STATISTICS & TRENDS

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Law Enforcement Shifts Tactics as Dark Web Becomes the New Marketplace for Drug Trafficking

In May 2023, a multinational effort by U.S. and European law enforcement officials led to nearly 300 drug traffickers being arrested in several countries and $53 million in contraband being seized.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Cough Suppressant Now a Leading Cause of ER Visits for Young People

One of the most common predictors of drug addiction is using mind-altering substances in one’s youth. A recent study has shown that children and teens are increasingly being sent to the ER for overdoses of cough suppressants.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Rising Drug Overdose Deaths Among Seniors Shed Light on Expansion of Addiction Crisis to America’s Elderly

Much of the focus regarding America’s addiction epidemic has been on the effects that drugs and alcohol have on young people. Sadly, senior citizens have largely been forgotten as the addiction epidemic spread across all demographics.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Parental Involvement Tied to Drop in Teen Drug Use

A broad study analyzing several risk factors and overall health metrics for teens had an interesting finding. The researchers found that, for teens whose parents were more involved in their lives, those teens had better health outcomes and were less likely...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

New Study Shows Conservative Opioid Prescribing More Safe for Patients in the Long Run

When the debate around curbing opioid prescribing began many years ago, some public health advocates expressed concern that more conservative prescribing practices would deny chronic pain patients access to pain relief.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

As Fentanyl Surges into the Drug Supply, America’s Youth at Highest Risk Ever for Drug Overdoses

Every society has its core mandate to protect its youth. Unfortunately, new research shows that teen and young adult drug-related death rates in the U.S. have skyrocketed in recent years.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

The 80–20 Trap: How Drug and Alcohol Industries Prey on Their Heaviest Users

It is a well-known rule of thumb in business: 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients. It applies to hardware stores, new car sales and designer clothing sales. It also applies to the subject of drug abuse, excessive drinking and addiction.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Marijuana and Hallucinogen Use at All-Time Highs for Young Americans

According to the recently published 2022 Monitoring the Future Survey, even though overall drug use did not increase among youths between 2021 and 2022, certain drug types did become increasingly more popular, namely cannabis and hallucinogens.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Monitoring the Future Survey Showed Drug Abuse Rates Remained Steady Among Young Americans in 2022

The 2022 Monitoring the Future Survey was finalized and published recently. The findings showed no progress in reducing teen substance abuse rates from 2021 to 2022, as rates of substance abuse among young people held steady compared to drug use rates...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Should Opioid Addiction Treatment Drugs Be Sold Over the Counter?

Should opioid addiction treatment drugs be available over the counter at pharmacies? It might help some people but could it create far more harm than it helps?

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Multiple States Stiffen Penalties on Drug Dealing. But Will This Solve America’s Addiction Epidemic?

Since January 2023, several states have significantly increased penalties on drug dealing, all to discourage drug dealers from setting up shop in their states. While the intention behind such actions is good, stiffer penalties for drug dealers won’t...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Methamphetamine Deaths Increased by More Than 50-Fold Between 1999 and 2021—Fentanyl Largely to Blame

“I won’t overdose on that drug—it’s not an opioid.” For decades, people who have become addicted to mind-altering substances like methamphetamine and other non-opioid drugs have used this line to justify using their drug of choice.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Cocaine Deaths Surge as Autopsies Reveal Fentanyl in Most Cocaine Overdoses

One of the most critical developments of the last decade concerning drug abuse has been stories of traces of synthetic opioids creeping into local supplies of drugs, types of drugs previously thought to be “non-lethal” (or drugs that were thought to...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

The True Death Toll of Drug Abuse (It’s Not Just Overdoses)

While the news media routinely report the number of fatal drug overdoses, there are dozens of unseen ways that drugs and alcohol are claiming thousands of lives.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

What Is the Scope of Alcohol Addiction in America?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recently updated their statistical data on the scope of alcohol-related harm in America, releasing new figures on alcohol addiction, alcohol-related death, youth drinking, alcohol-related emergencies,...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Pharma Executives Now Face Jail Time for their Role in the Opioid Epidemic

News reports and Justice Department press releases show two prominent pharmaceutical company executives are facing jail time for their role in causing the opioid epidemic.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Without an Opioid Antidote, What Would Our Overdoses Losses Look Like?

Analysis of state and national statistics for fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses reveals a shocking threat to Americans, far in excess of what our overdose deaths statistics would indicate.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Despite Big Pharma Claims, Less than One-Third of Drugs Offer Relief to Patients

A recent study found that despite billions of dollars spent annually on marketing and ad buys, most pharmaceutical drugs don’t work that well on patients who take them.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Prescription Drug Take Back Day Provides Opportunity to Make Homes Safer

One of the most common ways young people experiment with prescription drugs for the first time is by finding the drugs in the family medicine cabinet and consuming them. Parents might not think there’s any harm in keeping certain pharmaceuticals in the...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Why Do Drug Overdoses Spike During Winter? A Look at Cold Weather-Related Risk Factors

Research has shown a possible connection between cold weather and a heightened risk for overdose. Several factors may contribute to this, like cold weather making it more likely addicts will use drugs at home by themselves, therefore being less likely...