Drug Crisis In America

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Many Americans Fail To Get The Drug Treatment That They Need

It is estimated that 44,000 people die each year as the result of a drug overdose. The number of people dying from drug overdoses would significantly decrease if more people were able to get the treatment that they needed. However, many people who have a substance abuse problem have stated that treatment is either unaffordable or unavailable.

Approximately 22.7 million people in America need drug treatment. However, only 11 percent of them got treatment. Some people voluntary went without care, but others tried to get treatment and were unable to.

Drug Crises Is Getting Worse

The benefits of drug treatment are numerous. It helps save lives and reduces criminal activity. It also increases a person's chances of getting a job. However, the drug crises is getting worse. According to the Center For Disease Control And Prevention, the number of people dying from drug overdoses doubled from 1999 to 2013. Most of these deaths
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Some states have responded to the drug crisis by making it easier for people to get Naloxone. This is a fast-acting drug that can reverse the effects of an opiate overdose. Lawmakers in Indiana have also allowed a needle exchange program.

Even though those approaches are great, experts have stated that they are not enough. These approaches do not treat the underlying addiction. Yngvilid Olsen, who is the medical director at Reach Health Services in Baltimore, has stated that the United States needs to be doing more to address addiction at its early stages.

Politicians are trying to do their part to combat the drug problem. The Obama Administration announced a three part plan to combat the opiate addiction problem. The plan included expansion FDA-approved approved drug addiction treatment medications. The Affordable Care Act also requires that insurers cover substance abuse