Arizonans lost over 86,000 years of life to drug abuse in 2017

PHOENIX — A new report shows that Arizonans lost more than 86,000 healthy years of life due to drug abuse in 2017.

The American Addiction Centers looked at World Health Organization data to determine how many years of potential life have been lost to substance abuse.

For example, a 21-year-old that was expected to live until 70 but fatally overdosed would have lost 49 years.

Arizona landed in the top five states for healthy years lost due to amphetamine use disorders in 2017 with more than 104.1 years lost per 100,000 residents.

That same year, Arizonans lost more than 5,600 years to amphetamines, more than 6,600 years to cocaine and nearly 74,000 to general opioid use disorders.

From 2016 to 2017, Arizonans saw an increase of 3.5% in healthy years lost. Montana had the highest increase at 10.1 %, and Massachusetts had the smallest at 0.1%.

“These statistics are really quite shocking and show how much can be lost to drug and substance abuse. Addiction doesn’t have to be fought alone,” Ruchi Dhami with the American Addiction Centers said in a press release.

“There are treatment centers all over the country to help individuals recover and regain a sober, happy, healthy life.”

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