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Some 18 million Americans abuse or are addicted to alcohol. Tobacco causes 400,000 deaths each year, killing more people than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, suicides, and fires combined. And nearly half of all Americans say they know someone with a drug problem.
The toll of substance abuse can be measured in lost lives and dollars spent dealing with its effects. Each year there are more deaths and disabilities from substance abuse than from any other preventable cause. Of 2 million US deaths each year, one in four is attributable to alcohol, illicit drug, or tobacco use.
The cost of dealing with illicit drugs alone approaches $67 billion annually. Every man, woman and child in America pays nearly $1,000 a year to cover the costs of unnecessary health care, additional law enforcement, auto accidents, crime and lost productivity resulting from substance abuse.
The problematic use of alcohol, illicit drugs and tobacco places an enormous burden on society, harming health, family life, the economy and public safety. No segment of society is immune to its effects. The following sections explore this impact in more detail.
At Home
Substance abuse can tear families apart, cause pain and injury, and lead to domestic violence, failed marriages, and child abuse and neglect.
At School
Substance abuse is negatively affecting the quality of education in our nation's schools, from the elementary level to college campuses.
In Our Communities
Substance abuse doesn't just hurt the abuser. Its effects echo throughout our communities, resulting in crime, unemployment, unsafe streets, and lost neighborhoods.
In The Criminal Justice System
Illicit drugs and alcohol are partners in crime. The link is visible every day in the nation's courtrooms, jails, and prisons.
In The Healthcare System
Substance abuse strains the nation's healthcare system, adding billions to the cost of treating a host of illnesses related to drinking, smoking and illicit drug use.
In The Workplace
A significant amount of substance abuse takes place among the American work force, and some of this use occurs at work.
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