Addiction can be a devastating issue, affecting a person’s mental and physical health and relationships. Fortunately, there are more resources available than ever to help those struggling with addiction get the help they need. In this article, we explore the growing number of people seeking addiction treatment and look at the statistics behind this trend.
Getting Help: The Growing Number of Addicts Seeking Treatment
A greater number of people are seeking help for addiction than ever before. This is likely due to an increased understanding of the dangers of addiction and substance abuse, as well as more resources available to support those in need. Also, hard conversations are taking place in many communities, opening the door to more people getting the help they need.
Advances in technology have also made it easier to access addiction treatment programs. With the internet and mobile applications, more people are able to find information about addiction and treatment centers that may be able to assist them. This is allowing many to get the help they need more quickly and conveniently.
Finally, the stigma attached to addiction has begun to decrease, making it easier for people to get the help they need without the fear of judgement. This is allowing more people to seek treatment, as they are more accepting of their situation and able to get help without being judged.
Counting Up: A Closer Look at Addiction Treatment Statistics
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that in 2018, over 21 million people aged 12 and older received treatment for a substance use disorder. This was an increase of 4.3 million from the previous year.
In addition, SAMHSA reported that in 2018, there were 1.4 million admissions to treatment for substance use disorders in the US. This number has been increasing steadily since 2014.
The number of individuals seeking treatment for opioid-related substance use disorders has also been increasing. In 2018, SAMHSA reported that there were more than 700,000 admissions to treatment for opioid use disorder, up from 614,000 in 2017.
It is encouraging to see that more people are seeking addiction treatment and taking the steps needed to get the help they need. This can be attributed to a combination of increased awareness, more resources available, and a decrease in stigma. As more people get the help they need, the better our society can become.