Addiction can be defined as a state of mind when a person’s principal means of happiness depends on substances like alcohol, smoking and drugs. Adolescents are more prone to addiction because they have not yet learned the importance of self control.
It has been found from research that almost one in every eight people in America is addicted to either drugs or alcohol. This is quite a significant number, and the fact that there are 27 million people in America who use drugs or alcohol is terrifying. Considering the fact that addicts require a lot of care and rehabilitation, a significant amount of your tax dollars are spent on addiction rehabilitation.
Adolescents, as has been said, are more at risk of addiction. Almost 12 per cent of the American adolescent population is addicted to drugs. The addiction not only costs more, in terms of health care; it also costs a lot to treat the person when they suffer from the consequences of the addiction.
The common diseases that are seen as a result of addiction are mental problems like depression and suicidal tendencies. Diseases apart, addiction also causes a great loss to the nation because of the increased crime rate. The total health and other cost to the American society because of addiction is at least $250 billion.
The United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also says that addiction is not only a health problem, but it is also a major social problem. Illicit drug use and overindulgence in alcoholism can make a person becoming completely dependent on these substances. This addiction leads to breakdown in families, increased divorces, increased burden on families because of health care costs and various other problems. Addiction needs to be identified and curbed in the society, as early as possible, to prevent its corroding influence.