If you’re an addict, it’s important to know you’re not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from some kind of substance abuse disorder (SUD), and the problem isn’t going away anytime soon.
Here are some of the latest addiction statistics and predictions for Americans in 2023.
Fentanyl Leads the Way
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one million people died as a result of drug overdoses between 1999 and 2022. Today, more than 82.3% of those deaths can be blamed on fentanyl or a similar synthetic opioid.
The problem with fentanyl is that it is largely undetectable and can be used to cut other drugs like cocaine, methamphetamines, and even benzodiazepines such as Xanax. Recent trends include so-called ‘rainbow fentanyl,’ the multicolored appearance of which experts fear will attract younger users in 2023.
Despite the purported advent of a fentanyl vaccine that reduces the risk of overdose, as an addict, you know that it will take more than that to keep you from using. You have to change your behavior to modify those bad habits.
Then There’s Alcohol
Even without the illicit drugs that are readily available, alcohol is another major contributor to substance use disorders. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, alcohol abuse disorder (AUD) kills over 3 million people a year, accounting for up to 6% of global deaths.
Over 10% of Americans above the age of 12 had an AUD in 2020, and the pandemic resulted in a 262% increase in alcohol sales. In fact, over 60% of people reported an increase in alcohol consumption after March 2020.
Every day, alcohol use kills 385 Americans, with 83.9% of those deaths occurring in individuals over the age of 35 and alcohol-related liver disease killing 19.1%. What’s more, Americans as a group lose more than 3.59 million years of potential life because of excessive alcohol consumption.
High-intensity drinking is an emerging trend for 2023. This involves consuming alcohol at two to three times the gender-specific binge drinking thresholds.
Polysubstance Abuse Trends
The CDC notes that more than one-half the overdose deaths are the result of using multiple substances. Going into 2023, overdose deaths from methamphetamine and other psychostimulants are on the rise.
The use of multiple substances increases the risk of overdose because mixing drugs can increase the effects of each substance or make them more unpredictable. That includes mixing drugs with alcohol, as the stats show that 1 in 7 opioid-related deaths occurred within a few hours of adding alcohol to the mix.
Sober Sidekick Can Help
These trends are frightening and with good reason. That makes getting and staying sober an even more important goal for 2023. Sober Sidekick can help.
With over 150,000 members, Sober Sidekick provides an anonymous online platform for making connections with people who understand the urge to use and want to help.
A supportive, positive social network is key to getting and staying sober, so give the platform a try today for a sober new year!
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