How many individuals have substance use disorders?
Although the terms change, the fundamental problems associated with these disorders remain constant. The accepted Institute of Medicine terminology is “substance use disorders.” According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 14 million adult Americans—one of every 13—meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse. About 50 percent of adults have or have had a close family relative with one of those disorders. In addition, more than 70 percent of individuals who consume alcohol exceed moderate drinking guidelines (up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people). More than 50 percent of college students who drink alcohol say that they drink to “get drunk.” Although alcohol is legal for adults, the abuse of alcohol has become a serious problem in the United States. Approximately 12.8 percent of men and women experience symptoms of alcohol dependence at some time in their lives. Of those individuals, approximately 700,000 are
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