You’ve probably heard the bleak news about our modern addiction crisis. The problem has worsened following the pandemic as the isolation caused by lockdowns continues to take its toll.
While you may have heard some stories, you might not know these 7 alarming statistics from the National Institute of Health about today’s addiction crisis.
1. 1 in 3
That’s right, 1 in 3 households in the United States are affected, either directly or indirectly, by the addiction crisis. That’s an astounding number.
Just think about what that means – your neighbor to the right, your neighbor to the left, and you – one of you is affected in some way by the addiction crisis. Everyone is at risk.
2. 22 Million
That’s another big number – 22 million; it’s the number of people in the United States with an active substance use disorder. It represents about 15% of the population of the US.
But that’s not all. Another 23 million are currently in recovery from addiction. That’s over 40 million people who have been afflicted by the addiction crisis.
3. 821 Billion
That’s billion with a B, and that’s the total economic cost of addiction in the United States. It breaks down into the following categories:
Illicit Drugs: 193 billion
Prescription opioids: 78 billion
Alcohol: 250 billion
Tobacco: 300 billion
Even worse, the biggest economic costs come from fatalities caused by the addiction.
4. 245.8 per Million
That’s the number of people who die from drug use in the United States. For every one million people, there are 245.8 deaths due to drugs.
What’s even worse, that’s twice the number of deaths as compared to any other geographic region. The world average is only 39.6 per million.
5. 79,117 Opioid-Related Deaths
That’s the number of overdose deaths from opioid abuse in 2022. Opioids are one of the main drivers of the addiction crisis today.
The number of deaths from opioids has risen by a staggering 50% after 2020. It’s a crisis the US will be dealing with for years to come.
6. 2.08 Million
That’s the number of teenagers who have reported using drugs within the last month. Moreover, 62% of teenagers in the twelfth grade report having used alcohol, and another 50% reported using drugs at least once.
The addiction crisis has no boundaries when it comes to the age of addicts, and it’s devastating our children.
7. 1 in 11
One in 11 young adults aged 18 - 25 years reported binge drinking on at least 5 or more days in the last month. That’s heavy use, and it will destroy many young lives.
These are the people who represent the future of the United States, and if we don’t pay attention to the problem, it will affect all of us.
Sober Sidekick Can Help With the Addiction Crisis
A big part of the problem with drug and alcohol abuse, especially since the pandemic, is isolation. Many people feel like they are all alone in the world and all alone with their addiction.
Sober Sidekick is an app and a social media platform that gives the user access to a community of recovering addicts who understand the problem and want to help. We are in this addiction crisis together, and together, we can prevail! Join the Sober Sidekick community today, and you never have to feel alone again.
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