The document discusses America's growing addiction crisis, noting that over 1 in 7 Americans over 12 have an addiction. Heroin use has nearly doubled from 2005 to 2012. However, only 1 in 10 with an addiction receives treatment, far lower than rates for other diseases. There are many barriers to treatment, including stigma, lack of access, and cost. Addiction affects all demographics and youth are most at risk, with 1 in 4 who first use drugs before 18 becoming addicted. The document calls for recognizing addiction as a national health crisis, reducing stigma through education, ensuring treatment access and coverage, and focusing on prevention for youth.

1. A ROUGH ROAD TO
RECOVERY
ADDICTION AS A NATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS

2. A celebrity death enlightens
But heroin is only the tip of the iceberg. More
than 1 in 7 Americans over the age of 12 has an
addiction.
70
65.6
60
50
PERCENTAGE
The recent tragic death of actor
Philip Seymour Hoffman shines
an uncomfortable light on the
soaring rate of heroin addiction
in the United States. According
to CDC data, the number of
heroin users in this country has
almost doubled in the past five
years. There were roughly
373,000 users in 2005 and
669,000 in 2012.
40
First Speci ic Drug Associated
With Initiation of Illicit Drug
Use Among Past Year Illicit
Drug Inititates Aged 12 or
Older: 2012
30
20
10
0
17
6.3
4.1
3.6
2

3. Treatment
 Only
1 in 10 Americans
with an addiction
receives treatment.
 Compare that number to
the 70-80% of people
with diseases such as
high blood pressure who
do receive treatment.
94.6% did not feel they need treatment
3.7% felt they needed treatment and did not make an effort
1.7% felt they needed treatment and did make an effort

4. There are many reasons that addicts do
not seek out treatment
The fact that
there is still a
stigma attached
to addiction
(17.4%) and that
effective
treatments are
neither
accessible nor
promoted
(65.4%) are the
most
discouraging
factors.
Did not have time
7.1
Might cause neighbors/community to have
negative opinion
7.9
No transportation/inconvenient
8.2
Did not know where to go for treatment
8.9
Might have negative effect on job
9.5
Had health coverage but it did not cover
treatment or cost
Not ready to stop using
10.1
26.3
38.2
No health coverage and couldn't afford cost
Percentage

5. ADDICTION IS A NATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS
It does not discriminate based on race, gender, economic status, sexual orientation or
age. In fact, the youth of our nation are at greatest risk.

6. Drug use is highest among people in
their late teens and early twenties
1 in 4 Americans who began
using any addictive
substance before age 18 is
addicted, compared to 1 in
25 Americans who first
drank, smoked or used other
drugs at age 21 or older.

In 2012, 23.9% of 18- to 20year-olds reported using an
illicit drug in the past month.

7. How to pave a smoother road to
recovery




Acknowledge that addiction is a
NATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS.
Remove the stigma of addiction by
educating the public about its
dangers as a DISEASE and its need
for TREATMENT.
Make treatment ACCESSIBLE by
ensuring that health coverage
covers treatment costs.
Focus on on our youth and on
PREVENTION.

8. Alexandra Oliver
February, 2014
4x3
16x9