According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 17% of people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder (being addicted to, overusing or misusing drugs or alcohol) in the past year. That’s one in six people! A substance use disorder is a disease (not a character flaw) that affects both brain and behavior and it affects people from all walks of life and age groups. People with a substance use disorder may struggle with work and relationships. They might lose interest in activities they used to enjoy. And they may make risky decisions and have legal problems.
People overuse drugs or alcohol for many reasons. Some people may use drugs to help cope with stress, trauma, or to help with mental health issues. For others, addiction runs in their family. About half of individuals with a substance use disorder also have a mental illness (and vice versa). People suffering from substance use disorders have trouble controlling their drug use even though they know drugs are harmful.
If you or someone you know seems to be behaving differently than usual and is misusing or overusing alcohol or drugs (legal or illegal), they need treatment to get better. The first step is recognizing that there is a problem. The second step is finding support. A primary care provider is a good place to start. The included resources list many other options for support and treatment.
The September Substance Use Disorders Toolkit (ZIP) includes materials that can be shared with your groups.
Download Our Substance Use Disorders Toolkit (ZIP)
