• ​Tens of millions worldwide have drug use disorders.
• ​Hundreds of millions have alcohol use disorders.
• ​Combined, hundreds of millions globally meet criteria for substance use disorders, contributing to over 3 million deaths annually.
• ​In the U.S., about 1 in 6 people aged 12+ meet criteria for substance use disorder each year.

Despite the scale of the problem, treatment access is extremely limited:

The key takeaway: most people who don’t receive treatment are not refusing help—they are scared, overwhelmed, unsupported, or stuck in survival mode. Addiction is complex, human, and deeply tied to both emotional pain and systemic barriers, not a flawed personality.

Listen now, and don’t forget to subscribe and share—this is a conversation that could change lives!

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession.

We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Sources used in the development of this episode include:

Substance Use Statistics Sources