Drugs thrives in the society

In 2015, more than 27 million people in the U.S. used illicit drugs in a way that was harmful to their health and that caused problems in their work, family, and community at large.¹ Globally, approximately 275 million people, between the ages of 15 and 64, used drugs at least once during 2016, and approximately 31 million of the people who use drugs suffer from substance use disorders.² Yet only one in six people with a substance use disorder got treatment in 2016.²

Public Health and Healthcare Systems

Physical and Mental Damage: Chronic drug use harms the cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys, and lungs, while triggering mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
Hospital Burdens: Non-fatal poisonings, overdoses, and emergency room visits strain medical infrastructure
. In the U.S., substance abuse and addiction drive hundreds of billions in annual healthcare costs.
Disease Transmission: Sharing needles contributes to the spread of blood-borne viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis.

Economic and Workplace Impacts

Productivity Loss: Substance abuse leads to high rates of absenteeism, lower job performance, workplace accidents, and job termination.
Financial Strain on Governments: Public funds are heavily consumed by emergency services, law enforcement, judicial processing, and social welfare programs. Total annual economic costs in the United States—spanning crime, lost work, and healthcare—are estimated to exceed $800 billion.