Survey Finds Millions of New U.S. Drug Abusers

[villager]

Survey Finds Millions of New U.S. Drug Abusers

Fri Sep 5, 3:24 PM ET

By Maggie Fox,
Health and Science Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A redesigned survey of who uses and abuses drugs in the United States has found millions of "missed" users and addicts, with an estimated 22 million Americans suffering from alcohol or drug abuse.


The study, released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on Friday, finds that 19.5 million Americans used illicit drugs in 2002. This works out to 8.3 percent of the population age 12 or older.


Last year's survey found that 15.9 million Americans used an illegal drug in 2001 -- but SAMHSA stressed that the latest survey used new methods and turned up many hidden drug users.


"The 2002 data are simply not comparable with data from previous surveys," the report reads.


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http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc&cid=34&in=health&cat=substance_use_and_abuse

[Pale_Rider]

1. Dope will get you through times of no money ...

... better than money will get you through times of no dope.

- Freewheelin' Franklin

[villager]

3. Ah, the Bros. Freak...

We need them back. Along with Fat Freddy's Cat...

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Those statiscal scamps!

They've been reading forums and using "potty" talk to up the numbers.

[maggrwaggr]

4. George Bush makes me want to take drugs

get drunk, throw eggs at the white house, and wave my naked ass in his mother's face.

[SideshowScott]

5. Not suprising considering we have a Anti-Utopian in the white house

Jobless, war, fear its not frikkin wonder we have a drug problem in america..Just like the crack boom under Reagan/Bush..Republicans could care less about that as long as we eat cake

[Must_B_Free]

6. More fake ammo for ramping up the war on drugs (read 'Americans')

Reminds me of the fake Education infor they called the "Texas Miracle"

[villager]

7. wondered about that, too

...the sudden "discovery" that millions more are bummed out and using under the dark, gray skies of Bushco...

[maxanne]

8. This report may well

have a positive effect on the sorry state of treatment in this country. The study looked at alcohol abuse, as well as drugs, btw. Thanks to HMO's and managed care, many treatment centers have closed. My state has lost 12 in the last decade. We now have 1 detox, and 1 28 day program to serve the three northern counties of the state. We have a high incidence of alcoholism here. We offer next to nothing in terms of education or treatment.

In times of budget cuts and economic peril - substance abuse treatment budgets get slashed. Ironic - because in times of economic peril, people lose their jobs, and their hopes for the future, and self medication is prevailant.

[villager]

9. good points...

...folks are numbing themselves because of the harrowing times they live in -- and their inability to get any public/community help, makes those times more harrowing still...

[SpiralHawk]

10. Just shut up and pass the Soma

Don't matter whether you take prescription or black market Soma. Everything will be just fine. Tune your TV to FAUX FEELIE news, sit back and relax. pResident* Faux will take care of all your problems.



*Possessed of a shameful AWOL record while honor-bound by solemn oath to be serving with the Texas National Guard in the 1970s; defeated by a clear majority of patriotic and discerning American voters in the 2000 election; appointed to office by the so-called supreme court.

[SOS]

11. This makes no sense

The study shows 22 million suffer from alcohol or drug abuse, but the article states we have 54 million binge drinkers and 16 million alcoholics. The whole article contradicts itself.
They say there are 14 million cannabis users. Also 2 million cocaine users, one million ecstasy users, but no mention of opiates or prescription drug abuse.
14 + 2 + 1 = 17. Why 22? Add 16 million alcoholics and you get 33.
This article is so sloppy it must be dismissed.
This paragraph sums up my objections:

"The report also measures tobacco use and found that 71.5 million Americans used tobacco in 2002 -- about 30 percent of the population. Of these, 26 percent or 61 million smoked cigarettes -- much higher than the current CDC estimate of 46 million."

This is simply incoherent. 26% of 71.5 is 18.6, not 61.
30% of US pop. is 84 million, not 71.

The writer must have been really high to publish this mess.