Addiction is a health condition. While prevention is ideal, if a person does develop a substance use disorder, treatment is critical. People with this chronic condition need continued support during the often difficult process of returning to a healthy and productive life. By integrating general health care and substance use services, we can help those in remission and recovery achieve that goal.
Addiction, By the Numbers1
78
People die every day in the U.S. from an opioid overdose.
66 Million
Adults and adolescents reported binge drinking2.
31%
Of all traffic-related fatalities in 2014 involved alcohol.
30,000
People died from an overdose involving prescription drugs in 2014, more than any year on record.
5x
More fatal heroin overdoses in 2014 than 10 years earlier.
40%
Of those with a substance use disorder also have a mental health condition.
1 in 10
People with a substance use disorder receive any type of specialty treatment.
$1
Spent on treatment saves $4 in health care costs and $7 in criminal justice costs.
50%
Of adults who once met diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder are currently in stable remission.
Sources:
- Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health.
- Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2016). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. SMA 16-4984, NSDUH Series H-51). Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/data/
Learn how the Certificate Program in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Studies can help those who are in recovery continue to win their lives back.
