Drug Addiction Over 24 million US residents aged 12 and older are dealing with drug addiction, but surprisingly only 10% will get help from a facility expert ("Substance abuse and mental health"). Abuse and addiction negatively affect the addict and humanity. It is estimated that approximately $600 billion is spent due to substance abuse each year. As surprising as this number may be, it does not explain the extent of harm that drug addiction poses to public health and safety; essentially there could be child abuse, domestic violence and job loss (“Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction”). Drug addicts face serious health complications, financial problems, ruined families, illness or even death. As an addict falls further into addiction, he will lose control over his drug use and in most cases will show harm to himself and others ("Drug Abuse Ruins Lives"). Drug abuse has a serious impact on the addict, his family and work relationships; On the other hand, there are many people who have dealt with substance abuse, overcome their situation, and used it as motivation. Neglect is defined as failure to take care of yourself adequately. During pregnancy, the fetus grows by feeding on what its parents have consumed, from nutrients to toxins, anything in the mother's body can be passed on to the fetus (Lee). For a drug addict there are many ways it can affect your baby, especially during pregnancy, if you feed him toxins it is a form of neglect. Children born to a drug addict could be affected in the long or short term. Long-term developmental problems may be seen in people born with growth retardation or organ problems. Babies born to mothers who drink alcohol or use drugs even in small quantities may be born with Fetal... middle of paper... on board. Relationships with family and friends are almost impossible to maintain because the addict is focused only on his or her addiction. Drug abuse will have a strong impact on the educational and career path of drug addicts, making it difficult to focus on their period of life. While the number of drug addictions steadily increases, the number of children affected by them also increases, this problem limits their opportunities and places restrictions on what they are able to do. Children who grow up with a drug-addicted parent are likely to begin experimenting with drugs or find themselves in a relationship with a person with an addiction of some kind. Children most likely become emotionally unstable and have physical and social problems ("Drug abuse ruins lives"). No addiction is too far away to face, get back on your feet, be strong and fight to get your life back!