Drug policy of Missouri
As of the year 2020, the U.S. state of Missouri had the fourth highest rate of substance abuse in the United States.[1] According to a survey ran by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 7.7% of Missouri residents reported using illicit drugs.[2] The national average of drug abuse is 8.82%.[2] In addition, 2.99% of those people were reported using an illegal substance other than recreational marijuana.[2] Whilst the national average for recreational cannabis use is 3.6%.[2] Cannabis is the most abused drug in Missouri, followed by opioids, then methamphetamine.[3][4] Missouri is commonly known for its high rates of drug abuse during the Bush and Obama administrations.[2]

Legal measures against drug abuse
To counteract drug abuse in Missouri, SAMHSA gave two grants worth a total of 66 million dollars to the Missouri Department of Mental Health, to cover building costs of rehabilitation centers.[5] In addition, The Department Of Mental Health launched a public education campaign to educate children about prescription drug addiction.[6] SAMHSA also created a drug abuse hotline to help addicts get treatment.[7] The United States government also created the “Keepin’ It REAL Program,” as a replacement for the D.A.R.E. Program, after it lost funding in 1998.[8] In addition, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported to have arrested a total of 530,596 people for drug related crimes from the years 2001–2014.[9]
Cannabis usage
As of November 6, 2018, medical cannabis has been legalized in Missouri.[10] Recreational marijuana has not been legalized yet, but will be on ballots in the elections of 2022.[11]
Before July 1, 2021, it was illegal to have both a Medical Card and a CCW simultaneously in Missouri. But after state legislators passed a law , it is now legal to obtain both.[12]
Methamphetamine usage
As of January 1, 2017, it is illegal to possess more than 24 grams of methamphetamine.[13] Though, this is only if the drugs were intended to be used recreationally, and is still legally used to treat ADHD.[13][14]
In 2019, Missouri was labeled "America's Meth Production Capital”, after a study carried out by rehabs.com found it to have the highest number of meth labs per capita.[15]
Nicotine usage
As of 2018, Missouri had the tenth highest rate of nicotine usage in the United States; with around 10% of Missourian youth smoking nicotine. If electronic cigarettes are included in the statistic, then the rate of youth nicotine consumption goes up to 20%.[16] As of July 5, 2022, Juul’s vapes, except for the flavorless and mint flavors, were banned by the FDA from the entire United States of America.[17]
On December 20, 2019, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was updated. This changed the minimum legal age to possess nicotine from 18 to 21.[18]
Opioid usage

Opioids are the most used illicit drug in the state of Missouri.[19] In 2021, there were 1,582 deaths in the state, this accounts for more then 70% of all drug-related deaths in the year 2021.[20] The state of Missouri has provided naloxone to those experiencing overdose. As of 2023, the kratom plant is unbanned from public possession, for anyone under the age of 18 years old.[20] Similarly, the ingredients required to create Purple drank have been more restrictive and heavily regulated. Especially Dextromethorphan.
Prescription medication usage
In the year of 2021, an estimated 235,000 Missourians misused prescription medication in that year.[21] In early 2023, the state government of Missouri issued a statewide prescription monitoring program to all pharmacies in the state. The prescription monitoring program monitors the prescription of everyone, to stop one’s with a prescription drug addiction from swapping pharmacies to get an early refill on their prescription.[21]
Use in sports
The state of Missouri officially banned the use of steroids and all other kinds of performance-enhancing substances on February 27, 1991, after the nationwide ban with the signing of the Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990.[22] It is considered cheating to use any kind of performance-enhancing drug in official sports.[23] If found guilty, one can face up to a $1000 fine, and up to a 2-year prison sentence.[23]
Prohibition
Before Prohibition, Missouri was the second largest wine-producing state in the nation, behind Kansas.[24] Prohibition caused Missouri's economy to take a hit, as large wineries like Stone Hill Winery were shut down during prohibition. vineyards were also uprooted, making it impossible to resume production in 1933, when alcohol bans were lifted.
Currently, there are no dry counties in the state of Missouri. In Missouri's constitution, dry counties are prohibited.[24] Missouri is not as strong in the wine industry nowadays, as the west coast of the United States is more commercially dominant in wine production nowadays.[24]
See also
References
- "Drug Use by State: 2020's Problem Areas – WalletHub Study". Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health. 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- "Missouri: Opioid-Involved Deaths and Related Harms". National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2020-04-03. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- "Market Areas - Midwest HIDTA Drug Market Analysis". www.justice.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- "Opioids Dashboard". health.mo.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- "Opioid Crisis Response". dmh.mo.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- "Prescription Drug Misuse". dmh.mo.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- "SAMHSA's National Helpline". www.samhsa.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- "keepin' it REAL". youth.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- "Uniform Crime Reporting Drug Arrest". www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- "About Us | Health Services Regulation | Health & Senior Services". health.mo.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
- "Recreational marijuana is on Missouri's ballot in November. Critics say to read the fine print". KCUR 89.3 - NPR in Kansas City. 2022-08-15. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
- "Missouri Law Restores Medical Marijuana Users' Second Amendment Rights". Reason Foundation. 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
- "579.110". revisor.mo.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
- "Methamphetamine (Oral Route) Description and Brand Names - Mayo Clinic". www.mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
- "Study ranks Missouri #1 in meth manufacturing". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- "Tobacco Use Prevention and Control | Smoking and Tobacco | Health & Senior Services". health.mo.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- "FDA Denies Authorization to Market JUUL Products". United States Food and Drug Administration. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
- "Tobacco Regulations & Statutes". atc.dps.mo.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- "News Releases | Health & Senior Services". health.mo.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- "Mental Health and Substance Use State Fact Sheets". KFF. 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- "Prescription Drug Misuse | dmh.mo.gov". dmh.mo.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
- "Anabolic Steroids". www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
- Concannon, Marie. "Library Guides: Sports in Government Documents: Doping". libraryguides.missouri.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
- "Augusta". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-11.