Stats & Facts
Substance abuse in the United States
There are more deaths, illness, and disabilities from substance use than from any other preventable health condition in the United States. Sadly, the number of children in kinship care continues to rise with the explosion of the opioid epidemic and the general growing rise of substance abuse disorder.
the reality
Substance abuse disorder by the numbers
750,000
Deaths per year, directly & indirectly due to from illicit drug use.
585,000
Premature deaths due to illicit drug use increasing the risk of particular disease and injury.
166,000
Deaths from drug overdoses each year.
+50%
More than half of those who die from drug overdoses are younger than 50 years old.
Largest number of overdoses
From illicit drugs are due to opioids.
1%
Of people around the world have a drug use disorder.
Highest overdose rates
Occur in the US from all three leading illicit drugs: opioids, amphetamine and cocaine.