What You Don’t Know About Drug and Alcohol Use

How much do you really know about substance use? Today, for National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, let’s learn about the topic together.

Content Warning: This blog contains discussions of drug and alcohol use, overdose, overdose death, and other difficult mental health issues. If you find these topics uncomfortable or distressing, take the time to decide whether this content is right for you. If you need to talk to someone, you can reach out to me at any time.

Addiction and substance use are difficult topics. If you’ve never seen the effects of addiction firsthand, it’s impossible to fully understand its impact. There is so much stigma around substance use. But together, by learning about drug and alcohol use, we can break the stigma. So to help us break the stigma, here are some facts you may not know about drug and alcohol use:

It’s Not Just Illegal Substances

When people hear about substance use, they automatically think of illegal drugs – the scary stuff, like methamphetamines and cocaine. Or they might think of alcohol and the impact of alcohol abuse. But substance use is deeper than that.

What about legally prescribed medications? The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics says that around 16.3 million people in the US misuse their prescription drugs each year. 3 out of 4 of my clients over the past 25-plus years addicted to opiates developed that addiction after an injury, or through other use of a legally prescribed pain medication.

And over the counter medications can be misused, too. Some over the counter medications are ingredients used to make more illicit substances. But others can, on their own, be misused. For instance, ‘huffing’ is a practice of inhaling everyday products that can be found around any house or office – often products like household cleaners. Teenagers will experiment with whatever they can get their hands on, and have used unconventional means like Wite-Out, nail polish, and even empty whipped cream canisters.

The point is that if a substance can be misused for the purpose of seeking relief or escape, someone will find a way to do it.

About 20% of American Adults Have an Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorders, most often referred to as alcoholism, are more common than you might think. Around 2 in 10 adults in the US struggle with an alcohol use disorder.

When you look at a wider age range, the statistics are still alarming. 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 12 have an alcohol use disorder. 

46% of High School Students In the US Currently Use Addictive Substances

Almost half of all high school students in the US are actively using addictive substances. 75% of high school students have used substances at some point. This includes nicotine, marijuana, alcohol, and other addictive substances like cocaine.

Drug Use Is Increasing In Teens

Substance use among teens continues to rise. Between 2016 and 2020, rates of drug use in 8th grade students in the US went up by 61%. The Partnership to End Addiction calls addiction a “developmental disease,” and says that over 90% of people with substance problems “began smoking, drinking or using other drugs before age 18.”

Most Overdose Deaths Involve Opioid Use

Opioids, which are common in prescription drugs due to their ability to relieve pain, are the most common cause of overdose death. 7 out of 10 overdose deaths involve opioids. Research estimates that around 10 million people misuse opioids each year, and around 50,000 overdose deaths per year are attributed to opioids.

Marijuana Can Be Addictive

Marijuana users will often say that it is safer than other drugs because it ‘isn’t addictive.’ But this is not entirely accurate. While rates of addiction are much lower than with many other drugs (like opioids), it isn’t impossible to become addicted to marijuana. Research is ongoing, but most suggests that around 10% of marijuana users will become addicted to the drug. Some recent research suggests that the percentage may be closer to 30%. For marijuana users below the age of 18, the likelihood of addiction is even higher.

Mental Illness Is a Common Co-Occurence

Substance use often stems from mental illness, so it’s no surprise that mental illnesses are common in those who misuse substances. Research suggests that around 9.5 million Americans who have a substance use disorder are also struggling with mental illness. 

Addiction Isn’t a Dirty Word

Addiction, and substance use in general, is often treated as an off limits topic. It’s uncomfortable. But addiction isn’t a dirty word. The more we talk about these issues, the less power they have. We can’t address the root causes of substance use without understanding them.

You’re Not Alone

If you are struggling with drug or alcohol use, don’t stay silent. You don’t have to do it alone! Talk to a trusted friend, or reach out to a mental health professional like me. And if you know someone who is struggling, let them know that they are not alone. There are resources available to support you or your loved one on the journey to sobriety and healing.

And remember, you can reach out anytime: sam@samantharuth.com

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