Drug abuse and addiction are serious issues. All too often, we view them as general epidemics — until they start to impact your everyday life. These five drug abuse statistics show just how pervasive drug use and addiction truly is.
More Teens Use Marijuana Than Cigarettes
For high school students, both marijuana and tobacco products are illegal. However, most people would assume that cigarette use was far more common than drug use. While that may have been true in the past, rising marijuana consumption has switched things up. Just 5% of teens regularly smoke cigarettes, but 6% report regular marijuana consumption.
Americans Use More Than Their Fair Share of Prescription Painkillers
The population of the United States is roughly 325 million. In a planet with more than seven billion residents, that percentage is relatively small. Unfortunately, however, the country’s prescription drug abuse problem is anything but small.
A big culprit is simply how many prescription painkillers medical professionals prescribe. United States medical professionals prescribe more than 80% of the world’s pain medications.
Prescription Drug Overdoses Kill Every 19 Minutes
It’s easy to think of drugs like heroin and cocaine as the most deadly on the market. Shockingly, prescription drugs can be just as dangerous. In the United States alone, a person dies every 19 minutes because of a prescription drug overdose. Many of those overdoses are a result of addiction or improper consumption of the medication.
Your DNA Could be to Blame for Drug Addiction
Just a few of the reasons for addiction include a history of trauma, mental illness, and ease of availability. While these are certainly factors, what’s surprising is how much your DNA is responsible for.
Research suggests that genetics are responsible for up to 50% of what causes an addiction to develop. This explains why some people develop addictions to drugs and others don’t. It also explains why addiction can seem like it runs in families.
1 in 2 Crimes Involves Drug Use
In many cases, drug use itself is already a crime. In addition to that, most major crimes are committed while the perpetrator is under the influence. If these individuals had access to addiction treatment, then they may have never committed a crime.
Preventing Drug Abuse Statistics from Getting Worse
Drug abuse is clearly a rampant problem, but recovery is still absolutely possible. At Pinnacle Peak Recovery in Scottsdale, Arizona, patients can get help and start living a life free from addiction. Call 866-377-4761 to start making plans for your recovery today.
