Louisiana Among Top 5 States In Daily Use Of Mood-Altering Drugs

More than one in five residents of Louisiana report using a drug or medicated substance to alter their mood or relax on a near-daily basis.

Louisiana is number five nationally at a rate of 22.9% for daily drug/medication use. West Virginia is No. 1, with a rate of 28.1 percent, followed by Rhode Island (25.9%), Kentucky (24.5%), Alabama (24.2%) and Louisiana.

The national average is 18.9% for daily use of mood-altering drugs.

The poll consisted of interviews with at least 450 residents of every state from January to December of 2014.

The question specifically refers to drugs that "affect your mood or help you relax," so, the interpretation of that description is left up to respondents and could include prescription drugs, recreational drugs, alcohol or nicotine.

An analysis by the CDC found that southern states are among those with the highest prescription painkiller rates, and have the most frequent cigarette smokers.

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