| Estimated Number/Percent of Working Adults w/Drinking
Problem |
10% of working adults have drinking problems |
|
- Alcohol and drug abuse is seen as the number one problem facing the
county and Bay Area today by respondents to two United Way of the Bay Area donor surveys
and two San Mateo County surveys. The frequent association alcoholism beverages with human
service fundraising activities sends message to the community and substance abusers.
- In San Mateo County, cocaine is the most widely used illicit drug, but
alcohol continues to be the biggest drug problem. Alcohol is implicated in
convictions in violent crimes, fatal car accidents, in foster home placement of children,
in alcohol and drug exposed infants and child abuse. Besides the human toll, alcohol
and drug abuse have economic consequences for the county -- these problems cost San Mateo
County almost half-billion dollars in 1988. Populations particularly affected by
alcohol and drug abuse are children of alcoholics, people with disabilities, elderly, and
abusers of the elderly, ethnic minorities and mentally ill people who also have substance
abuse problems, and gay men and lesbians.
- Until the AIDS epidemic, alcoholism was often considered the number one
health problem among gay men and lesbians. Some experts the next wave of AIDS
epidemic to come from the intravenous drug using population.
- Among young adults the greatest need in San Mateo County is in Coastside
where use of alcohol and drugs by youth exceeds the national average. There's been
little or no moderate low cost treatment available locally.
- 15 to 20 people die of alcoholism for every one person who dies as a
result of using illegal drugs.
- 25% of all hospitalized persons have alcohol related health problems.
- 14% to 25% of the workforce age 18 to 40 comes to work everyday under the
influence of alcohol and other drugs.
|
| Alcohol Related Arrests |
|
| Percent of Hospitalized Persons w/ Alcohol/Drug Related
Problems |
| Drug Related Arrests |
| Percent of Deaths Related to Cocaine |
| Number of Clients Waiting for Substance Abuse Services |
| Percent of Fatal Accidents & Injury Accidents Related
to Alcohol |
Cocaine related deaths rose 169% from 1986 to 1987 |
| Admission to County Cocaine Dependency Program |
Cocaine related treatment admissions in SM funded program
increased 224% 1988-1987 |
| Percent of Babies Born to Drug Abusing Mothers |
|
| Percent of Youth with Alcohol/Drug Abuse Problems |
| Percent of Foster Care Cases Involving Addicted Parents |
Target Groups Particularly Affected by Alcohol/Drug Abuse:
- Children of Alcoholics
- People with Disabilities
- Elderly & Abusers of Elderly
- Mentally Ill Persons
- Homeless Persons
- Ethnic Minorities
- Lesbians/Gay
- Men HIV Infected
- Adolescent/Youth
|