More Than 1 in 6 Americans Struggle with Substance Use Disorder

Over 17% of Americans, Including Teens and Adults, Struggle with Substance Use Disorder

1 in 6 Americans struggle with substance use disorder.

By Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter

Oh boy, hold onto your seats because I have some news that will make your jaw drop. According to new government data released on Monday, over 1 in 6 Americans—yes, that’s right, adults and teens alike—suffered from a substance use disorder in 2022. That’s like a whole lot of people! We’re talking about roughly 30 million individuals with an alcohol use disorder and 27 million people dealing with a drug use disorder. And guess what? Out of those 27 million, a whopping 6 million had an opioid use disorder. Yikes!

But wait, there’s more! Some folks, bless their hearts, had addictions to not just one substance, but multiple substances. We’re talking about 8 million people struggling with both alcohol and drug use disorders. Talk about a juggling act!

Now, here’s the kicker: mental illness often tagged along with these substance abuse issues. According to the survey, nearly a quarter of adults had a mental health issue. And guess what? 1 in 12 of these brave souls were coping with both mental illness and substance use disorder. It’s like fighting a two-front battle, folks.

But hold on a second, we can’t forget about the young ones. Approximately 1 in 5 adolescents aged 12 to 17—almost 5 million of them—had experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. Break out the tissues, it’s a rough world out there.

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“The overdose epidemic is heartbreaking,” says U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. And you know what? It is! But the good news is that it’s also preventable. We’ve made progress, but we can’t stop now. We need proper funding and unwavering commitment to get Americans the help they need.

These chilling statistics are based on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. And here’s a mind-boggling fact for you: in 2022, approximately 2.5 million more people experienced substance use disorders compared to the previous year. Is anyone else scratching their heads here?

But hey, it’s not all gloom and doom. Amidst the chaos, there are some promising trends. Alcohol use among adolescents is actually decreasing, and the use of tobacco across most age groups is also on the decline. Plus, most adults who recognize that they’ve had a substance use or mental health challenge consider themselves to be in recovery. Cheers to that!

However, we can’t ignore the fact that drug overdose deaths are still at alarming levels, and millions of people are not receiving the treatment they desperately need. That’s why President Joe Biden is requesting billions of dollars to strengthen substance use disorder services and combat drug trafficking. They say money can’t buy happiness, but it sure can make a difference in this case.

So, what’s the bottom line here? Congress, it’s time to step up and provide the funding needed to expand essential lifesaving services and crack down on illicit drug trafficking. Every little bit counts, folks.

Now, if you want to learn more about substance abuse and educate yourself, head on over to the National Institute on Drug Abuse website. It’s chock-full of information that will blow your mind!

[source: CNN]

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Goodness gracious, those statistics are mind-boggling, aren’t they? Substance use disorders have become more prevalent in the United States, affecting an alarming number of individuals from all walks of life. By injecting proper funding and unwavering commitment, we can turn the tide and provide the help that every American needs and deserves. So, what are your thoughts on this matter? How do you think we can tackle the challenges posed by substance abuse and mental health issues? I’d love to hear your perspective! Let’s start a conversation and work towards a brighter, healthier future together.