Education and Information about Addiction
Luckily, there are many informational and useful resources about addiction here in the United States. In order to understand addiction and how we can help, we have to know all the facts. Below you can find several facts and additional resources regarding addiction. Also, please check out our Myths and Stereotypes page right here on our website for clarification about some common misconceptions regarding addiction. And finally, for a perspective of someone who has personally seen someone fighting addiction, please feel free to read Betsy’s Blog, a blog where Amber’s mother Betsy shares her thoughts related to Amber, addiction, or anything else.
Facts and Useful Links
- Each year, federal, state, and local governments spend about $500 million on addiction and substance abuse. But for every dollar spent, only 2 cents out of each dollar are spent on prevention and treatment – from the Center on Addiction
- Over 90% of substance addicts began smoking, drinking, or using drugs before the age of 18 – from the Center on Addiction
- In 2017, 19.7 million Americans who were age 12 or older struggled with substance abuse – from American Addiction Centers (see more statistics from them here)
- Publications about drug abuse, including facts about the disease of addiction, how it starts, and how to find treatment, from the National Institute of Drug Abuse – https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications
- DrugFacts – Numerous facts about substance abuse relating to various types of drugs, how it affects different people, and mental health
- Looking for treatment right now? Please visit https://findtreatment.gov/ to get started