“On the whole, those who are the most frequent users of mood-altering drugs have the lowest well-being. States with high percentages of residents who take drugs or medication to relax may be able to reduce these rates by addressing the underlying well-being issues that may compel residents to rely on mood-altering substances,” Gallup stated.
The margin of error was 1 to 2 percentage points for most states, but closer to 4 percentage points for states with smaller populations such as Alaska, North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.

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