Consequences of Substance Use Disorders
Substance use disorders impact every sector of society. All races, cultures, ages and genders are affected. Substance use disorders are a major health problem impacting society on multiple levels. It costs our nation more than $484 billion per year in health care expenditures, lost earnings, and costs associated with crime and accidents.”7 Therefore, everyone, either directly or indirectly, is impacted by the burdens related to substance use disorders.
America’s top medical problems can be directly linked to drug abuse10
- Tobacco contributes to 11-30% of cancer deaths.
- Researchers have found a connection between the abuse of tobacco, cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), amphetamines, and steroids to the development of cardiovascular disease. Tobacco is responsible for approximately 30% of all heart disease deaths each year.
- About one-third of AIDS cases reported in 2000, and most cases of Hepatitis C are associated with injection drug use. Approximately half of pediatric AIDS cases result from injection drug use or sex with injection drug users by the child’s mother.
Many of America's top social problems also relate to or impact drug abuse10
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drugs are used by approximately 10 to 22 percent of drivers involved in crashes, often in combination with alcohol.
- At least half of the individuals arrested for major crimes including homicide, theft, and assault were under the influence of illicit drugs around the time of their arrest.
- At least two-thirds of patients in drug abuse treatment centers say they were physically or sexually abused as children.