Prevalence of Addiction in America

• There are about 19.7 million Americans, ages 12 and older, struggled with addiction in 2017. That’s more than 1 in 7 people and more that the number of Americans suffering from heart conditions (27 million), cancer (19 million) and diabetes (26 million).
• Almost 74% of American adults suffering from a substance use disorder in 2017 struggled with an alcohol addiction.
• 1 out of every 8 adults struggled with both alcohol and substance use disorders simultaneously in 2017.1
• Addiction costs America over $740 billion annually in lost health care expenses, addiction treatment, workplace productivity, as well as costs of addiction-related crimes.

Sources:
[1]. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
[2]. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2017). Trends & Statistics.

What is the Difference Between Drug or Alcohol Abuse and Addiction?

There is a range in the severity of substance problems: from mild to moderate to severe. Drug or alcohol abuse is a mild substance problem, defined by having two or three symptoms of addiction. People who abuse drugs or alcohol can experience serious consequences such as accidents, overdoses, crime, school problems, violence and suicide. Many people experience alcohol or drug abuse problems, but are able to stop using or change their pattern of use without progressing to addiction.