Federal Drug War Spending vs Past Month Use Rates

Sources: ONDCP National Drug Control Strategy
National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Total Federal Drug War Budget versus Past Month Use of Marijuana Cocaine and Heroin
Year Original Budget (billions) Adjusted Budget (billions) Marijuana Cocaine Heroin
1981 1.5 -- -- -- --
1982 1.7 -- 21,507,000 4,491,000 162,000
1983 2.0 -- -- -- --
1984 2.4 -- -- -- --
1985 2.8 -- 18,641,000 5,686,000 137,000
1986 2.9 -- -- -- --
1987 4.8 -- -- -- --
1988 4.7 -- 12,353,000 3,140,000 79,000
1989 6.7 -- -- -- --
1990 9.8 -- 10,913,000 1,720,000 41,000
1991 10.9 -- 10,366,000 2,032,000 71,000
1992 11.9 -- 9,676,000 1,402,000 92,000
1993 12.2 -- 9,610,000 1,404,000 68,000
1994 12.2 -- 10,112,000 1,382,000 117,000
1995 13.3 7.0 9,842,000 1,453,000 196,000
1996 13.4 6.8 10,095,000 1,749,000 216,000
1997 15.2 8.1 11,109,000 1,505,000 325,000
1998 15.8 8.2 11,016,000 1,750,000 130,000
1999 17.7 9.8 10,458,000 1,552,000 154,000
2000 18.5 10.7 10,714,000 1,213,000 130,000
2001 18.1 10.4 12,122,000 1,676,000 123,000
2002 18.8 11.5 14,584,000 2,020,000 166,000
2003 -- 11.4 14,638,000 2,281,000 119,000
2004 -- 11.9 14,576,000 2,021,000 166,000

Note: The ONDCP changed their accounting practices in determining the levels of total federal drug war spending. The Drug Policy Alliance wrote a critique of the new calculation methods here.

Latest complete use rates data: NSDUH (12 and older) or MTF (HS, College, Young Adult)


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Spending versus Lifetime Use Spending versus Past Year Use Spending versus New Use


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