North Carolina has different drug abuse patterns than most of the other states of the nation. The main drugs do remain cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin as in the other states, but the trends are quite different.

Cocaine is the most popular drug being used in North Carolina. Out of the total people that seek rehab treatment in North Carolina, about 25% of the people are reeling under cocaine addiction, which makes cocaine addiction second only to alcohol addiction in North Carolina. The state is actually considered to be a major trafficking spot for the drug, which is brought in from states like New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia and then carried on forward to other states.

Marijuana is expected to be a largely abused drug too, because of its local prevalence in the state added to the fact that it is largely brought in from Mexico and the other states of the nation. Marijuana is often considered as a starter drug within the state; people who are into alcohol addiction usually take up marijuana and then graduate onto other things. Hence, marijuana is one of the precursors of larger forms of drug addiction in North Carolina.

Heroin, on the other hand, is very less consumed in the state. The average rate of people in heroin addiction in North Carolina is quite insignificant compared to people who are addicted to cocaine or marijuana.

Like in most other states, methamphetamine addiction in North Carolina is just gaining momentum, but the growth has been terrifying in the last few years. This drug is primarily concentrated in the nightclub circuit of the state.