Increase Access to Substance Abuse Treatment

Drug abuse is a serious social issue that affects almost every community and family in the United States. For the purpose of this project, the terms abused drugs, substance abuse, and drug abuse refers to methamphetamine, heroin, opioids, cocaine, ecstasy, and PCP. Drug abuse contributes to several major social problems such as homelessness, crime, and child abuse.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 46.6% of inmates are currently incarcerated in federal prisons for drug offenses (2015). Furthermore, in 2014 there were over 1.5 million drug law violation related arrests. Of those arrests, 83.1% were for possession of drugs. Only 16.9% of the drug possession charges were related to intent for sale or manufacturing (Common sense for drug policy, 2014). This means that likely 83.1% of those charged had possession of drugs for personal use.

In a recent study, 68% of cities surveyed reported that substance abuse was the leading cause of homelessness for single adults and 12% reported that it was the a leading cause of homelessness for families (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2012).

According to the Child Welfare League of America, over 8 million children live with parents who are abusing substances. Additionally, substance abuse exists in up to 80% of families where children were found to be victims of abuse (National council on child abuse and family violence, 2016).

In 2013 an estimated 24.6 million Americans (9.4% of the American population) aged 12 or older used illicit drugs in the past month. This is an increase from 8.3% of the population using illicit drugs in 2002. There is a large treatment gap in this country.

In 2013, 22.7 million Americans needed treatment for a problem related to drugs, but only 2.5 million received treatment. Of the population that did not receive treatment, 37.3% made an effort to receive treatment, however did not have the health coverage necessary. Furthermore, 8.2% had health coverage but it did not cover drug treatment programs. (SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health Summary of National Findings, 2013).

Even with legislation like the Affordable Healthcare Act the number of people in need of treatment and not receiving it continues to increase, increasing from 2005 by over a million people (Natonal Coalition for the Homeless, 2012) .