Trends In Substance Abuse
Substance abuse and alcoholism have been at the forefront of the headlines for some time now, stories ranging from addiction to everything from prescription medications to more commonly identified illicit drugs such as Cocaine, Heroin, and Marijuana.
While many of the drugs being abused by teens and habitual users are familiar to most of the public, if only by name, there are a variety of lesser-known drugs. New trends in drug abuse are difficult to keep up with, especially when they are being produced illegally in the United States at an alarming rate.
Law Enforcement and Drug Addiction
For many years law enforcement officials and community leaders, on a national level, have understood the threat for the future based on the impending dangers of these new hybrids or synthetic chemicals being manufactured. Several of these synthetic products are being sold legally around the country, as well as on the internet.
Unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), potential health risks and side effects of these man-made drugs generally are unfamiliar and can pose a serious risk. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration and National Institute on Drug Abuse are government resources available to the community to further educate themselves hazards of this growing epidemic.
Statistics on Addiction in America
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Whether its alcohol, opioids, cocaine, or any other drug, addictive substance abuse kills thousands of Americans every year and affects millions of lives. Addiction is a mental disorder that causes a person to frequently use psychoactive substances or behaviors, even when they have negative effects. Addictions damage marriages, friendships, jobs and threaten people’s health and safety.
- Nearly 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, but only 10% are receiving treatment.
- Between 1999 and 2017, more than 700,000 Americans died from excessive drug use.
- Alcohol and drug use cost more than $ 600 billion a year to the U.S. economy.
- Since 1990, the number of drug addicts has more than tripled.
- About 20% of Americans with depression or anxiety disordersalso have a depressive disorder.
- In 2017, 34.2 million Americans were convicted of DUI, 21.4 million were under the influence of alcohol, and 12.8 million were under the influence of drugs.
- More than 90% of addicts start drinking alcohol or drugs before the age of 18 years.
Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 often use addictive drugs.