Understanding the Numbers: Addiction & Recovery in the U.S.

At Breaking Boundaries, our mission is to uplift and empower women who are reclaiming their lives from addiction and trauma. A critical part of that mission is understanding the scope of addiction—and equally important—the powerful reality of recovery. So let’s look at the facts and figures: what they tell us, and what they leave unsaid.

1. The Scope of Addiction

• Over the course of their lifetime, roughly 29.1% of U.S. adults have met the criteria for an alcohol use disorder, and 9.9% have met the criteria for a non-alcohol drug use disorder.  
• In 2022, among people aged 12 or older, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug (22.0% or about 61.9 million people) and alcohol misuse/binge drinking remained widespread.  
• In 2020, an estimated 40.3 million people in the U.S. had a substance use disorder (SUD). 
• Treatment is extremely under-utilized: for example, in 2020 only about 6.5% of those with an SUD received treatment.  

What this means: Addiction is far more common than many realize. Many people are living with or have lived with a substance use problem—but far fewer receive treatment.

2. Recovery Is Real

• One major study found that about 11.1% of U.S. adults reported ever having a substance use problem and, of those, approximately 74.8% say they are in recovery or have recovered. That translates to about 20.5 million adults.  
• In another survey, 72.2% of adults who had struggled with substance use considered themselves in recovery.  
• A 2021 article highlighted that about 22.3 million Americans had overcome an alcohol or other drug problem—nearly 1 in 10 U.S. adults.  

What this means: Recovery is not the exception—it’s happening, and it’s significant. Many more people are in recovery than those actively using. That is powerful.

3. Relapse, Treatment, & What It’s Like in Reality

• Relapse rates for substance use disorders are estimated at 40%-60%, which is comparable to relapse rates for other chronic illnesses (like hypertension or asthma).  
• The mode of use, type of drug, and other factors affect outcomes. For example, in one review for opioid‐related disorders: those who ingested by mouth had better one-year abstinence rates (~35%) compared to those who injected (~27%).  
• Treatments are far from perfect: less than ~43% of individuals who enter treatment complete it.  
• People in recovery are less likely to have used substances in the past year and are more likely to have accessed treatment—but interestingly, many people in recovery never received formal treatment.  

What this means: Recovery often involves persistence. Relapse doesn’t equal failure—it may mean a change of strategy. And doing the work (ongoing support, treatment access, building community) makes a difference.

4. Why These Numbers Matter for You

1. Normalization & hope: Knowing millions of people have faced addiction and are in recovery helps combat shame and isolation.
2. Understanding risk & resilience: You may see that many retrieved recovery despite significant odds. That means your story counts.
3. Awareness of gaps: With treatment access so low, barriers like cost, stigma, lack of support systems, and co-occurring mental health issues stand out as critical.
4. Inspiration for community & giving back: The fact that people rebuild, go on to achieve major life successes, shows the ripple effect recovery can have. 

5. How Breaking Boundaries Supports This Journey

At Breaking Boundaries, we believe in more than simply “not using.” We believe in healing, empowerment, rebuilding identity, and moving forward.

• Our resources (journals, prompts, workshops) are designed to support daily growth, not just cessation.
• We spotlight community: we connect women who have shared experiences and build mutual support.
• We emphasize trauma-informed recovery: Many women we serve have experienced abuse, homelessness, fentanyl addiction, mental health struggles—so our brand speaks directly to those intersections.
• We honor the statistics: We know the numbers are large, and we know the recovery population is large. Our aim is to be part of the movement that pushes those numbers higher.

6. Final Takeaways

• Addiction is common; recovery is possible.
• The path isn’t always linear—relapse happens, but it doesn’t mean defeat.
• Significant numbers of people are in recovery, living full lives.
• Being part of a recovery-focused community gives you strength, structure, identity.
• You are not alone. Your journey is part of something far greater.

Thanks for reading. If you’re here—either exploring your own recovery path or supporting someone else—you’ve already made a powerful move. Keep going. Build your story. Break your boundaries.

— Sabrina | Founder of Breaking Boundaries