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Drug Addiction
[NOTE: This is a fact sheet covering research immediate goals are to reduce drug
findings on effective treatment approaches for abuse, improve the patient’s ability to
drug abuse and addiction. If you are seeking function, and minimize the medical and
treatment, please call 1-800-662-HELP(4357) social complications of drug abuse and
for information on hotlines, counseling services, addiction. Like people with diabetes or
or treatment options in your state. This is the heart disease, people in treatment for
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment’s National drug addiction will need to change
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service. Drug treat- behavior to adopt a more healthful
ment programs by state also may be found lifestyle.
online at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.]
In 2004, approximately 22.5 million
Drug addiction is a complex but treat- Americans aged 12 or older needed
able brain disease. It is characterized treatment for substance (alcohol or illicit
by compulsive drug craving, seeking, drug) abuse and addiction. Of these,
and use that persist even in the face of only 3.8 million people received it.
severe adverse consequences. For many (NSDUH 2004, http://www.oas.
people, drug addiction becomes chron- samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k4NSDUH/
ic, with relapses possible even after long 2k4results/2k4results.htm#ch7)
periods of abstinence. In fact, relapse to
drug abuse occurs at rates similar to Untreated substance abuse and addic-
those for other well-characterized, chron- tion add significant costs to families and
ic medical illnesses such as diabetes, communities, including those related to
hypertension, and asthma. As a chronic, violence and property crimes, prison
recurring illness, addiction may require expenses, court and criminal costs,
repeated treatments to increase the inter- emergency room visits, healthcare uti-
vals between relapses and diminish their lization, child abuse and neglect, lost
intensity, until abstinence is achieved. child support, foster care and welfare
Through treatment tailored to individual costs, reduced productivity, and unem-
needs, people with drug addiction can ployment.
recover and lead productive lives. The latest estimate for the costs to society
The ultimate goal of drug addiction treat- of illicit drug abuse alone is $181 bil-
ment is to enable an individual to lion (2002). When combined with alco-
achieve lasting abstinence, but the hol and tobacco costs, they exceed
*The National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES): Highlights. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 97-3159.
Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Office of Evaluation, Scientific Analysis and Synthesis, 1997,
pp. 241–242.