America’s Drug Problem at Glance

The staggering numbers of alcohol and drug abusers in the United States—now more than 23 million—must be confronted with effective rehabilitation and education National estimates of people in need of substance abuse treatment in the United States are somewhere around 23 million people. However, the number of people who abuse alcohol or other drugs occasionally or who are dependent upon prescribed drugs include tens of millions more According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, more than six and a half million teenagers reported abusing prescription painkillers like Vicodin® or Oxycontin® and another two million used stimulants such as Ritalin® and Adderall® without a prescription. In addition, more than half of our adult population consumes alcohol on a regular basis. The 2000 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicated that an estimated 46 million persons aged 12 or older were binge drinkers (binge drinking is defined as having five or more alcoholic beverages in a row). Of these, almost 7 million were younger than 21. People who use alcohol and other drugs make irrational and irresponsible decisions. One look at the nation’s jail and prison population, which has risen to over two million people, serves as just one example. In addition to the crimes committed, substance abuse is also a major contributor to the spread of disease, domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, lost productivity at work and increased healthcare costs, to name a few categories. A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also says that 16.6 percent of adult drivers ages 21 or older (30.7 million persons) reported driving while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs during the past year. Factor in the additional 4 million people under 21 who drove under the influence in the past year and it’s easy to see how 17,000 people die each year due to alcohol-related traffic accidents. When examining drug abuse statistics, it’s important to understand that a drug is any substance taken into the body that chemically alters one or more of its functions. All drugs are essentially poisons and the amount taken determines the effect. All drugs also have side effects. People use drugs for a seemingly endless variety of reasons, making the situation seem much more complex than it needs to be. The one thing they all have in common is that there is some unwanted physical or mental condition that doesn’t appear to have an immediate solution. Somewhere along the line a drug is presented to them as the solution to their problem and it temporarily seems to work, so they turn to drugs again when that problem or a similar one arises in the future. Although drugs may appear to provide relief from the condition, they don’t actually solve the problem, and because of the impaired perceptions and side effects they eventually leave one in a condition even worse. Add to that the increased tolerance for the substance and the physical and mental dependence, and it’s no wonder how so many people get caught in the trap. The good news is that overall drug use among teenagers declined by 17 percent from 2001 to 2004, which means that all is not lost and it is a great acknowledgement to individuals and groups who are working to end substance abuse throughout the country. Our organization continually gets results through effective drug rehabilitation and education services . Currently the largest program with a international network of more than 120 programs in 40 countries, CONTACT US NOW AT 800 –419-HELP