Substance Abuse Facts
Alcohol abuse is the number one cause of death of adolescents.
The average age of first use of alcohol or drugs in Oklahoma is 7th grade.
Alcohol use interacts with conditions such as depression and stress to contribute to suicide, the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25.
More than 40 percent of individuals who begin drinking before age 15 will develop alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence at some time in their lives.
At least 10% of the population suffers from alcoholism or chemical dependency.
One out of every three kids in the U.S. lives in a home with severe alcohol abuse/alcoholism or other drug abuse.
Treatment cuts drug abuse by about 50%, reduces reported alcohol and medical illnesses by 50%, and decreases criminal activity by as much as 80%.
As many as 50% of all workers compensation claims are related to the abuse of alcohol and drugs in the workplace.
80% of Oklahoma prison inmates are there for drug-related crimes.
The cost of substance abuse to Oklahoma is conservatively estimated at $7 billion annually.
Statistics come from the Governor’s Task Force on Substance Abuse, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma Substance Abuse Services Alliance, Oklahoma Academy for State Goals, and the Betty Ford Center.
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