Drug addiction is a complex disease and can be fatal. In 2017 there were over 70,000 drug overdoses in the US and over 18 million people struggling with substance abuse disorder. It’s a common misconception that drug addicts can just stop using whenever they want. Addiction is like any other health complication, it needs to be treated and if it’s left untreated, there are serious complications.
While there are numerous drugs circulating the market, there are five common ones we see people abusing in the treatment industry.
Heroin
Heroin is the most potent and powerful of all of the opioid drugs. Although it’s illegal to sell or purchase, it’s readily available throughout the United States. When mixed with the drug Fentanyl, it’s not only more addictive than it was before, but the chance of overdosing is increased and has led to countless deaths across the country.
As of 2017, about 494,000 Americans over the age of 12 became regular heroin users and nearly 900,000 Americans had tried the drug at least one time.
Opioids
According to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, about 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose and nearly 400,000 people lost their battle with opioids between 1999 and 2017.
Opioids are commonly prescribed for pain management. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine are all opioids. It’s common to open up a household medicine cabinet and see at least one of these drugs. Opioids are becoming a crisis in America because they’re easily accessible and it’s easy to build a tolerance when taking them.
The sale of opioid-based painkillers skyrocketed from 1999 to the present time a total of 300 percent. Several drug companies have recently been sued and held accountable for pushing opioids onto patients with the knowledge that they are highly addictive and can easily lead to overdose deaths.
Cocaine
Cocaine comes from the coca plant that is grown mostly in South America. It’s addiction rate generally includes young users, anywhere from the age of 15-34. It’s estimated that about 7.4 million people in that age group have used cocaine at least one time in their lives. Cocaine can be snorted, ingested, or smoked (normally referred to as crack cocaine) and is highly addictive. It’s the most trafficked drug in the world since the demand for the supply is always present.
Many cocaine users or drug dealers at some point begin to mix the drug with heroin and fentanyl, leading to an increase in overdose deaths.
Alcohol
Alcohol is the most abused substance of all and affects about 300 million people throughout the world. Many people try alcohol at a very young age since it is legal and easily obtained.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an average of 30 Americans die each day due to a car crash involving a drunk driver, and about six people die each day from alcohol poisoning. Approximately 88,000 people die as a result of alcohol addiction every single year in the United States. About six percent of all adults in the United States, which is about 15 million people, have an addiction to alcohol and only a small percentage seek treatment for their addiction.
Crystal Meth (Methamphetamine)
Crystal Meth can be smoked, injected, or snorted. It can cause users to be awake for days at a time and make them feel invincible. It’s highly addictive with an addiction rate of approximately 774,000 Americans each year who are regular users, and approximately 16,000 of that figure are teenagers between the ages of 12-17. In 2017, 10,000 Americans suffered fatal overdoses.
Seek Treatment Now
If you or someone you know is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or battle drug abuse, you can get help at Laguna View Detox. The unique program offered by the professionals at Laguna View encompasses detoxification and inpatient treatment for all types of addiction. Call us today!