Millions
of Americans in Denial About Their Own Drug Abuse.
Do not be part of this statistic.
Results
of the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reveal that, while millions
of Americans habitually smoke pot, drink alcohol, snort cocaine and swallow prescription
drugs, too many drug users who meet the criteria for needing treatment do not
recognize that they have a problem. The figure of those "in denial" is estimated
at more than 4.6 million--a significantly higher number of individuals in need
of professional help than had previously been thought.
According to the
results of the survey, of the 5.0 million people who needed but did not receive
treatment in 2001, an estimated 377,000 reported that they felt they needed treatment
for their drug problem. This includes an estimated 101,000 who reported that they
made an effort but were unable to get treatment and 276,000 who reported making
no effort to get treatment.
"We have a large and growing denial gap when
it comes to drug abuse and dependency in this country," said John Walters, Director
of National Drug Control Policy. "We have a responsibility--as family members,
employers, physicians, educators, religious leaders, neighbors, colleagues, and
friends--to reach out to help these people. We must find ways to lead them back
to drug free lives. And the earlier we reach them, the greater will be our likelihood
of success."
70,000 Participated in the Nationwide Survey
70,000
people, aged 12 and older, participated in the nationwide survey and were asked
questions concerning run-ins with the law, drunken driving, difficulties at school
or work, as well as details of their drug use. Many users who said they'd encountered
trouble in most areas still believed they were in control of their habit.
Overall,
the Household Survey found that 15.9 million Americans age 12 and older used an
illicit drug in the month immediately prior to the survey interview. This represents
an estimated 7.1 percent of the population in 2001, compared to an estimated 6.3
percent the previous year.
The survey's results reveal that 10.8 percent
of youths age 12 to 17 were current drug users in 2001 compared with 9.7 percent
in 2000. (On a positive note, youth cigarette use in 2001 was slightly below the
rate for 2000, continuing a downward trend since 1999.)
Among young adults
age 18 to 25, current drug use increased between 2000 and 2001 from 15.9 percent
to 18.8 percent. There were no statistically significant changes in the rates
of drug use among adults age 26 and older.
Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Administrator Charles G. Curie emphasized
that, "Behind these numbers are real children and adults impacted by drug use.
We must refuse to give up on people who have handed over their aspirations and
their futures to drug use. People need to know help is available, treatment is
effective and recovery is possible." Curie added that the prevalence of drug use
and abuse is partly due to a drop in the amount of people who see certain substances,
such as marijuana, as harmful.
Drugs researched:
Marijuana
Ecstasy
Oxycontin ®
Alcohol
Information contained above is courtesy of: U.S.
Dept. of Health and Human Services
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We
at Synergy Group Services have personally faced the disease of alcohol and drug
addiction as a family. It is our journey of recovery that has given us the passion
and the desire to use our knowledge and skill to help other families suffering
from the disease of drug and alcohol addiction.
Synergy Group Services
is a family/physician owned and operated drug and alcohol rehab center in South
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Drug
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Synergy believes strongly in dual
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Our personalized recovery and addiction
treatment programs for alcohol addiction treatment, heroin addiction treatment,
prescription drug addiction treatment, and Suboxone treatment are designed for
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more information, contact us at our toll free addiction help line 1-888-267-8070.
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