In this week's episode of ER , Dr. Carter is admitted to an inpatient substance abuse facility. Drug addiction is a complex and chronic disorder that, when left untreated, can seriously affect an individual's ability to function in everyday life including within family, work and the community. An estimated 10.3 million Americans were dependent on either drugs or alcohol in 1999. Fortunately, the treatment of addiction can be as successful as the treatment of other chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma.
New medications can also be of great assistance for substance abusers.
The following provides additional information on substance abuse treatment as well as links to related sites. Addiction to drugs can happen to anyone regardless of their age, sex, race or background. This survey also revealed that an estimated 3.6 million Americans were dependent on illicit drugs - this equates to approximately 2 percent of the total US population ages 12 and older. Overall, an estimated 4.7 percent of the population in 1999 was dependent on either alcohol or illicit drugs. Research has found that males are more likely to be dependent on illicit drugs than females.