American Addiction Centers Blog

Drinking is a socially acceptable activity in which to partake. A beer with friends while watching a game. An occasional glass of wine with dinner and loved ones. Rubbing elbows with colleagues or business associates at “Happy Hour.” Scenarios that are legal and acceptable, contingent there’s no underage drinking. However, an individual facing alcoholism, or […]

For over two decades, the United States has struggled with an opioid epidemic that is continuing to worsen each year. Despite efforts to fight drug abuse, the booming use of fentanyl has only increased the death toll. But overdoses aren’t the only consequence of drug abuse. Many people are living with the physical, mental, and emotional effects of […]

In recent years, America’s addiction treatment industry has been transformed by twin forces: the opioid epidemic and the Affordable Care Act. Overdose deaths have climbed steadily since the early 2000s, creating a crisis of unprecedented proportions. Simultaneously, the ACA extended health coverage to millions of previously uninsured Americans and mandated the coverage of substance abuse treatment. This combination of widespread need […]

We are all aware that illicit and some legal drugs can be harmful to our bodies and can lead to addiction, which in turn, can bring a wide range of long term negative effects on the body including health conditions affecting our quality of life. We are conditioned to think about drug use in a […]

Habitual drug use has been a societal issue for as long as there have been societies, and it’s clear that things need to change. Drugs, like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, are getting easier to purchase and consume, which only increases the number of times users are compelled to take them. In fact, it’s not uncommon […]

Substance use disorders and mental health disorders often occur simultaneously. In fact, there are synonymous terms—co-occurring disorder and dual diagnosis—to describe this very condition, which is relatively common. Because of how closely they relate, people are often curious is alcohol and drug addiction is a mental illness or not? According to insights from the 2021 […]

How Substance Abuse Treatment Varies by State: Substances Used, Dropouts, and More Unfortunately, many individuals across the world struggle with substance misuse. It’s no small problem. In fact, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimated that 19.7 million American adults dealt with a substance use disorder in 2017. Millions of adolescents struggle as well. […]

Substance use in the food service industry is a habit thought to be, albeit stereotypically, commonplace by many Americans. The high stress, often late-night work conditions fuel an environment where substance use is viewed as more socially acceptable than in other workplaces. With over 5 million restaurant jobs available in the United States, we decided this was […]

Across America, perhaps no one single group of people sacrifice more for their country than the armed service members – both active duty and retired veterans who at some point in their lives were willing to give up everything to protect and defend their nation. At the same time, the suicide rate among American veterans has increased by […]

A Look at Marijuana Busts Across the U.S. Earlier this summer, Illinois became the most recent state to legalize recreational marijuana – and this is just the latest of many feats made by the marijuana legalization movement. Since Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize recreational cannabis use back in 2012, 9 other states have […]

From rockers’ drug-fueled debauches to rappers’ commitment to cannabis, popular music and substance use have long been linked. But whereas fans once discerned drug use from lyrics and live appearances, social media has brought new visibility to pop stars’ partying. Whether sipping champagne in the club or smoking weed in their studios, performers are now willing and able […]

Addiction is a force that has gripped the US and drags people of all backgrounds down with it. While drugs pose a threat in virtually every community throughout the country overall, there are places where illicit substances are less common and rates of abuse are lower. In this study, our team analyzed data for 51 […]