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The use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products in the U.S. is monitored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The National Institute of Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) mission is to bring scientific research to better understand drug abuse and addiction. Once drug abuse becomes addiction, it becomes a brain disease. Consequences of drug addiction can include or worsen cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and lung disease. The economic impact of substance abuse is enormous, in excess of 500 billion annually in the U.S. In addition to the economic impact, family disintegration, loss of employment, failure in school, domestic violence, child abuse, and other crimes fall more into the realm of public health of the negative effects of substance abuse.
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