June 4, 2026- Federal initiatives aim to expand prevention and recovery efforts as communities grapple with evolving drug trends, increased risks and ongoing stigma around treatment.
Drug use among teenagers and adults remains a national crisis, with lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic intensifying the nation’s current drug epidemic.
Substance use disorder (SUD) is impairment caused by repeated use of alcohol or other drugs. Among individuals aged 12 and older, 48.4 million people (or 16.8% of the population) had a SUD within the past year in 2024, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) survey data.
The misuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For many that are struggling, their addiction often goes unaddressed, with nearly 8 in 10 people with substance use disorder forgoing treatment in 2024.
Continue Reading in the latest issue of Repertoire Magazine.