REASONS TO DONATE

Addiction in the US

1 in 3 households suffer from, are exposed to, or are otherwise impacted by addiction.***
Drug use is highest among persons between the ages of 18-25 at 39% compared to persons aged 26-29, at 34%.*
70% of users who try an illegal drug before age 13 develop a substance abuse disorder within the next 7 years compared to 27% of those who try an illegal drug after age 17. *
47% of young people use an illegal drug by the time they graduate from high school. *
About 60% of America’s drug overdose deaths {link: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm#dashboard} in the past year are linked to illicitly manufactured or adulterated fentanyl. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized nearly 10 million fake pills in 2021—many laced with counterfeit fentanyl.**
The effects of substance abuse are felt by nearly half of all American families.***

*Source American Addiction Centers, February 2022

**Source Military Medicine, Jan/Feb 2017

***Source US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, February 2022

Outcomes scores on the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and Addiction Severity Index (ASI) indicate significant improvements in family functioning with 30 days or more of treatment. Read full study.*
In a recent study of veterans in residential substance use treatment, those who completed treatment had a markedly lower rate of relapse in the first year compared to those who completed the treatment. Read full study.**
There is significant benefit of peer support groups in the treatment of addiction:
- Active engagement in peer support groups has shown to be a key predictor of recovery and sustaining recovery.***
- Evidence demonstrates that one’s belief in their own ability can increase and influence one’s behavior by watching other peoples’ behaviors.***
- There is a mutual benefit between the members and facilitators of peer support groups. Oftentimes, peer support groups are facilitated by peer workers who themselves are in recovery and benefit positively from peer support groups. Benefits for the peer worker include increased self-esteem, confidence, positive feelings of accomplishment, and an increase in their own ability to cope with their challenges.***

*Source American Addiction Centers, February 2022

**Source Military Medicine, Jan/Feb 2017

***Source US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, February 2022

Ohio overdose data shows at least 5,215 Ohioans fatally overdosed on drugs in 2021. This reflects the way one emerging health crisis, an infections disease pandemic, intertwined with and exacerbated a slower burning public health crisis of addiction.*
Opioids were at least a partially involved in a round 4,400 of the overdoses, although the overdoses could have involved one or more substances. Cocaine was involved in around 1,250 of them. Methamphetamine and similar drugs were involved in 1,067.
Of 100,000 deaths in Ohio, 38.3% are caused by overdose.

*Source Ohio Capital Journal, July 2021

**Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 2022