Drug Addiction Treatment

Drug addiction is a severe problem that affects millions of people across the country. Addiction is a disease, just like cancer or diabetes, but carries a stigma of misunderstanding that makes it challenging for people to recover. Thankfully, drug addiction treatment is available to those trying to stop using drugs and alcohol.

Plenty of people still believe that substance and alcohol use disorder is a matter of choice and willpower. They think it’s merely a matter of cutting back or just putting it down. What they don’t realize is that drug and alcohol addiction are chronic conditions. They get worse as time passes. People with substance or alcohol use disorder lose the power of choice after a certain point.

Drug addiction treatment provides a solution to the cycle of addiction. There are multiple phases of treatment that provide support during each step of early recovery. Addiction treatment offers a continuum of care, from separating people from drugs and alcohol to teaching them to live clean and sober.

Are you worried that you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem? Addiction treatment can help you or your loved one escape the chains of drug and alcohol addiction. If you aren’t familiar with substance abuse or the addiction treatment process, though, it might be challenging to know where to start.

Do you know the signs to look for in someone struggling to control their drug or alcohol use? Where does the line between use and abuse lie? What qualifies as a drug addiction? What can you do for someone who suffers from drug addiction? Where can you find drug addiction treatment? You’re in the right place. Continue reading to find out more.

Drug Addiction Statistics

People often have an idea in their head of what someone with an alcohol or drug problem looks like. They base their opinions upon stereotypes and assumptions to create an image of drug and alcohol addiction.

The truth is that substance and alcohol use disorder can affect anyone at any age in any profession. There is no single picture of someone with a problem; addiction affects people from all walks of life. You might not even suspect some of the people struggling to control their alcohol or drug use.

An estimated 14.8 million people ages 12 and older in the United States reported having an alcohol use disorder in 2018. Additionally, 8.1 million people in the same age range had a substance use disorder. With more than 20 million people struggling to control their alcohol and drug use across the country, it’s clear that addiction affects a wide range of people.

What do the rates of alcohol and drug addiction look like?

Rates of Alcohol and Substance Use in the United States

Alcohol and drug addiction affect millions of people across the country. According to SAMHSA’s 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among people ages 12 and older:

• 44.4% (about 129.1 million) drank alcohol in the past month
• 19.5% (about 56.8 million) reported binge drinking in the past month
• 8.9% (about 25.7 million) had an alcohol use disorder in the past year

Drug use statistics are just as alarming. About 44.6 million people (15.3%) had a substance use disorder in the past year, including about 4.0 million people with an opioid use disorder.

Commonly Abused Substances

The number of people with an active substance use disorder includes people using a variety of substances, from marijuana to prescription painkillers. Some of the most commonly abused substances include the following:

Prescription Painkillers
Prescription painkillers are one of the most-used drugs in the opioid class. About 7.2 million people ages 12 and older misused prescription pain relievers in the past year.

Heroin
Heroin use isn’t as common as the use of prescription painkillers but is much more risky and lethal. About 581,000 people used heroin in the past year. Some heroin users start out using painkillers before switching once they’re no longer able to afford them. It’s another drug in the opioid class, responsible for thousands of overdoses every year.

Cocaine
Cocaine is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs. An estimated 4.9 million people, 1.7 percent of the population ages 12 and older, used cocaine in the past year. It’s not responsible for as many deaths due to overdose as opioids, but cocaine use still comes with serious risks.

Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is not as widely used as substances like marijuana, opioids, or cocaine. Still, about 2.7 million people used methamphetamine in the past year.

Adolescent Substance Abuse

Drug addiction is not a problem that only affects the adult population. Adolescents struggle with their drug and alcohol use as well. Among adolescents ages 12 to 17:

• 5.9% drank alcohol in the past month
• 11.2% used an illicit drug in the past year
• 15.1% had a major depressive episode in the past year

Source: SAMHSA, Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Crossing the Line From Drug Abuse to Drug Addiction

There are various levels of drug and alcohol use, ranging from normal to disordered use. Not everyone who uses drugs or alcohol will develop a substance or alcohol use disorder. Some people can try them and put them down. Others are not as controlled with their use. Drug addiction is a serious problem and it helps to know when there is a problem.

Where does the line between casual use and problem use lie? How do you know when you or someone you know should seek out a drug rehab? There are some distinct differences between substance and alcohol use disorder and those who are casual users.

Signs of Drug Addiction

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) helps medical professionals diagnose various conditions. There are specific criteria for drug and alcohol use disorders outlined in the DSM-5 to separate casual use from disordered use. Signs of possible substance or alcohol use disorder include:

1. Drinking or using greater amounts of alcohol or drugs, or drinking or using for a longer period than originally intended.
2. Trying to cut back on or control alcohol or drug use, or trying to quit entirely, but not being able to.
3. Spending a lot of time drinking or using drugs, or being sick as a direct result of drinking or drug use.
4. Noticing signs of craving, meaning wanting a drink or a drug so badly that it crowds out all other thoughts.
5. Drinking or drug use, or being sick as a result, interferes with responsibilities at home, work, or school.
6. Continuing to drink or use drugs despite the problems it causes with friends or family.
7. Cutting back on or giving up activities that were once important if they get in the way of drinking or drug use.
8. Ending up in risky, dangerous, or life-threatening situations as a result of drinking or drug use (i.e. walking in a dangerous area, unsafe sex, operating machinery, driving under the influence).
9. Continuing to drink or use drugs despite their harmful impact on physical or mental health.
10. Needing to drink or use greater amounts to achieve the desired effect (developing a tolerance).
11. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when the effects of drugs or alcohol wear off.

Someone who shows even 2 of these symptoms may qualify as having an alcohol or substance use disorder. The severity of a person’s condition is determined by the number of qualifications they meet:

• Mild Use Disorder: 2 to 3 symptoms
• Moderate Use Disorder: 4 to 5 symptoms
• Severe Use Disorder: 6 or more symptoms

The best way to determine the presence of a substance or alcohol use disorder is to seek professional help from a physician or drug rehab facility.

Does Addiction Treatment Cure Addiction?

Some people wonder whether drug addiction treatment can actually cure drug addiction. Will the desire to drink or use drugs ever go away or are cravings going to be an ongoing battle for the rest of your life? Will you be able to control your substance or alcohol use after you go to drug addiction treatment?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure for alcoholism or drug addiction. They are chronic, relapsing brain disorders similar to conditions like heart disease, cancer, or asthma. Addiction treatment provides relief from symptoms but they never fully go away. Living life in recovery is like someone living in remission from cancer; there’s always the possibility of relapse.

Effective addiction treatment teaches you to manage your alcohol or substance use disorder. You learn about the ways alcohol and drugs affect your body both short-term and long-term. Treatment programs equip you with an awareness and understanding of the reasons you turn to alcohol or drugs.

Attending addiction treatment doesn’t remove the problem entirely, though. It separates you from substances long enough to offer an alternative to living in the cycle of addiction. Then it’s up to you to continue treating your condition and maintaining your ongoing recovery.

Drug Addiction Treatment Options

Drug addiction treatment comes in a complete continuum of care. There are multiple levels of treatment available from intensive 24-hour medical detox to outpatient programs. Not everyone needs to go through every level of care. The type of treatment you need depends on the severity of your drug or alcohol use.

Medically-Supervised Detox

Medically-supervised detox is the highest level of care available. People who cannot function with alcohol or drugs in their system usually need detox to safely separate from all substances. These programs provide 24-hour care for the first few days of sobriety to limit the impact of severe alcohol or drug withdrawal symptoms.

Detox is available at either a licensed treatment facility or at a hospital program. Many detox programs provide medication-assisted treatment to ease the withdrawal process.

Inpatient Addiction Treatment

Inpatient addiction treatment programs are the next step after medically-supervised detox. Detox programs focus solely on keeping you safe during the withdrawal process. Inpatient treatment is where you start working with a counselor, attending group sessions, and more.

Inpatient treatment programs combine both day treatment and residential arrangements. If you attend an inpatient program you’re required to reside at the facility for the length of your program, usually between 30 and 90 days.

Partial Hospitalization Programs

Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) are similar to inpatient treatment but don’t offer a residential component to treatment. You receive the same high level of programming without having to live at the facility. PHPs offer a more affordable way to attend a thorough program for drug addiction treatment.

Intensive Outpatient Program

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are the most common and accessible type of drug addiction treatment. These programs provide the same intensive treatment as an inpatient or partial hospitalization but for fewer hours during the week. Most intensive outpatient programs meet 3 days per week for 3 to 5 hours each day.

The cost of addiction treatment is one of the largest barriers that keep people from receiving the help they need. Not everyone can afford the cost of higher levels of care like inpatient and PHP. Another concern is the large time commitment required by those same programs.

Intensive outpatient programs make drug addiction treatment available to a wider range of people. Since these programs offer fewer weekly treatment hours they tend to be a more affordable way to receive high-quality drug and alcohol treatment.

Sober Living Houses

Sometimes it’s difficult to live in your everyday environment when you’re first learning to live without drugs and alcohol. It’s harder to avoid temptation when you’re new in recovery and trying to get back on your feet. This is where sober living homes come in.

Sober living homes are not a form of addiction treatment themselves but are a great supplement to treatment programs. You can live in sober living while going to addiction treatment and remain after you complete your program. These residences offer affordable housing and a safe, sober place to live for people who are new in recovery.

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Our caring and compassionate staff is available to answer any questions you may have about addiction treatment.

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