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Addiction and Substance Misuse Reports and Publications

Alcohol and drug misuse and related disorders are major public health challenges that are taking an enormous toll on our society. Recently more than 27 million people in the United States reported that they are using illicit drugs or misusing prescription drugs, and nearly a quarter of adults and adolescents reported binge drinking in the past month.  The annual economic impact of substance misuse is estimated to be $249 billion for alcohol misuse and $193 billion for illicit drug use.

The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—have become common chronic illnesses in the U.S. Although there are effective treatments for opioid use disorder, only about one in four people with this disorder receive any type of specialty treatment.

Mitigating the opioid and substance abuse epidemics ravaging our country is a major priority of the Surgeon General.  The Surgeon General is also championing efforts to prevent drug use, overdose, and addiction infectious disease, and more fully leverage public health, business, law enforcement, and community resources to address these issues head on.

Read the publications below to learn in detail what the Surgeon General is doing about addiction in America.

Title Type Date
Surgeon General’s Advisory on Marijuana Use & the Developing Brain Advisory 2019
Press Release 2019
Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Spotlight on Opioids Opioid Spotlight Report 2018
Digital Postcard 2018
Press Release 2018
Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health Microsite (archived) 2016
Full Report (or view NLM archived version) 2016
Report Highlights 2016
Fact Sheet: General 2016
Fact Sheet: Families and Individuals 2016
Fact Sheet: Government 2016
Fact Sheet: Healthcare Professionals 2016
Press Release 2016
Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy Advisory 2017
Surgeon General's Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking Call to Action 2007
Community Guide 2007
Educator Guide 2007
Family Guide 2007
Surgeon General's Workshop on Drunk Driving: Proceedings Workshop 1989
Surgeon General’s Advisory on Naloxone and Opioid Overdose Advisory 2018
Press release 2018
Opioid Overdose Prevention Resources 2018

 

Content created by Office of the Surgeon General
Content last reviewed August 31, 2023
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