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September 14, 2022
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It’s important to know that addiction can happen to anyone. More than 14% of Americans experience a substance use disorder and the reason for using substances comes in many forms whether it’s recreational, peer pressure, stress related, or trauma related. Addiction is a disease that is treatable and it’s important to create awareness towards those struggling with addiction while also encouraging them to get the proper help they need. With today being National Sober Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to highlight the struggles individuals in the U.S. are facing daily while showcasing that help is available for those who need it.
Founded in 2019, National Sober Day occurs annually on September 14 in conjunction with National Recovery Month that is held every year in September since 1989. This day is important in not only celebrating one’s commitment to sobriety, but to also acknowledge the millions of people around the world struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.
According to a 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 14.5 million people over the age of 12 had alcohol use disorder (AUD). Additionally, 414,000 adolescents ages 12-17 were reported having AUD. Only 7.2 percent of those ages 12 or older who had AUD received any treatment in the past year since the study was conducted.
Although alcohol remains the most used substance among adults, 2021 saw historic highs for both Marijuana and Hallucinogen use. Contributing factors of this include nicotine vaping and marijuana vaping. It was also reported that Alcohol reminds the most used substance among adults.
Another substance seeing increased use in 2022 is delta-8 THC. Providers of Keystone Labs have faced many challenges due to the increase in use of delta-8 THC. In a treatment setting with a zero-tolerance policy, those battling addiction can simply go to a gas station or corner store to purchase delta-8 THC. Labs that offer tests for THC parent compounds in urine are not adequately testing for delta-8, and delta-9 THC. However, Keystone Labs has since developed a method that adequately tests for delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, and CBD metabolites so that clinics can now properly identify those taking delta-8 THC.
Death rates in the U.S. continue to skyrocket due to drugs and alcohol.
A 2015 study by the CDC reported that from 2011-2015 in just the United States, an average of 95,159 alcohol-attributed deaths occurred. Of these deaths, 56% involved adults between the ages of 35-64, 26% involved adults 65 and older, and 16% involved young adults between 20-34 years of age. Additionally, the lead chronic cause of alcohol-attributable deaths was alcoholic liver disease, and the leading acute cause of alcohol-attributable deaths were poisonings involving another substance in addition to alcohol such as drug overdoses. Based on these numbers, 261 Americans suffer from an alcohol related death every day.
Since the year 2000, drug overdose deaths are nearing 1 million. The CDC reports an ongoing 12-month analysis on drug overdose deaths in the United States with 104,671 deaths being reported for March 2022, and the predicted number expected to increase to approximately 109,247.
Among substance abusers, Marijuana has the most usership with 10% of youth ages 12-17 and nearly 19% of adults 18+ using Marijuana. Opioids are the next highest with 1.6% of youth ages 12-17 and 3.6% of adults 18+ using. It’s also important that for persons under the age of 45, accidental drug overdose is a leading cause of death.
With substance abuse being a major problem in the U.S., it’s important to seek treatment. More than 75% of adults who report having a substance abuse problem have at one point been in recovery. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is treatable and, in many cases, those who seek treatment can resume living a productive life.
In some cases, those in recovery may experience relapse. It’s important to know that relapse does not mean treatment has failed. Often, relapse after an attempt to stop substance abuse could be part of the process. As the times have evolved, there are now treatments designed to help prevent relapse. Treatment could involve taking medication, or when it comes to cannabis, treatment often consists of behavioral therapies. This is because treatment should align with each patient’s patterns of drug use. It’s important to always follow the medical plan given to you by the professional. If those who are receiving treatment discontinue following their medical treatment plan, it’s likely that relapse will occur.
If you are currently battling addiction, help is always available. There are often many recovery centers and addiction clinics in your area that can help. And to those of you who have successfully battled addiction and won, congratulations! National Sober Day celebrates you for the tremendous accomplishment in overcoming addiction.
Keystone Laboratories, a CAP-accredited North Carolina licensed laboratory and CLIA-licensed lab, is committed to helping you make important decisions that impact the safety and health of your patients with greater confidence. Clients in 48 states can get prescription drug and substance abuse recovery monitoring, specialized testing, workplace drug testing, screening, and program management services from Keystone. Contact Keystone Laboratories today to receive the industry-leading laboratory testing services!
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