Special Populations

Get the inside information on how different drugs can affect the brain and the body and what you can do to get involved. For more resources, see the NIDA for Teens website.

Image Photo by © Shutterstock/Petrenko Andriy About College-Age & Young Adults This section features the most recent Monitoring the Future (MTF) national survey results on substance use in college-age adults ages 19 to 22, including patterns of marijuana and alcohol use, nicotine use, and nonmedical use of prescription drugs. It also covers …

About Criminal Justice More than half1 of people in prison have an untreated substance use disorder, and illicit drug and medication use may increase2 following a period of imprisonment. When it involves an untreated opioid use disorder, relapse to drug use can be fatal due to loss of opioid tolerance that …

NIDA supports global research to find evidence-based solutions to the public health problems of drug use, addiction, and drug-related HIV/AIDS. We recognize that addiction knows no borders and that no country can solve the problem by acting alone. Through our International Program, NIDA fosters international cooperative research and the exchange of …

People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) often face social stigma, discrimination, and other challenges not encountered by people who identify as heterosexual. They also face a greater risk of harassment and violence. As a result of these and other stressors, sexual minorities are at increased risk …

Active-duty and retired members of the armed forces can also face substance use problems. More than one in 10 Veterans who seek care at the U.S. Veteran’s Administration meet the criteria to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder—slightly higher than the rate among the general population.1 The stress of …

Find the latest science-based information about the health effects and consequences of drug use and addiction and resources for talking with kids about the impact of drug use on health.

Find information for people struggling with drug use, as well as resources for their families and friends.

Women and men may face unique issues when it comes to substance use, as a result of both sex and gender. Sex differences result from biology, or being genetically female or male, while gender differences are based on culturally defined roles for men and women, as well as those who …

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a growing issue in adults aged 65 and older in the United States. Older adults are more likely to take prescription medications and experience chronic health problems associated with aging, including chronic pain. These factors, as well as stressors such as grief and loss of …