More than 8% of high school seniors admitted to cocaine use in 2001,
and 25% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 have used cocaine. There are
currently 2 million cocaine addicts in America.
First time offenders convicted of crack cocaine trafficking offenses in
federal courts are sentenced to an average of more than 10 years in prison.
More than half of all drug related emergency room visits are due to cocaine
use.
Heroin
In 2002, 1.6% of 8th grade kids admitted to having tried
heroin
51% of accidental drug deaths are due to heroin use.
The average heroin addict
needs between $150 and $200 daily to support their habit.
Marijuana
The average age at which youth try marijuana for the first time is 14.
25.4 million Americans used marijuana during 2005.
Almost 78% of people in state prisons had been marijuana users.
Ecstasy
In 2006, 6.5% of 12 graders had used ecstasy at least once.
Regular users of ecstasy will suffer from lowered levels of Serotonin for at least a year after cessation of
use.
Prescription Drugs
Almost 50 million Americans have used prescription drugs to get high.
In 2005, almost 70 000
Americans needed professional treatment for pain pill abuse.
Other drugs
Last year 1.8% of 8th grade kids used meth amphetamine, and
4.2% used cough medicine with the active ingredient Dextromethorphan (a
dissociative hallucinogen in high doses) to get high.
A 2006 survey of 8th graders reported that 16.1% had used
inhalants at some point to get high.
Illicit drugs are being used by tens of millions of people each day in America, and
although some may be able to use without dependency, too often the end result
of casual use is addiction and ultimately despair.
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