Drug Addiction Statistics

Drug addiction is serious business. There is more to it(over the age of eighteen) using illicit drugs.
than what anybody will share in an interview, book orIn 2004, almost twenty three million Americans had
in a movie. The fact is that drug abuse has becomedependency problems with drugs. About an eighth of
so prevalent in today's society that most of us arethese abused alcohol and drugs and half of the total
able to spot someone suffering from a drug addictionnumber of users abused alcohol but did not have
and then shrug it off as if we hadn't seen anything atabuse problems with illicit drugs.
all. Perhaps this is why so many addicts suffer withoutFinally, consider the following statistics from the 2007
seeking help. It's easy to think that your ownNational Survey on Drug Use and Health done by the
community is insulated from things like drug abuse. TheOffice of Applied Studies at the United States
truth is that even the most picture perfect town hasDepartment of Health and Human Services.
people living within its borders who are addicted toIn 2007 almost twenty percent of adults over eighteen
drugs.that were polled admitted to using illicit drugs within a
In Delray Beach, Florida, there are many drugmonth of the poll taking place. Marijuana was the
treatment centers that are available to those who aresecond highest drug used in this poll and came in at
struggling with addictions to drugs and alcohol. Thesejust over sixteen percent of users polled.
drug rehab programs can include both inpatient drugThis same survey found that males were more likely
rehabilitation programs and outpatient drug rehabilitationto abuse illicit drugs and marijuana while all other drugs
services. They typically range from thirty days towere about even with both genders.
ninety days depending on the depth of individualsBecause drug abuse is so common in our society the
struggles. Some alcohol and drug addiction recoverystaff and experts many of the drug rehabs will not be
programs offer a faith-based treatment program tosurprised or shocked when you place your first call to
those clients who prefer to work the twelve steps andbegin your drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation treatments.
study scriptures in a safe and secure environment.Instead you will find an environment that welcomes
There are some who will scoff and say that the drugclients who want to get sober and will be surrounded
problems of the United States are exaggerated andby people who are in the same boat as you are. The
that the problems people see on television or in thetrained staff members in drug rehabs understand that
newspaper are trumped up to gain the attention of thedrug use is not this shadowy "thing" that "other people"
viewer/reader. It might surprise you then to read somedo. Drug use can affect anybody, no matter what age
of the following statistics that were provided to us byhe or she might be.
the White House's drug policy website.Statistically speaking, most adult Americans have tried
In 2001 almost thirty percent of kids between the agessome type of drug at least once or twice in their lives.
of twelve and seventeen reported using drugs.The residents of Delray Beach are no different from
That same year more than half of respondentsthe rest of the country. This is why it is important for
between the ages of eighteen and twenty fivedrug addicts to realize that there is no shame in
reported recent drug use.seeking help. The statistics regarding teenage and
In a study done by the Substance Abuse and Mentalyoung adult drug use are startling so if you think that
Health Services Administration, the following drugyou or someone that you care about might have a
statistics were discovered:drug or alcohol addiction problem, you should make an
In 2004 More than nineteen million Americans over theappointment at a drug and alcohol treatment center.
age of twelve were currently using drugs-includingThe experts there can help explain that drug use isn't
harder and illicit drugs.anything to be ashamed of and that it can be
There were more than sixteen million adult Americansovercome.