according to the National Council On Alcoholism & Drug Dependence...

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can affect all aspects of a person's life.  Long-term alcohol use can cause serious health complications; it can damage emotional stability, finances and career; and negatively impact one's family, friends and community.

HERE ARE A FEW FACTS CONCERNING ALCOHOL ABUSE...

  • Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States.
  • Roughly one in every 12 adults, suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence along with several million more who engage in risky, binge drinking patterns that lead to alcohol problems. More than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking, and more than 7 million children live in a household where at least one parent is dependent on or has abused alcohol.
  • Nearly 100,000 deaths annually are attributed to excessive alcohol use, the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the nation.
  • Up to 40% of all hospital beds in the United States (excluding maternity and intensive care patients) are being used to treat health conditions that are related to alcohol consumption.
  • Over time, excessive alcohol use, both in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking, can lead to numerous health problems, chronic diseases, neurological impairments and social problems, etc.


HERE ARE A FEW FACTS CONCERNING drug abuse...

Drugs are chemicals. While each drug produces different physical effects, all abused substances share one thing in common.  They hijack the normal function of the brain and change the way the brain responds to issues of self-control, judgment, emotion, motivation, memory and learning. This is why the person feels differently — the signals coming and going from the brain have been altered.  Although this can cause temporary euphoria, it can also cause hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and uncontrolled behavior.  It can cause your respiratory (lungs) and cardiovascular (heart) systems to malfunction or fail. There are also social consequences, including: losing the trust of friends and family; poor performance at school or work; quitting activities you enjoy; making bad decisions like placing yourself at risk to be a victim of violence; drugged driving; getting pregnant; and surrounding yourself with people who do the same. Plus, with risky behavior, there is always the threat of contracting diseases .



  • 11.7% percent of the population aged 12 years old or older has used an illicit drug in the past 30 days.[Illicit drugs include: marijuana/hash, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription drugs used without a prescription.]
  • The most commonly used and abused drug, after alcohol, is marijuana. It is also the most popular among teens.
  • Prescription drugs are the third most commonly abused category of drugs, behind alcohol and marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
  • An estimated 53 million people have abused prescription drugs, representing over 20% of the U.S. population.
  • The prescription drug medications that are most commonly abused include: pain relievers, tranquilizers and sedatives, and stimulants.
  • Drug abuse spreads infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, either through sharing of drug paraphernalia or unprotected sex.
  • The National Institute On Drug Abuse determined, drug overdose to be "the leading cause of accidental death in the US."
  • Drug overdoses from narcotics like fentanyl, opioids, and heroin, led the epidemic and were responsible for over 67.8% of the 70,237 deaths in the US alone in 2017.