According to the documents, drug and alcohol abuse is a major problem in America. In 2009, 23.9 million people aged 12 and older needed treatment for substance abuse issues, but only 2.6 million received treatment. Between 2000 and 2014, fatal overdoses from opioids and heroin more than tripled. Additionally, 90% of Americans with substance abuse problems began using drugs, alcohol, or smoking before age 18.

1. www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-statistics
In 2009,
23.9 million
people aged 12+
needed treatment
for drug or
alcohol abuse.
Of these, only
2.6 million
received it.
FACTS
YOU NEED
TO KNOW
ABOUT
ADDICTION
IN AMERICA
20
The sale of
prescription painkillers
has increased by over
300% since 1999.
1 in 10 high school
seniors admits to abusing
prescription painkillers.
www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-statistics/
www.asam.org/docs/default-source/advocacy/opioid-addiction-disease-facts-figures.pdf
www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
2000 2010 2014
5,000
10,000
15,000
2000 2010 2014
5,000
10,000
15,000
Opioids Heroin
www.time.com/4274651/obama-opioid-addiction-summit/
of people
struggling
with heroin
addiction
abused
prescription
painkillers
first.
50%
of people who had a substance
abuse disorder had a
co-occuring mental
health condition.
40.7%
A 2009 study found
infant
deaths
each year
between
2005 and
2009 were
attributed to
women smoking
during pregnancy.
“compulsive need for
and use of a hab-
it-forming substance
(such as heroin,
nicotine, or alcohol)
characterized by
tolerance and by
well-defined physio-
logical symptoms
upon withdrawal”
The
Merriam-
Webster
dictionary
defines
addiction as:
adults 18+
were
diagnosed
with
alcohol
use
disorder.
15.1 million
In
2015
of people have
at least one
behavioral
addiction.
41%
A 2011 study
found about
www.nytimes.com/2017/03/06/science/technology-addiction-irresistible-by-adam-alter.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0
www.abovetheinfluence.com/drugs/alcohol/?gclid=CNrRjqqbx9ICFVC4wAod_PsDMA
In 2011, the
rate of drug
use for teens
was 9.5 times
higher for
those who
smoked than
those who
didn’t.
www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
RECOVERY IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE
More people receive treatment
for alcohol addiction
than any other form.
1/3
of alcoholics fully recover.
Around the world, there are
25,000
groups of Narcotics Anonymous.
700,000
people seek treatment for
addiction every day.
Between 2000 and 2014, fatal opioid and heroin overdoses more than
TRIPLED, and have continued to rise over the past two years.
SOURCES
million
Americans
suffer
from
opioid use
disorder
2.5
Over
In 2015,
WestVirginia
had the highest
number of drug
overdose in the
United States.
of Americans
with a
substance
abuse
problem
started
smoking,
drinking or
using before
age 18.
90%
877.538.5425
FeinbergAddictionServices.com
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addiction
www.piattmhc.org/substance-abuse
www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/painkillers/international-statistics.html
www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/substance-use-in-women
1,105
An
estimated