The Pharmaceutical Industry and Drug Addiction: A Crisis and an Opportunity (#2 or 40 series)
#2 of 40 Drug addiction is a serious and complex problem that affects millions of people around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 269 million people used drugs in 2018, and 35.6 million suffered from drug use disorders. (1) Drug addiction can cause physical, mental, social, and economic harm to individuals, families, and communities. It can also increase the risk of infectious diseases, violence, crime, and overdose deaths. Honestly, I thought there would be more people than that. Take away the radically religious places (cough Dubai)....I just thought there would be more than 269 million. For a size reference, the entire US population is 330 million. While there are many factors that contribute to drug addiction, such as genetic, psychological, environmental, and cultural influences, one of the major drivers of the current drug crisis is the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical industry is responsible for developing, producing, and marketin