Three in 10 adults say they or someone in their family has been addicted to opioids, according to a new report.
A new poll from KFF reveals just how far-reaching drug and alcohol addiction is across the nation. The survey, conducted online and by telephone from July 11-29, sought to gauge Americans’ concerns and experiences with alcohol and drug addiction.
Most participants had some kind of experience with addiction, whether it be personal or familial. Of the more than 1,300 responders, two-thirds said that either they personally have been addicted to alcohol or drugs, or a family member has been addicted. Experience with addiction also included homelessness due to addiction or experiences with drug overdose that lead to an emergency department visit, hospitalization, or death.
Of the two-thirds of Americans with some extent of experience with addiction, 76 percent said it had at least a minor impact on their relationship with their family, 70 percent said it impacted their mental health, and 57 percent said it also impacted their family’s financial situation.
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More than half of the survey respondents said they worry about a family member experiencing substance use disorder, and 32 percent of those individuals also said they worry about a family member overdosing on opioids. Nearly one in 10 adults have lost a family member to drug overdose.
Further survey findings include:
Opioid addiction
- Three in 10 participants (29 percent) said they or someone in their family have been addicted to opioids, including prescription painkillers and illegal opioids such as heroin, with 42 percent living in rural areas, 30 percent in suburbs, and 23 percent in urban areas.
- White adults (33 percent) were more likely than Black adults (23 percent) to report personal or familial experiences with opioid addiction. A significant portion of Hispanic adults (28 percent) also reported experiences with opioid addiction.
Mental health and substance use disorder
- More than half of participants (58 percent) said they were “very” or “somewhat” worried that a family member will experience a serious mental health crisis. Of those adults, 36 percent are worried about a family member attempting suicide and 33 percent worry a family member will experience homelessness.
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- Seventy-five percent of Hispanic adults reported the most concern about a family member experiencing a serious mental health crisis, compared to 60 percent Black adults and 53 percent white adults.
- Lower income populations were more likely to express worry about a family member’s experiences with mental health issues or addiction than those with higher household incomes.
Access to treatment
- Nearly half (46 percent) of adults who said they or a family member experienced addiction ever received treatment for drug addiction or substance use disorder. White adults (51 percent) were more likely than Black adults (35 percent) and Hispanic adults (35 percent) to receive treatment for themselves or a family member.
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- Ninety percent of those polled expressed support of addiction treatment centers in their community. A significant number (82 percent) also said they believe Narcan should be available in places such as bars, health clinics, and fire stations. Almost half of the participants (45 percent) also said they support safe consumption sites, which would allow people to use illegal drugs with trained personnel in case of an emergency.