In the United States, more than 63 million adults lived with a substance use disorder or mental illness in the last year alone. A closer look at these staggering numbers shows that 20 million people were dealing with a substance use disorder, while 43 million struggled with their mental health. Out of the 328 million people that live in the U.S., this means nearly one in 12 struggled with drug or alcohol addiction, and one in five were affected by a mental health disorder. Digging a little deeper, you can see that these conditions aren’t mutually exclusive — almost 8 million adults had both substance use and mental health concerns, otherwise known as a dual diagnosis.
All too often, these individuals are our friends, family or neighbors — substance use and mental illness don’t discriminate and can affect people from all walks of life. Addiction can sneak up on you, and the one in four adults (or 59 million) who binge drink, or the one in 10 (or 24 million) who have tried illicit drugs, may be putting themselves at risk by engaging in these behaviors. This is especially true for those with a mental health disorder or serious mental illness, since drug or alcohol use can trigger symptoms and interfere with treatment.
At Alta Loma, we believe that numbers like these are a call to action to expand the accessibility of substance use and mental health treatment in the U.S. That’s why we provide integrated treatment for men struggling with both at our facility in Georgetown, Texas. With comprehensive recovery plans and a highly trained staff of professionals, we can help you or your loved one find sustainable, lasting recovery and forge a new path forward.
