Drug and Alcohol Addiction Education

Though having a drink or two a few times a week is nothing to raise concern, for many Americans alcohol abuse can be a serious problem.

From potentially deadly alcohol to seemingly-innocuous caffeine, all drugs carry with them some inherent dangers. Whether it be the risk of addiction, psychological effects or negative health consequences, drug abuse of any kind can lead to some serious complications.

The consumption of alcohol has been commonplace in society for centuries and while millions of people indulge without any problems, there is a large swath of the population that may become dependent on the substance.

For people who have to contend with drug and alcohol abuse, rehabilitation and other treatment centers can be a large step toward recovery.

In 2009, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration conducted the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and the results shed some light on the prevalence of marijuana use. Researchers discovered that in the year of the survey, around 16.7 million Americans over 12 smoked pot at least once in the month before they were polled.

Whether it is in the form of heroin or painkillers like oxycontin and vicodin, addiction to opiates is one of the most significant substance abuse issues facing the United States.

There's a common assumption that some of the most dangerous substances available to drug users today are all illegal, and while that is certainly the case in some instances, one of the most prevalence issues facing the U.S. is the abuse of perfectly legal prescription drugs. The abuse of prescription drugs has been on the rise over the last decade with everything from painkillers to sedatives to stimulants making their way into communities.