Recent studies have shown that it is possible that millennials have a much higher risk of developing an addiction. This is due to a perfect storm of issues that millennials have had to deal with, the impact of the previous generations, and the rise in mental health issues that are not being treated properly because of the inability to receive care. Some of the alarming statistics for millennials include the following things.
Millenials are the Most Likely Age Group to Die From Substance Abuse
The number of people who died from alcohol or substance-related problems in 2017 was more than double what the number was in 1999. Almost half of these deaths were from overdoses. Those who are young adults during this time have an elevated risk of substance abuse problems, and for this period, it would be the millennials. It is important for anyone who is concerned to begin with exploring symptoms of addiction and the risks to help prevent more deaths.
Drug-Related Deaths Have Increased Significantly
Since millennials are more likely to die from substance abuse, it’s no surprise that the death rates have risen significantly in the last few years. In fact, in the previous 20 years, drug overdose deaths have gone from under 20,000 to more than 106,000 per year. Many of these deaths include opioids, because of the opioid crisis, though they do also include stimulants, depressants, and alcohol abuse. These are the years when millennials would be becoming adults and more likely to start using substances, showing that addiction has increased significantly for them compared to previous generations.
Alcohol is the Most Common Drug of Choice for Millenials
Recent studies have shown that alcohol is the most common drug of choice for millennials and is what they turn to most frequently when they want to relax or change their mood. Marijuana comes in second place, with a high percentage of millennials stating they have had alcohol or marijuana in the past few months. Millennials tend to turn to substances more frequently than previous generations did as a way to relax or alter their emotions, and with the ease of accessibility to alcohol and other substances, those are the ones they turn to more often.
Prescription Painkiller Abuse is More Common for Millenials
The opioid crisis is still going on, but it is impacting millennials more than any other generation. More than 12% of millennials have reported recent painkiller abuse, and this can often lead to addiction and further substance abuse. It is through the ease of availability at the height of the opioid crisis that many millennials began abusing painkillers. Today, millennials are more likely than those from other generations to abuse painkillers and to end up overdosing from substance abuse.
With major events throughout their life, an easier way to access a wide range of substances, increased mental health concerns, and a number of other factors at play, it’s no surprise that recent studies are showing that millennials are at a higher risk of developing an addiction. The terrifying statistics show just how many millennials end up suffering from addiction, with too many losing their life to it. Anyone who is worried about their substance use can seek treatment for it today, helping them start the road to recovery so they do not end up as part of the future statistics.