 |
Introduction |
|
Alcohol Addiction |
|
Drug Dependency |
|
Prescription Drugs |
|
Treatment for Dependency |
Each year, drug and alcohol abuse contributes to the deaths of more than 120,000 Americans. Substance abuse costs taxpayers in excess of $294 billion each year in preventable health care costs, extra law enforcement, auto accidents, crime, and lost productivity.
An estimated 9 percent of the American population was dependent on or an abuser of substances in 2003. Nearly 15 million people were dependent on alcohol (1 in 13); nearly 4 million were addicted to illicit drugs; and 3 million were abusers of both drugs and alcohol.
Males are twice as likely as females to abuse or become dependent on substances except for the population of ages 12 to 17, when the abuse rates are nearly equal. The highest rate of substance abuse is in the age 18 to 25 population.
Alcohol Addiction
- Alcoholism lasts a lifetime and cannot be cured. However, it can be treated. A 2001-2002 survey showed that 36 percent of adults with alcohol dependence that began more than one year ago are now in full recovery.
- Alcohol problems are highest among young adults and lowest among adults over age 65.
- Teenagers who start drinking at age 14 or younger greatly increase their chances that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives.
Drug Dependency
- Use of marijuana, LSD, methamphetamines, anabolic steroids, and cigarettes decreased significantly among high school students from 2003 to 2004, according to a National Institute on Drug Abuse study. However, abuse of inhalants increased for the second year. A single session of repeated inhalant abuse can disrupt heart rhythms and cause death from cardiac arrest or lowered oxygen levels that induce suffocation.
- Abuse of alcohol, heroin, crack cocaine, tranquilizers, and sedatives remained stable among teenagers from 2003 to 2004.
- Among adults, heroine is the substance of choice for 57 percent of substance abusers. Nearly 25 percent of users are dependent on cocaine, and 19 percent are addicted to sedatives.
Prescription Drugs
- Prescription drug abuse is on the rise in the United States, particularly among older adults, teenagers, and women. An estimated 47 million Americans have used prescription drugs nonmedically during their lifetimes, and 15 million have done so in the past year.
- Women are more likely than men to be prescribed abusable prescriptions, particularly narcotics and anti-anxiety drugs. Women are also more likely to become addicted to sedatives, anti-anxiety drugs, and hypnotics.
- An increasing number of patients are treated in hospital emergency rooms and substance abuse treatment centers for nonmedical use of prescription drugs.
- Prescription drugs are often used in combination with other medications, illegal drugs, or alcohol. Reported combinations include potentially life-threatening mixtures of depressants and alcohol.
- The three classes of prescription drugs most commonly abused include narcotic analgesics used to treat pain, depressants for anxiety and sleep disorders, and stimulants.
- Vicodin is the drug of choice among high school seniors and OxyContin is the second most often abused prescription drug. Students who have used one of these drugs for nonmedical purposes are likely to use other drugs as well.
Treatment for Dependency
- Drug addiction is treatable with behavioral and medication therapies. Counseling, psychotherapy, support groups, and family therapy are often used. Medications block the effects of drugs and reduce drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
- In general, the more treatment given, the better the results. Medication therapies alone are not as effective as when combined with counseling. Likewise, patients who stay in treatment for three months or longer have better outcomes than those who are in treatment for a shorter period of time.
- The best drug treatment programs provide a combination of therapies and services, such as drug education, case management, and counseling.
- In 2003, 3.3 million Americans over age 12 received treatment for drug dependency. More than half participated in a self-help group. Drug abusers find assistance and treatment at rehabilitation facilities, mental health centers, hospitals, private doctor's offices, emergency rooms, and jails.
- Research shows that even the most severely addicted individuals can actively participate in treatment.
Sources:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Related Articles:
- About Addictions
- Addiction Treatment Current Trends
- Addictions: Your Options for Care
- Addictions: How Social Workers Help
- Addition Tip Sheets
- Addiction Resources
- Addiction Real Life Stories
