Addiction and Families
According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD), alcoholism and drug addiction affects the whole family – young, teenage, or grown-up children; wives or husbands; brothers or sisters; parents or other relatives and friends. One family member’s addiction to alcohol and drugs impacts the whole family and home life. (1)
Alcohol Dependency Statistics:
- Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States. Approximately 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence. (1)
- In the U.S., 7 million children live in a household where at least one parent is dependent on or has abused alcohol. (1)
- Alcoholism is the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the nation – 8,000 deaths are annually attributed to excessive alcohol use. (1)
Drug Dependency Statistics:
- An estimated 20 million Americans aged 12 or older (8% of the population) have used an illegal drug in the past 30 days. (2)
- Each year more teens enter addiction treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than all other illegal drugs combined. (1)
- The estimated economic cost of drug abuse exceeds $190 Billion annually. (1)
The NCADD has found through research that parents play a key role in their child’s decision to use alcohol or drugs. Kids who learn a lot about the risks of alcohol and drugs from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use. However, use of alcohol and drugs by older siblings can influence the alcohol and drug use of younger siblings. (1)
Additional Resources:
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence; www.ncadd.org
HOPE LINE for NCADD Affiliate Referrals; 800-NCA-CALL (800-622-2255)
Sources: (1) National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (2) National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)