STATISTICS & TRENDS

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Drug Overdoses Climb During the Winter Months

Scientific studies have shown that there is an increased risk for fatal drug overdoses following cold weather, suggesting people with an addiction should seek help as soon as possible, lest they become just another statistic.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Why Did We Lose Matthew Perry of “Friends” Fame?

The article delves into the shocking death of actor Matthew Perry in October 2023, revealing the role played by ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic. While Perry had long struggled with substance abuse and addiction, he was finally sober when he published...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Latest Findings Show Number of Addicts in America Doubled in Recent Years

According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 16.5% of people aged 12 or older in the U.S. in 2021 (46.3 million people) met the criteria for addiction and needed substance use treatment. This is significant news because, in years...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Alcoholic Liver Disease Deaths are on the Rise

This article ties in recent data from a study on alcoholic liver disease with new data from the NIAAA on alcohol consumption in the U.S., showing how America’s increase in alcohol consumption directly affects lifespan and quality of life for millions...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Fentanyl Floods Into America at an Unprecedented Rate

Solving America’s problem with illicit synthetic opioids starts with a rational assessment of the extent of the problem. Learn how much fentanyl is still flooding across our borders.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Michigan Healthcare Scheme Involved Opioids

A story broke in early 2023 that revealed a Detroit-area doctor had been sentenced to nearly 17 years in prison and was ordered to pay $30 million. The crime? Leading a scheme to bill Medicare and private insurers for unnecessary painkiller injections...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Data Now Suggests Home Delivery of Alcohol During Pandemic Created Permanent, Long-Term Harm

New business strategies sprung up during COVID-19 lockdowns. While many such ideas were innovative and helpful, some caused harm. For example, one strategy implemented by alcohol manufacturers involved delivering alcohol to the doorsteps of people who...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

The Tragically Close Connection Between Marijuana and Suicide

Discover the alarming connection between marijuana and suicide in the United States, raising critical questions about the possibly destructive impact of widespread legalization.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Why are Efforts to Combat Underage Drinking Stalling?

According to a recent report, several types of law enforcement strategies used to combat underage drinking are declining in terms of the frequency of their use by law enforcement departments. This is the wrong direction to go in.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

The Rate of Young Adult Use of Hallucinogens More than Doubled in Recent Years

This article explores a concerning trend of young people increasingly turning to hallucinogens and psychedelics as their primary drugs of choice, a finding that bodes poorly for the futures of such individuals if they cannot stop using these drugs.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Europe Now Facing Similar Drug Trends and Harm as United States. Addiction Treatment is Needed to Solve the Problem

While much of the conversation regarding drug addiction and drug trafficking centers around the domestic U.S. drug problem, valuable lessons can be learned by assessing Europe’s current drug crisis. What is the scope of drug abuse in Europe today? What...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Rates of Opioid Painkiller Use Continue to Rise, Even in States that Legalize Medical Marijuana

Supporters of medical marijuana have often said that legalizing cannabis for medicinal pain relief purposes may help reduce the need for opioid painkillers. Proponents argue replacing opioid painkillers with medicinal cannabis will reduce painkiller addiction,...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Marijuana Legalization Can Lead to Harm Among Young Adults

The fact that more young adults are using marijuana after states legalize it and the fact that marijuana is quite harmful to people in their late teens and early 20s combine to create a real problem connected to legalization. This problem is neither being...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

What Opioid Abuse Is Costing America

Learn the actual price of opioid addiction in America. This article delves into both the tragic personal and emotional costs as well as the financial burden suffered by every American. It also highlights various sectors of costs, such as employment, justice,...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Healthcare Workers at High Risk of Addiction and Overdose

Addiction is often framed as a blue-collar, working-class problem or an issue faced mainly by people who are poor, homeless, or barely hanging on. When people think of addicts, they often think of people on the street. When people are asked to picture...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Drugged Driving in America

An examination of recent data regarding drugged driving in the US shows the problem has worsened. And unlike drunk driving, public health officials and law enforcement have yet to establish effective protocols for preventing drugged driving.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Can Washington’s New Drug Policy Improve Access to Addiction Treatment?

Washington State recently passed a law making it easier for drug addicts to access treatment without facing criminal punishment for possession infractions. Yet, unlike similar Oregon legislation passed last year, the Washington law does not legalize drugs...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Addiction Treatment in the United States Rates Flatline While Overdoses Rise

According to preliminary data from CDC researchers, fatal overdoses were slightly higher in 2022 than in 2021, suggesting overdoses did not decline post-pandemic, as many public health experts thought they would. Meanwhile, treatment rates across the U.S.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Summertime Associated with Highest Risk for Teen Drug Use

New research has found that teens are most likely to use drugs for the first time during summer. Parents need to be aware of the unique factors and conditions that put teens at higher risk of drug experimentation during this season, so they can intervene...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

‘Sense of Purpose’ a Critical Factor in Substance-Free Living

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania surveyed college students and found that the ‘sense of purpose’ factor was a critical predictor of whether college students drank alcohol excessively.