About How Many Drug Addicts Are There in America? How Many Seek Treatment? How Many Are Successful?
Question by [email protected]: About how many drug addicts are there in america? How many seek treatment? How many are successful?
General statistics and facts would be great. Thank you.
people who abuse narcotics and alcohol.
Best answer:
Answer by An-Atomy
define drug. are you including cigarettes and alcohol? if so, our own president would be lumped into this catagory.
Answer by raysny
“In 2007, an estimated 22.3 million persons (9.0 percent of the population aged 12 or older)
were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year based on criteria
specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSMIV).
Of these, 3.2 million were classified with dependence on or abuse of both alcohol and
illicit drugs, 3.7 million were dependent on or abused illicit drugs but not alcohol, and 15.5
million were dependent on or abused alcohol but not illicit drugs.”
http://oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k7nsduh/2k7Results.pdf
The dominant treatment method in the US is Twelve Step Facilitation, over 90% of rehabs are 12step-based. It is not a very effective method, rated slightly above plain AA:
http://www.behaviortherapy.com/whatworks.htm
Most people who quit addiction do so on their own:
“There is a high rate of recovery among alcoholics and addicts, treated and untreated. According to one estimate, heroin addicts break the habit in an average of 11 years. Another estimate is that at least 50% of alcoholics eventually free themselves although only 10% are ever treated. One recent study found that 80% of all alcoholics who recover for a year or more do so on their own, some after being unsuccessfully treated. When a group of these self-treated alcoholics was interviewed, 57% said they simply decided that alcohol was bad for them. Twenty-nine percent said health problems, frightening experiences, accidents, or blackouts persuaded them to quit. Others used such phrases as “Things were building up” or “I was sick and tired of it.” Support from a husband or wife was important in sustaining the resolution.”
Treatment of Drug Abuse and Addiction — Part III, The Harvard Mental Health Letter, October 1995.
Several studies have shown that both Alcoholics Anonymous and quitting on ones own have about a 5% success rate. Coincidentally(?), people who attempt quitting smoking has about a 5% success rate. To me that shows that 5% of people summon up the motivation and determination to stop. That 5% figure is for each time a person attempts to quit, eventually, most people finally get it if they continue to try.
Snapshot of heroin use, deaths in 26 states, including Louisiana
… in including the uptick in fatal overdoses in Louisiana: — CALIFORNIA: California has seen an increase in heroin addicts seeking treatment since fiscal year 2006-2007, as a proportion of addicts seeking treatment for all drugs including alcohol …
Read more on The Times-Picayune
Centre For Drug Addiction Treatment
A person who cannot account for their expenses clearly or tends to hide some information on where they spend their money could as well be spending it on drugs. Finally, drug addicts suffer from family breakups, and emotional instability. They can no …
Read more on THiNK Magazine