
Full Answer
How many people need treatment for drug and alcohol addiction?
In 2011, 21.6 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem, but only 2.3 million received treatment at a specialty substance abuse facility. Reducing this gap requires a multipronged approach.
How many people are suffering from addiction in America?
The number of people suffering from addiction in America is astounding. Let’s take a look at some numbers starting with adolescents. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. 1
How many people don’t receive drug rehab?
While addiction and substance abuse are undoubtedly major problems in the US, a survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that as many as 90 percent of people who most need drug rehab do not receive it. With such a desperate need for solutions, what results can be expected from treatment?
How many people actually recover from substance abuse?
Kelly co-authored a peer-reviewed study published last year that found roughly 22.3 million Americans — more than 9% of adults — live in recovery after some form of substance-use disorder. A separate study published by the CDC and the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2020 found 3 out of 4 people who experience addiction eventually recover.

How many questions are asked in the substance use evaluation?
The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.
Who is rehab counselor?
Rehab counseling at some centers is often practiced by “veteran counselors” who overcame substance abuse problems of their own. These counselors may fervently believe in their methodology, even as state governments (like Oregon) have started to cast a skeptical eye on some in the industry.
Is addiction a problem in rehab?
The insidious nature of addiction adds to the problem of defining success in rehab. Some patients simply go through the motions of treatment, doing and saying anything just to graduate from their program, if it means getting back into the outside world where they can resume their drug consumption.
Is there a standard definition of rehab?
There is no standard definition of rehab, so there is no standardized way to measure the success of addiction centers. Many base their success rates on unreliable metrics, such as: A better approach involves judging the actual quality of care a facility provides, both during and after the formal treatment period.
Is there a 12-step program?
Joining Johnson’s voice, many who object to the rigid principles of 12-Step programs (for example surrendering to a higher power), point to cases of “spontaneous recovery,” as evidence that 12-Step is only one approach in the mix. Many cite a small 1985 Journal of Studies on Alcohol study in which drinkers were able to walk away from their behavior of their own volition via a combination of willpower, developing a physical aversion to alcohol after bottoming out, and experiencing some kind of life-changing experience to support the idea that 12-Step or rehab in general isn’t a must in every case.
Is there a standard metric for rehabilitation?
The answer is not very straightforward. According to TIME magazine, there is no standard definition of “rehab,” so there is no standard metric of success for rehabilitation centers. Some facilities simply measure how many of their patients complete their programs; others consider sobriety in the follow-up months and years after “graduation” as the threshold for success.
Is medication based therapy more effective than psychological therapy?
When asked what he would call the medication-based approach, Johnson stressed that medications can often be more effective than psychological therapy on its own. Johnson also points out myths that tend to feed the self-help model, including the idea that one must hit “rock bottom” before entering treatment.
How many people have substance use disorder in 2017?
In 2017, about 9.4% of men and 5.2% of women age 12 and older had a substance use disorder. 7. Men may be more likely to abuse illicit drugs than women, but women may be just as prone to addiction as men when they do abuse them. 8.
What are the statistics on drug use?
Statistics on Drug Addiction 1 According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. 1 2 Almost 74% of adults suffering from a substance use disorder in 2017 struggled with an alcohol use disorder. 1 3 About 38% of adults in 2017 battled an illicit drug use disorder. 1 4 That same year, 1 out of every 8 adults struggled with both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously. 1 5 In 2017, 8.5 million American adults suffered from both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders. 1 6 Drug abuse and addiction cost American society more than $740 billion annually in lost workplace productivity, healthcare expenses, and crime-related costs. 2
What were the most common prescription drugs used in 2017?
The most common types of prescription drugs abused in 2017 were pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. 7. In 2017, about 1.7 million people age 12 and older had a pain reliever use disorder, or about 0.6% of this population. 1.
What are the factors that increase the risk of addiction?
Environmental factors that may increase a person’s risk of addiction include a chaotic home environment and abuse, parent’s drug use and attitude toward drugs, peer influences, community attitudes toward drugs, and poor academic achievement. 3.
How many adolescents have alcoholism in 2017?
About 443,000 adolescents age 12 to 17 had an alcohol use disorder in 2017, or 1.8% of adolescents. 1. An estimated 741,000 adolescents suffered from an illicit drug use disorder in 2017, or about 3% of this population. 1. Young adults aged 18-25:
Is addiction a treatable disease?
Addiction is considered a highly treatable disease, and recovery is attainable. About 10% of American adults who are at least 18 years old say they are in recovery from an alcohol or drug abuse issue. 20. Statistics on Addiction Treatment.
Is drug abuse scary?
Drug and alcohol abuse can be scary. What’s more frightening is when you’re the one battling a substance use disorder (SUD) or an alcohol use disorder (AUD), and you don’t have a solution to the problem. American Addiction Centers provides 24-hour medical detox, premium treatment, and ongoing care.
How much money does addiction treatment make?
American Addiction Centers, one of the largest treatment organizations in the U.S., reported revenue of almost 296 million dollars in 2018, a substantial increase from the 212 million dollars reported in 2015.
How many substance abuse facilities are there in the US?
In 2018, there were 14,809 substance abuse facilities in the U.S., with the highest number found in the state of California.
Can addiction be treated successfully?
Yes, addiction is a treatable disorder. Research on the science of addiction and the treatment of substance use disorders has led to the development of research-based methods that help people to stop using drugs and resume productive lives, also known as being in recovery.
Can addiction be cured?
Like other chronic diseases such as heart disease or asthma, treatment for drug addiction usually isn't a cure. But addiction can be managed successfully. Treatment enables people to counteract addiction's disruptive effects on their brain and behavior and regain control of their lives.
Does relapse to drug use mean treatment has failed?
No. The chronic nature of addiction means that for some people relapse, or a return to drug use after an attempt to stop, can be part of the process, but newer treatments are designed to help with relapse prevention. Relapse rates for drug use are similar to rates for other chronic medical illnesses.
What are the principles of effective treatment?
Research shows that when treating addictions to opioids (prescription pain relievers or drugs like heroin or fentanyl), medication should be the first line of treatment, usually combined with some form of behavioral therapy or counseling. Medications are also available to help treat addiction to alcohol and nicotine.
What medications and devices help treat drug addiction?
Different types of medications may be useful at different stages of treatment to help a patient stop abusing drugs, stay in treatment, and avoid relapse.
How do behavioral therapies treat drug addiction?
Behavioral therapies help people in drug addiction treatment modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use. As a result, patients are able to handle stressful situations and various triggers that might cause another relapse. Behavioral therapies can also enhance the effectiveness of medications and help people remain in treatment longer.
How do the best treatment programs help patients recover from addiction?
Stopping drug use is just one part of a long and complex recovery process. When people enter treatment, addiction has often caused serious consequences in their lives, possibly disrupting their health and how they function in their family lives, at work, and in the community.
What percentage of rehab admissions are cocaine?
Cocaine – 5 percent. These substances accounted for around 93% of all rehab admissions, with the rest being made up of multiple less commonly used substances. Opiates and alcohol take up the majority of substances that people are addicted to when they seek rehab treatment.
How old was the average person in rehab in 2017?
In 2017, that number has increased to 27%. Of the above group of addicts that were admitted for rehab, the average age was 36 years old.
What is the second major substance that has seen an increase of rehab admissions?
The second major substance that has seen an increase of rehab admissions is methamphetamines. Methamphetamines accounted for 8% of all rehab admissions in 2007 and have risen to 12% as of 2017. The average age for the group is 34 years old.
How long does a rehab center stay?
Here is a breakdown of the median length of stay by type of treatment service from admission to discharge (any reason): Outpatient medication-assisted opioid therapy – 90 days.
Is there a decrease in marijuana addiction?
Marijuana. As social and legal beliefs around marijuana use have become more relaxed in some states, there has been a decrease in admissions for marijuana addiction. The peak of marijuana rehab admissions over the past 10 years was at 19% in 2010 but has steadily dropped to 13% as of 2017.
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Kelly co-authored a peer-reviewed study published last year that found roughly 22.3 million Americans — more than 9% of adults — live in recovery after some form of substance-use disorder.
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