The U.S. Drug Epidemic: What to Know

Articles and discussions about substance abuse and addiction in the U.S. often use the term “epidemic” to describe the scope of the problem. Is this an accurate descriptor? Are we actually in the midst of a drug epidemic? 

What Is the Drug Epidemic?

Considering how often the term “drug epidemic” is used, it may surprise you to discover that there aren’t any formal, universally agreed-upon standards for determining when, exactly, a nation’s rate of drug use crosses the line from problematic to epidemic.

Even in the public health realm, where the term epidemic is much more commonly applied, there’s no predetermined threshold for declaring an epidemic.

For example, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), defines an epidemic as “the occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group of people over a particular period of time.”

So, what does it mean when people say that the United States is in the midst of a drug epidemic? Generally speaking, it means that things are bad, and they appear to be getting worse.

Statistics of the Drug Epidemic in the United States

Our nation’s current drug epidemic involves the misuse of both legal and illicit substances. Here’s a statistical snapshot of how many Americans have abused and become addicted to two dangerous drugs, alcohol and opioids:

• According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 61.2 million people ages 12 and older (21.7% of the population in this demographic group) engaged in binge drinking in the previous 12 months.
• The NIAAA has also reported that 29.5 million Americans ages 12 and older (or more than one of every 10 people in that age range) met the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder, which is the clinical term for alcoholism.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has reported that 10.1 million people misused opioid-based prescription painkillers in the past year, and 745,000 people used heroin. 
• DHHS data also indicates that about 1.6 million people had opioid use disorder (which includes addictions to heroin, morphine, fentanyl, prescription painkillers, and similar substances) in the previous year.

The impact of the nation’s drug epidemic can be assessed by several statistics, including the annual number of overdose deaths as reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):

• In 1999, there were fewer than 20,000 overdose deaths in the United States. By 2022, the annual number of overdose deaths had increased by more than 400%, rising to 107,491. 
• In 1999, opioids were involved in fewer than 10,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. By 2022, the annual number of opioid-involved overdose deaths had soared to 81,806. This means that three of every four overdose deaths in 2022 involved opioids.
• From 1999-2017, the annual number of overdose deaths involving prescription painkillers increased from 3,442 to 14,716. This represents an increase of more than 300%.

How Did The Drug Epidemic in the U.S. Start?

To solve a complex problem like the U.S. drug epidemic, it can be valuable to identify what caused it and when it began. Unfortunately, there are no clear answers to these questions:

• Some people may claim that the drug epidemic began in the 1960s, when use of marijuana and psychedelics such as LSD became more widespread.
• Others may look to the early 1970s, when then-President Richard Nixon declared the “War on Drugs” and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) was established.
• Still others may cite the crack epidemic of the 1980s as the true onset of our nation’s drug epidemic.

If there’s one point that many experts seem to agree on, it’s that the current phase in this public health crisis can be traced to the mid-1990s, when the use of opioid-based prescription painkillers began to increase dramatically. 

Why Does the Drug Epidemic Seem To Be Getting Worse?

One of the reasons why the drug epidemic seems to be getting worse is that metrics such as annual overdose deaths have been trending in the wrong direction for more than 20 years. But facts alone aren’t always enough to sway public sentiment. 

Here are a few additional reasons why people may think that our nation’s drug problems are worsening:

• Educational campaigns have increased awareness about the scope and impact of the nation’s drug epidemic.
• Reports of dangerous new street drugs (such as bath salts, xylazine, and pink cocaine) keep the topic of the epidemic in the news.
• Overdose deaths of celebrities such as Matthew Perry, Taylor Hawkins, and Prince also remind people of the prevalence of drug use in the U.S.

How Can We Play a Role in Helping People Who Are Addicted?

Addictions are chronic, progressive diseases. They are not character flaws or evidence of poor self-control. Once someone has developed a substance use disorder (which is the clinical term for addiction) they may need professional care to regain control of their behaviors and live a healthier life in recovery.

If someone that you care about has become addicted to alcohol or another drug, here are a few ways you can help:

• Educate yourself about drug abuse and addiction, so that you can better understand what your friend or family member is going through.
• Talk to them about your concerns and offer to help them find the care they need.
• Understand that they have a disorder that impacts how they think, feel, and act, which means they may not respond enthusiastically to your initial suggestions.
• Establish appropriate boundaries. This can include decisions such as not allowing them in your house if they are under the influence of drugs and refusing to lend them money.
• Unless you feel that they are a danger to you or your family, don’t cut them out of your life. It can take time to get someone to realize they need help.
• When they’re ready to get treatment, help them with logistics such as arranging childcare, making appointments, and providing transportation to rehab.
• Participate in family therapy or family support programming if the rehab center offers these services, and if you are invited to attend.
• Think about seeing a therapist or counselor yourself. This can help you process how you’ve been affected by your loved one’s struggles with addiction. It can also prepare you to provide the best possible support to them after they have completed treatment.

Contact Los Angeles Detox to Learn How We Treat Addiction

Los Angeles Detox is a trusted provider of customized care for adults who have become dependent on alcohol, opioids, and other addictive substances.

When you choose LA Detox, you can rest assured that you will work in close collaboration with a team of highly skilled and compassionate professionals. We understand that addiction impacts different people in different ways, and we are committed to providing you with a truly personalized experience that reflects your unique history, needs, and goals.

To learn more about addiction treatment in Los Angeles, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.