SUBSTANCE ABUSE Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine are considered drugs. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish signs of drug use, which the Mayo Clinic identified as: • Problems at school or work; • Physical health issues, such as lack of energy and motivation, weight loss or gain, or red eyes; • Neglected appearance; • Changes in behavior; and • Indebtedness. Healthy People 2020 focuses on reducing substance abuse to protect the health, safety, and quality of life for all people, especially children. The effects of substance abuse affect individuals, families and communities. The Healthy People 2020 substance abuse LHI objective is to reduce the number of adolescents using alcohol or illicit drugs in the past 30 days by 10%. Overall, Orange County youth reported less alcohol and drug use (AOD) when compared to California when assessing alcohol consumption and drug use in the past 30 days: 2013-2015 Alcohol/Drug Use on School Property in Past Month, by Grade Level Orange County California Some Above/ No AOD Above/ Some No AOD Grade Level AOD Use Below CA Use Below CA AOD Use Use 7th Grade 3.9% 96.1% 4.1% 95.9% ● ● 9th Grade 7.5% 92.5% 7.5% 92.5% ● ● 11th Grade 6.8% 93.2% 7.5% 92.5% ● ● Non-Traditional 21.1% 78.9% 25.6% 74.4% ● ● Source: WestEd, California Healthy Kids Survey. California Department of Education (Jul. 2017).
According to OC Health Care Agency (OCHCA), although Orange County youth are reporting less alcohol and drug use compared to statewide averages, Orange County is seeing an increase in drug-related overdose deaths (of ~80% between 2000-2017) across all age groups. Opioid According to OCHCA, drug overdose (poisoning) is now the leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States, causing more deaths than motor vehicle crashes. Opioids – both prescription painkillers and heroin – are responsible for most of those deaths. Nationally, there is sizeable attention to the growing opioid epidemic. The number of Californians affected by prescription and non-prescription opioid misuse and overdose is substantial, with rates varying significantly across counties, and even within counties. The OCHCA noted that coastal cities of Orange County are reporting higher opioid use compared to other cities within the county.
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