To select the places in the U.S. with the biggest drug problem, WalletHub analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia in three categories: drug use and addiction, law enforcement and drug health issues, and rehab. Analysts evaluated those categories using 22 metrics, including arrest and overdose rates, opioid prescriptions and employee drug-testing laws.
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the biggest drug problem. Analysts used the weighted average across all metrics to calculate each state’s overall score. Access more information on the metrics used for the analysis here.
Here are the places with the biggest drug problems based on the analysis:
1. District of Columbia
2. Michigan
3. Missouri
4. West Virginia
5. Indiana
6. Arkansas
7. New Hampshire
8. Kentucky
9. Colorado
10. New Mexico
Here are the places with the smallest drug problems based on the analysis:
1. Minnesota
2. Hawaii
3. Idaho
4. Kansas
5. North Dakota
6. Nebraska
7. Utah
8. South Dakota
9. Wisconsin
10. Iowa
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