Is Substance Abuse Common
Substance abuse is a subject that can still have a stigma with your friends or family. It’s one of those “hush, hush” topics that many feel ashamed to speak about. Because of this, it makes getting help for those who are addicted challenging.
Due to it being a subject that many don’t want to discuss, it can seem that not many people struggle with it. However, we understand firsthand how many struggle with substance abuse problems.
Substance abuse is, unfortunately, common. Much more common than many are led to believe. Let’s talk about some factors why substance abuse is common.
Why Is Substance Abuse Common?
It Encompasses Many Things
First, let’s talk about what exactly substance abuse is. The excessive or harmful use of drugs, alcohol, or other psychoactive substances can lead to negative physical, psychological, and/or social consequences. Substance abuse is characterized by a pattern of use that interferes with daily activities, such as work, school, and/or relationships, and can cause physical and psychological dependence. Most often, people think about addiction in terms of alcohol, recreational drug use, or “harder drugs.” However, someone struggling with an addiction could also become addicted to prescription pills.
It’s A Hard Cycle To Break
Nobody sets out to become addicted to any substance. It is not a choice, as many people believe. Nobody wakes up one day and says, “I think I’d like to be addicted to…” and does it.
Substance use can start innocently enough; before they know it, they are knee-deep in an addiction. When they suspect they might have a habit, it is often impossible to quit cold turkey or stop using. It ends up being something that controls a person and not the other way around.
Substance Abuse Statistics
There are many surprising statistics about substance abuse, which shows just how common of a problem it is.
According to a 2021 study released by SAMHSA, or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:
From 2020-2021, 21.9 percent of people 12 years or older reported using illegal drugs in the past year.
Over 9.2 million people aged 12 and older reported misusing opioids from 2020-2021.
Over 46.3 million people met the criteria to be diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder. Of this number, 29.5 were classified with an alcohol use disorder, while 24 million were diagnosed with a drug use disorder.
Keeping these statistics in mind, here is the most shocking one of all. In 2021, 94% of people diagnosed with a substance use disorder did not receive treatment.
It is also estimated that over 10 percent of adults in the United States have coped with an addiction-related disease. Addiction affects men as well as women equally.
Getting Help With An Addiction
For many reasons, it can feel daunting to receive help. The good news is that someone can get started with many avenues of support. Most commonly, people know about rehabilitation for substance abuse and detox centers.
What we would like everyone to keep in mind is that often, a multi-faceted approach to treatment is the best option. There is more to addiction than just the actual use of substances.
At our practice, we believe that the best chance of success is through multiple approaches. Therefore, we often recommend a treatment consultation or evaluation for every case. This way, we can get to know the person struggling with addiction. Through this process, we can make the best recommendation for treatment facilities (both in-patient and outpatient) and a sound mental health game plan.
Addiction is complex and challenging to complete on your own. However, you can start on the recovery path with the proper support. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about addiction counseling or treatment consultations.
If you are ready to learn more about addiction counseling, contact us to begin.