Drug Abuse is a Major Public Health Problem

Americans Perceive Drug Abuse as a Major Public Health Problem
Many of America's top medical problems can be directly linked to drug abuse:

1. Cancer: Tobacco contributes to 11-30% of cancer deaths.

   

   Americans Perceive Drug Abuse

2. Heart Disease: Researchers have found a connection between the abuse of tobacco, cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), amphetamines, and steroids and the development of cardiovascular diseases. Tobacco is responsible for approximately 30% of all heart disease deaths each year.
3. HIV/AIDS: Approximately one-third of AIDS cases reported in 2000 (11,635) and most cases of hepatitis C (approximately 25,000 in 2001) in the United States are associated with injection drug use.
4. Approximately half of pediatric AIDS cases (4,700 reported through 2002) result from injection drug use or sex with injection drug users by the child's mother.