What Are  The Costs of Addiction?

Drug and Alcohol Addiction is a nationwide problem.  South Carolina is no exception.
Here are a few facts regarding drug abuse, in South Carolina, from the Office of National Drug Control Policy:

• During 2006, there were more than 26,000 adult arrests for simple possession of drugs in South Carolina.
• During 2006, there were 6,178 adult drug law arrests in South Carolina for the sale, manufacture, cultivation and possession with intent to distribute.
• Additional 2004-2005 NSDUH results indicate that 103,000 (2.96%) South Carolina citizens reported illicit drug dependence or abuse within the past year. Approximately 64,000 (1.85%) reported past year illicit drug dependence.

How about drug use among teens?

• Approximately 12% of South Carolina high school students surveyed in 2005 reported abusing inhalants at least once in their lifetimes.
• Approximately 47% of South Carolina 12th graders surveyed in 2005 reported using marijuana at least once during their lifetime.
• According to 2004-2005 NSDUH data, approximately 10% of South Carolina 12-17 year olds reported past month use of an illicit drug.

Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse,
State of South Carolina, Profile of Drug Indicators, December 2007
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/statelocal/sc/sc.pdf

So, What are the costs?

Read about The Economic Costs of Drug Abuse in the US, 1992-1998 [pdf]
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/economic_costs98.pdf

Substance abuse is a drain on every part of our society, and devastating to the individual users and their loved ones.  The website data below gives some detailed overviews of the costs of addiction.

The Economic Costs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the United States – 1992
http://www.drugabuse.gov/EconomicCosts/

The Economic Costs of Drug Abuse in the US, 1992-1998
Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy
Washington, D.C. 20503, September 2001
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/economic_costs98.pdf

They greatest loss of all is spiritual.

Drugs and alcohol addiciton is a thief that the enemy (Satan) uses.  That thief is robbing our society of moms and dads, sons and daughters, and productive employees and citizens.  The Bible tells us the purpose of the thief in John 10:10 is to steal, kill and destroy.  That is the end game result of addictions of all kinds.  That is why we use the approach we use.  You can only truly overcome a spiritual problem with a spiritual solution through the power of Jesus Christ.

What about Greenville?

Wisdom In Living Life Ministry Beyond Recovery Project—Drug Statistics