In the United States, 8–10% of people over the age of 12 are addicted to alcohol or other drugs. Overdose is now the #1 cause of accidental death in the United States, recently surpassing car accidents. According to the CDC, 70,237 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2017. Every four minutes a parent loses a child to addiction, and the rising cost of addiction now exceeds $400 billion a year (statistics from shatterproof.org).
These statistics are scary and indicate a public health crisis, but the saddest part is that addiction is a chronic brain disease that is preventable and can be managed with treatment. Unfortunately, only about 10% of those suffering with a substance use disorder seek treatment.
(Infographic: SAMHSA-https://www.samhsa.gov/node/60145)
This guide is dedicated to helping APSU students and employees dealing with substance abuse issues find credible information about their addiction and to encourage them to seek and locate professional treatment.
To view chat hours, submit an e-mail question, or view other contact options, please visit the Ask the InfoHub webpage.
Michael Hooper
Electronic Resources Librarian
hooperm@apsu.edu
