Addiction by the Numbers
What percentage of Americans will struggle with a substance use disorder at some point in their lives?
Answer: What is 10%
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse - NIDA
What is the most common reason people relapse in early recovery?
Answer: What is stress or unmanaged emotions
Source: Recovery Research Institute
True or False: Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction is not considered "real recovery."
Answer: What is false? MAT is an evidence-based treatment that improves long-term recovery outcomes.
Source: SAMHSA
Which brain chemical is most associated with addiction and the reward system?
Answer: What is dopamine
Source: NIDA
True or False: People in sober living homes have higher recovery success rates than those who return to their previous environments.
Answer: What is true
Source: NIDA
What is the most commonly used substance in the United States?
Answer: What is alcohol
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - SAMHSA
What is the average relapse rate for people in early recovery?
Answer: What is 40-60%
Source: NIDA
What percentage of people who complete a 90-day treatment program have better recovery outcomes?
Answer: What is 65%
Source: NIDA
How long does it take for the brain to start healing after stopping substance use?
Answer: What is 90 days
Source: American Journal of Psychiatry
What percentage of people in recovery say that peer support was an essential part of their success?
Answer: What is 75%
Source: Recovery Research Institute
What percentage of people with a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring mental health disorder?
Answer: What is about 50%
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse - NIDA
What is the best way to reduce the risk of relapse in early recovery?
Answer: What is engaging in treatment, building recovery capital, staying connected to a support network, and avoiding triggers.
Source: Recovery Research Institute
What is the most effective type of treatment for substance use disorders?
Answer: What is a combination of behavioral therapy, peer support, and, when necessary, medication
Source: SAMHSA
What part of the brain is responsible for impulse control and is affected by substance use?
Answer: What is the prefrontal cortex?
Source: NIDA
What is the minimum suggested length of sober living stay for better long-term recovery outcomes?
Answer: What is 6 months
Source: NIDA
True or False: The majority of people with a substance use disorder never seek professional treatment.?
Answer: What is true. Only about 10% receive treatment
Source: SAMHSA
After how many years of continuous sobriety does the risk of relapse drop significantly?
Answer: What is 5 years
Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - NIAAA
True or False: People who receive treatment for substance use disorder are just as likely to maintain long-term recovery as people with other chronic illnesses, like diabetes or hypertension.
Answer: What is true
Source: Recovery Research Institute
What percentage of people who recover from a substance use disorder describe having a "spiritual awakening" as part of their recovery process?
Answer: What is about 50%
Source: Recovery Research Institute
What percentage of people in recovery from addiction engage in some form of community service or giving back?
Answer: What is 80%
Source: Recovery Research Institute
What is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. related to substance use?
Answer: What is opioid overdose
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC
What percentage of people who achieve 5 years of sobriety will stay sober for life?
Answer: What is about 85%
Source: Recovery Research Institute
What percentage of people who stay engaged in a recovery program for at least one year maintain long-term sobriety?
Answer: What is 67%
Source: NIDA
What is the term for when the brain forms new neural pathways to adapt to sobriety?
Answer: What is neuroplasticity
Source: American Psychological Association - APA
What is one major benefit of living in a sober living home compared to living alone in early recovery?
Answer: What is accountability, peer support, structure, or access to resources
Source: NIDA