Drug abuse and treatment statistics

  • According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, alcohol and illicit drugs have an economic impact of over $417 billion dollars in annual costs (crime, lost work productivity and health care).
  • The treatment gap: an estimated 22.7 million Americans (8.6%) need treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, but only 2.5 million people actually received treatment in a specialty facility.
  • Illicit drug use continues on the rise.  In 2013, 24.6 million Americans ages 12 and up (9.4% of the population) were using; up from 8.3% in 2002.
  • Data tracking overall overdose death shows a 280% increase when comparing 2014 to 2001, and even more dismal, are the shocking heroin overdoses which have increased 600% in the same time period.
  • In 2009, 45% of the 4.6 million drug-related emergency department visits nationwide were considered drug abuse (2.1 million visits).  ED visits of non-medical use of pharmaceuticals increased 98.4% from 2004 and 2009.
  • Of the 1 million ED visits attributed to illicit drugs, the breakdown looks like this (2009 data):
    • Cocaine 422,896
    • Marijuana 376,467
    • Heroin 213,118
    • Stimulants 93,562
  • Data reveals ED rates for cocaine, marijuana and heroin are higher in males and that rates for heroin were highest in the 21-24 age range.
"The six-month commitment at Jacob’s Ladder is what my son needed. It’s more in tune with what it really takes to get off drugs and develop a sober lifestyle. My son and the other men in the program have been working very hard but they’re not slaves by any stretch. They’re always doing fun things. The rehab keeps them very active and gets them to meetings. We just visited a few weeks ago. The team at Jacob’s Ladder cares for the whole person. I feel like they truly love my kid. You don’t get this just anywhere. It’s a very unique, special place. That’s why I want my son to stay in the area. These guys know what it takes to help a kid like my son stay clean. They’ve become a part of his family."