When someone picks up drugs for the first time, they don’t plan to destroy their lives. They don’t plan to struggle with drug addiction, nor do they plan to need drug addiction treatment. Most initially start off taking drugs as a sort of escape from reality, a way to make themselves feel better through an emotional pain. There is a temporary escape from their lives, which is all an illusion. Depending upon the person, the use of drugs can make them feel as if they are actually dealing with their situation, it seems to lessen the importance. It is only when they are not ‘high’ do they feel there are problems.
That’s an oversimplification, but the cycle has begun.
- 20% – Number of people aged 16-59 said they had taken drugs.
- 19.5 million – Number of people over the age of 12 use illegal drugs in the United States.
- 19,000 – Number of deaths that occur from drug addiction in the United States, with is approximately 1,591/month, 367/week, 52/day, or 2/minute.
- 58% – Increase in reported Emergency Room visits involving Ecstasy in the United States.
- 1,100,539 – Then number of drug mentions in a year concerning Emergency Room visits.
Statistics can determine trends ranging from abuse to legal consequences. Networks have been created to offer drug addiction statistics in the United States. This information shows the “popularity”, trends, and deaths caused directly or indirectly by particular drugs.
For more information, feel free to visit US No Drugs.