While evidence based treatment methods are effective, and long term  recovery is possible, a majority of those needing treatment rarely, if ever receive treatment:

• One of every eight Americans has a significant problem with alcohol or drugs, with 40 percent of the group having a "dual diagnosis," or concurrent mental/nervous disorder;

• Approximately 27 million Americans either use illicit drugs regularly or are "heavy drinkers." Of these almost 16 million are estimated to need immediate treatment;

• By age eighteen, almost 12 percent of all young people are illicit drug users;

• An untreated alcoholic's medical costs are approximately 300 percent higher than non-alcoholic's medical costs;

• Approximately 70 percent of illegal drug users are employed and contribute significantly to workplace absenteeism, accidents and injuries, decreased productivity, increased insurance expenses, employee turnover costs and on-the-job violence;

• The estimated annual cost to our society resulting from substance abuse is more than $484 Billion per Year;

• It is generally accepted that chemical dependency, along with associated mental health disorders, has become one of the most severe health and social problems facing the United States.*

* Source: SAMHSA (U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Many of America's top social problems also relate to or impact drug abuse:

• Drugged Driving: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drugs are used by approximately 10 to 22 percent of drivers involved in crashes, often in combination with alcohol.12
• Violence: At least half of the individuals arrested for major crimes including homicide, theft, and assault were under the influence of illicit drugs around the time of their arrest.13
• Stress: Exposure to stress is one of the most powerful triggers of substance abuse in vulnerable individuals and of relapse in former addicts.

Child Abuse: At least two-thirds of patients in drug abuse treatment centers say they were physically or sexually abused as children.14

Too often, addiction goes untreated: According to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH),

• 23.2 million persons (9.4 percent of the U.S. population) aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem in 2007.
• Of these individuals, 2.4 million (10.4 percent of those who needed treatment) received treatment at a specialty facility (i.e., hospital, drug or alcohol rehabilitation or mental health center).
• 20.8 million persons (8.4 percent of the population aged 12 or older) needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem but did not receive it. These estimates are similar to those in previous years.

Studies show that treatment can cut drug abuse in half, reduce criminal activity up to 80 percent, and reduce arrests up to 64 percent.2 Based on a review of this and other scientific literature on drug abuse treatment and criminal behavior, in 2006 NIDA released Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations. This publication discusses 13 principles proven through research to help criminal justice organizations tailor treatment programs to better serve their populations. In brief, these principles are:

• Drug addiction is a brain disease that affects behavior.
• Recovery from drug addiction requires effective treatment, followed by management of the problem over time.
• Treatment must last long enough to produce stable behavioral change.
• Assessment is the first step in treatment.
• Tailoring services to fit the needs of the individual is an important part of effective drug abuse treatment for criminal justice populations.
• Drug use during treatment should be carefully monitored.
• Treatment should target factors that are associated with criminal behavior.
• Criminal justice supervision should incorporate treatment planning for drug abusing offenders, and treatment providers should be aware of correctional supervision requirements.
• Continuity of care is essential for drug abusers re-entering the community.
• A balance of rewards and sanctions encourages prosocial behavior and treatment participation.
• Offenders with co-occurring drug abuse and mental health problems often require an integrated treatment approach.
• Medications are an important part of treatment for many drug abusing offenders.
• Treatment planning for drug abusing offenders who are living in or re-entering the community should include strategies to prevent and treat serious, chronic medical conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis.

According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health,

• an estimated 10 million people age 12 and older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during the year prior to being surveyed. This corresponds to 4 percent of the population age 12 and older, similar to the rate in 2007 (4.2 percent), but lower than the rate in 2002 (4.7 percent). In 2008, the rate was highest among young adults age 18 to 25 (12.3 percent).
• In 2008, an estimated 12.4 percent of persons age 12 and older drove under the influence of alcohol at least once in the past year. This percentage has dropped since 2002, when it was 14.2 percent. The 2008 estimate corresponds to 30.9 million persons.
• Driving under the influence of an illicit drug or alcohol was associated with age. In 2008, an estimated 7.2 percent of youth age 16 or 17 drove under the influence. This percentage steadily increased with age to reach a peak of 26.1 percent among young adults age 21 to 25. Beyond the age of 25, these rates showed a general decline with increasing age.
• Also in 2008, among persons age 12 and older, males were nearly twice as likely as females (16.0 percent versus 9.0 percent) to drive under the influence of an illicit drug or alcohol in the past year.2

Preventing Drug Abuse is Our Most Effective Approach to Combating the Nation's Drug Problem

Research has taught us much about what does and does not work in drug abuse prevention at the individual, family, and community levels.

A set of science-based general principles of effective drug abuse prevention has emerged from NIDA-supported research. Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents has come to be known by community leaders throughout the Nation as the “Red Book.”

Promoting Academic Success, Social Competence, and Bonding to School Can Reduce Risky Behaviors

One intervention that focused on social development led to:

• Fewer sexual partners
• More condom use
• For females, being less likely to have a baby by age 21
• Project ALERT reduced the proportion of new users of cigarettes and marijuana by 19% and 24%, respectively
• Marijuana initiation rates were 38% lower for ALERT students who had not tried cigarettes or marijuana at the start of the study

Targeted Media Campaigns Can Significantly Impact Public Health Behavior. One campaign targeted to sensation seeking adolescents resulted in:

• An estimated 26.7% drop in the use of marijuana
• Persistent effects after the campaign concluded