Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Are
America's Number One Health Problem

• Substance abuse crosses all societal boundaries, affects both genders, every ethnic group, and people in every tax bracket.
• There are more deaths and disabilities each year in the U.S. from substance abuse than from any other cause.
• About 18 million Americans have alcohol problems; about 5 to 6 million have drug problems.
• Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death: heart disease, cancer and stroke.
• Alcohol and drug abuse costs the American economy an estimated $276 billion per year in lost productivity, health care expenditures, crime, motor vehicle crashes and other conditions.
• Untreated addiction is more expensive than heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined.
• Like other diseases, addiction can be overcome with proper treatment, prevention and more research.

* Source: America's Number One Health Problem, NCADD Fact Sheet, September 2002