Substance use means using products like alcohol, tobacco, or drugs that are swallowed, smoked, injected, or inhaled. These substances can affect the body and mind and may lead to health problems or dependence. Substance use can involve legal products, such as alcohol and tobacco, as well as illegal drugs and inhalants.
A substance use disorder (SUD) is a long-term but treatable health condition. It happens when a person keeps using a substance even though it causes serious problems in their life, such as issues with health, work, or relationships. Doctors look at patterns of symptoms to diagnose SUD and connect people to treatment. SUDs can be mild or severe and affect people of all backgrounds. They can involve alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens, inhalants, or other substances.
In 2024, Hispanic/Latino adults ages 21 and over were 17% more likely than all U.S. adults over 21 to have binged alcohol in the past month.
In 2024, Hispanic/Latino adults were 18% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have ever used an illicit drug.
In 2022, Hispanics/Latinos were 30% less likely to die from a drug overdose than the U.S. population overall.
In 2024, Hispanic/Latino adults were 17% less likely to receive substance use treatment in the past year than U.S. adults overall.
In 2024, Hispanic/Latino youth ages 12 to 17 were 6% more likely than people from that age group overall to have participated in an alcohol, tobacco, or drug prevention program outside of school in the past year.
In 2024, Hispanic/Latino adults were 5% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have substance use disorder together with mental illness.
Drug overdose deaths, age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2022
Hispanic
Total Population
Ratio (Hispanic / Total)
Male
35.2
45.6
0.77
Female
9.5
19.4
0.49
Both
22.7
32.6
0.70
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Deaths: Final data for 2022 (National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 74, No. 4, Table 11). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Alcohol-induced deaths, age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2022
Hispanic
Total Population
Ratio (Hispanic / Total)
Male
21.5
19.5
1.10
Female
5.1
7.8
0.65
Both
13.2
13.5
0.98
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Deaths: Final data for 2022 (National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 74, No. 4, Table 11). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Health Care Use
Adults
Adults ages 18 and over who received substance use treatment in past year, percentage, 2024
