USA (MNN) — Substance abuse costs society more than $820 billion a year. Medical bills and productivity losses related to alcohol and tobacco make up the bulk of lost revenue.
The most common addictions in the United States may surprise you. “The top five are alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, opiates, and then inhalants,” Brandon Bower with The Lighthouse says.
“Number four on the list is opioids, and we’re seeing the most deaths out of this category because of fentanyl. Fentanyl is mixed with nicotine now, and marijuana, and cocaine, and all of these other things; 70 percent of addiction deaths are coming directly from fentanyl.”
The last addiction listed caught Bower off guard. Here’s a closer look at inhalants. “I didn’t realize it would be in the top five, but it is trending up right now because it’s very dangerous,” he says.
(Image courtesy of StockSnap on Pixabay)
Another troublesome trend deserves mention. “One of the concerning things for us in the rehab business is seeing that Christians and churches are doing alcohol-related events,” Bower says.
“They’re almost giving a free pass to the use of alcohol rather than offering cautions.”
Designer drugs are problematic, too. “They’re purposely designing these things to circumvent the laws to attract certain populations – kids, young adults, college students,” Bower says.
“The thing that’s really concerning about these (designer drugs) is they’re unpredictable. Nobody quite knows what’s in these drugs. Sometimes, they’re more powerful; sometimes they’re fatal.”
The Lighthouse offers a Christ-centered solution. More about that here. “We’re working intently with this handful of men to re-establish healthy patterns in their [lives],” Bower says.
“Everyone starts in a 30-day program where we walk beside them for an intense 30 days. They’re in groups, classes, and counseling four to five times daily, and we’re training them in life skills.”
Do you know someone struggling with a life-altering addiction? Contact The Lighthouse today.
“Fill out the application, and we will call within 72 hours to make an appointment to talk to you about your loved one or to talk to your loved one. If there’s an emergency, we can get someone in, sometimes as quickly as 24 hours,” Bower says.
“Right now, we’re seeing a fairly low census, so pray that God brings the right people to our programs so we can help the right people at the right time.”
Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Luca Horváth/Unsplash.
