Drugs From Last Night – What Drugs Do People Text About?

Drugs From Last Night

Have you ever woken up after a long night out and realized you sent out a text you wish you could take back? Maybe you said something about a bad date or a terrible coworker you’re afraid will get out now. Those examples might seem stressful enough, but what about texting someone about your drug use?

It might not sound like the kind of thing you expect to show up in a text message from a friend or loved one, but more Americans are testing and consuming illicit drugs than ever before – and sharing their experiences via text. This behavior is concerning, especially considering the high numbers of overdoses that occur each year.

In 2024 alone, the CDC estimates 80,391 people died from a drug overdose in the U.S. It’s critical to know the signs of an overdose so you can seek help when needed. Some of the key symptoms to look out for include:

Bystanders should call 911 at the first sign of an overdose. They can also administer naloxone, if available, to help reverse overdose symptoms. Thanks to recent developments in naloxone access laws, this medication is more accessible than ever before. In 2023, the FDA approved naloxone nasal spray (Narcan) for over-the-counter sale and made the medication available in pharmacies. Some states even have programs in place to make the life-saving drug more affordable.

While it’s important to understand what to do during an overdose, preventing one starts with listening. Learning how people are talking about their drug use can help us understand more about the nature of addiction, and how to help your friends and loved ones find the help they need.

Recently, we studied more than 71,000 entries from the website Texts From Last Night (TFLN). From the types of drugs people are using to the way they feel afterward, we took a firsthand look at drug use in the U.S. today. Note that as of  July 2025, the TFLN website is no longer active. 

Read on to see what we discovered.

Percent of TFLN Doing Each Drug

Most Common Drugs Mentioned

When mentions of drugs make their way to the text thread, they often reference some of the most dangerous substances on the market. For example, of all the posts we studied on TFLN referencing drugs or drug use, more than 1 in 4 (25.91%) mentioned methamphetamines.

With around 29,456 people dying from psychostimulants (including meth) in 2024, this drug is a real concern that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s especially dangerous for young adults, who have a higher risk of incurring strokes and brain bleeds than older drug users when they consume meth, the effects of which are often debilitating or fatal.

In addition, more than 20% of the texts that mentioned drug use included a reference to heroin, and more than 17% cited cocaine.

Average Number Of Goodnights Per Drug Mention

Drug-Related Text Trends

Several trends stood out to us while analyzing drug-related texts on TFLN. Let’s take a look.

Good Nights vs. Bad Nights

One trend we researched was the unequal distribution of texts linking drug use to a good or bad night. You see, when users anonymously submit text messages they think are funny or entertaining to TFLN, they’re generally divided into two categories: good nights and bad nights.

According to our research, drugs were nearly twice as likely to be tagged under a good night than a bad one on TFLN. This shows that many users are unaware of how dangerous their drug activities are, and may even be tempted to repeat them in the future.

Average Number Of Bad-Nights Per Drug Mention

Some of the drugs that did earn a high number of “bad night” tags include heroin and cocaine.

Specifically, we found more than 2,000 entries referencing heroin that were filed under a bad night on TFLN – the highest of any substance type mentioned on the site.

Another 1,800 posts tagged under a bad night referenced LSD and cocaine, while 1,700 mentioned prescription pills and marijuana. Despite being categorized as a “party drug”, substances like LSD can negatively impact your mood and perceptions of reality, leading to overwhelming feelings of anxiety.

Location-Specific Drug References

Conversations submitted to TFLN are posted anonymously except for the user’s area code. So, which cities are talking about drugs the most and categorizing their experience as a good night or a bad night?

In the 303 area code (Denver, Colorado), bad experiences with heroin were the most common. An estimated 38 people died from a heroin overdose in 2023. While significant, this number does represent a steady decline from 2022 (64 people), 2021 (190 people), and 2020 (228 people). In fact, from 2018 to 2023, heroin deaths in Denver decreased by an impressive 83.8%.

Yet, this doesn’t mean the city is in the clear. Overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl are up by more than 833% over the same time frame, and cocaine deaths rose by 118%. In addition, more people are turning to party drugs like nitazenes, which are often mixed with heroin and can be even more potent than fentanyl. From August 2021 to October 2023, nitazene or nitazene analogs were involved in at least 13 drug overdose deaths throughout Colorado.

Denver and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (412 area code) tied for the highest number of cocaine-related submissions, and marijuana was the most shared substance in Baltimore, Maryland (410 area code).

This leads us to our next question: In which cities were people sharing their positive experiences with some of the most dangerous and illicit substances in the country?

Posts to TLFN shared from the southwestern parts of Connecticut (area code 203), including New Haven, Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Waterbury, had the highest concentration of heroin-related posts tagged under “good night.”

In the Constitution State, people are more likely to die from an intentional drug overdose than a car wreck, and most of those deaths are associated with illicit opioids. In 2023, around 92% of overdose-related deaths in Connecticut were caused by illicit and prescription opioids. Moreover, an estimated 85% of overdose deaths involved fentanyl, while 22% involved an animal tranquilizer called xylazine.

Just south of Detroit in Oakland County, Michigan (area code 248), we found the highest percentages of positive marijuana-related submissions. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance in the world. Research shows that more than 1.6 million adolescents in the U.S. between the ages of 12 and 17  and 7.6 million between the ages of 18 and 25 currently use marijuana. Globally, around 147 million people currently use it, according to the World Health Organization.

Meth posts were most popular in northern parts of Virginia (area code 703) while prescription pills ranked highest in Charlotte, North Carolina (area code 704).

Standout Drugs

No Texting Matter

Despite how often we might hear their names in the media or on our smartphones, the reality is that drugs like heroin, methamphetamines, cocaine, and prescription pills are no laughing matter.

If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, help is here for you. At Addictions.com, we know that what it takes to get sober and stay healthy can be different for everyone. We’ll help you build a customized treatment plan based on your needs and unique situation without compromising the quality or success of your care. From intervention to rehabilitation and relapse prevention, we’ll be with you every step of the way. To find a rehab clinic near you, start your search today.

Methodology

We collected every text from Textsfromlastnighy.com (71,316 total). We then used a mixture of textual analysis and geolocation data to pinpoint where the texts were coming from and what they were about.

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