It’s the real deal. But fortunately more is being done about it with awareness. Denial of the extent of the problem is epidemic. Probably since most of us appreciate a little mood-altering in our stressful lives. And the lucky ones of us who have no problems in their immediate family have no incentive to educate themselves about the issue.
In spite of extensive effort to educate there remain many myths and misconceptions about what comprises drug misuse and drug addiction. Many of the people who prescribe them are as guilty of mistaken beliefs as the consumer.
Chemical dependency is a problem in the United States with one in ten of us being afflicted. Then there’s the chemical abuser.
Each of those people affects many other people in negative ways. In my state, MN, which is considered a relatively healthy state, we saw state expenditures due to the misuse of alcohol and drugs increase from four billion to five billion in a single year.
What better way for a young, curious child to access his first mood-altering experience than from his own home?