According to recent studies provided by the Society for Study of Addiction (SSA) an estimated 4.9% of the world’s adult population i.e. approximately 240 million people, suffer from Alcohol use disorder and an estimated 15 million people are addicted to injection drugs such as Heroin, Pethidine and Methamphetamine. Substance abuse is at an all-time high.
In fact, in an article from Internationally recognised author, Lorelie Rozzano, a writer, blogger and recovery advocate who works in the field of mental health and addiction it is noted that addiction kills more people than cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined. Many of us know and love someone with this illness. It is time we started talking about it.
The SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug dependence (SANCA) stated that there is an “alarming increase” of people under the age of 21 in treatment centres. A study was done with 57000 respondents in schools which showed that 34% of teens had used drugs & alcohol in the last 6 months, 32% in the last month and 27% had used substances in the last week. The studies suggests children under the age of 17 made up 22% of the people in treatment centres.
According to the United Nations Office for Drugs & Crime UNODC, in the annual drug report of 2017, indicated that over 190000 drug related deaths were recorded in that year. These included opioids, prescription medications and heroin abuse.
An estimated 1.6 million people are living with HIV, 6.1 million people living with Hepatitis and 3.1 million people living with both which has been attributed directly to needle use.
Drug & alcohol abuse is a reality that we face on a daily basis. It negatively impacts our family, relationships, health, quality of life and wellbeing and can lead ultimately to disability, poor health, co-occurring disorders such as depression and other related psychiatric conditions, and eventually death.
Stop your loved ones from becoming another statistic and call us today for professional help, guidance and support.
