Substance Use and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders
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, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI) adults ages 21 and over were 31% less likely than all U.S. adults over 21 to have binged alcohol in the past month.
In 2024, NHPI adults were half as likely as U.S. adults overall to have ever used cocaine.
In 2022, NHPI people were 42% less likely to die from a drug overdose than the U.S. population overall.
In 2024, NHPI adults were 28% less likely to receive substance use treatment in the past year than U.S. adults overall.
In 2024, NHPI youth ages 12 to 17 were 48% less 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, NHPI adults were 75% 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
NHPI*
Total Population
Ratio (NHPI* / Total)
Male
28.3
45.6
0.62
Female
8.9
19.4
0.46
Both
18.8
32.6
0.58
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
NHPI*
Total Population
Ratio (NHPI* / Total)
Male
11.2
19.5
0.57
Female
Not Reported
7.8
Not Reported
Both
7.1
13.5
0.53
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
