No matter where someone is around the world – regardless of their background, their culture, or their demographic – addiction is a non-discriminatory disease.
This means that it can affect anyone, no matter the aforementioned factors.
Addiction can develop for countless different reasons, and although some of these factors may be more prevalent in some countries and areas of the world when compared to others, this is not concrete.
For example, not all individuals within one country will develop an addiction for the same reasons, and this is due to personal differences beyond simply the specific area in which that individual resides in.
However, around the world, there are many different perceptions of addiction that can affect how it is viewed, the various treatment options that are available, and how someone in that country may be able to access support in the long term.
This article aims to cover some key areas of the world, their differing perceptions of addiction, as well as the various different factors within these areas that may lead to higher rates of specific types of addiction and the specific treatments which are available.
As mentioned above, addiction affects every individual differently, and this often has little to do with their country of origin.
However, it is still important to understand the different effects of addiction, as these are highly varied with some far more severe than others, and are generally complex in their origins and eventual treatment.
When entering any form of care or treatment for addiction, it is still important that individuals are eager to learn about their disorder, the specifics of how it can affect them and how they can overcome it and learn to manage their condition through a variety of different strategies.
Because the effects of addiction are so varied between individuals, it is beneficial to categorise them into the physical effects and the mental health effects.
Both of these categories of effects should be focused on during treatment, as both are equally important to an individual’s overall long-term health and well-being.
The physical effects of addiction refer to the direct impacts of substances on the body.
This varies depending on several factors (which also applies to mental health effects as well).
The following factors are highly likely to impact the effects of addiction that an individual may experience:
In some cases, and with specific substances, an individual can become physically dependent on the substance they are addicted to.
This means that the substance that the individual is addicted to becomes a part of their body’s everyday functioning and can make it hard to function as part of the individual’s daily life without consuming the substance.
These substances often have a much more complex withdrawal and detoxification process, as simply ceasing consumption of the substance (quitting cold-turkey) can have serious consequences and can cause life-long harm.
Studies have shown that substances such as alcohol, heroin, ketamine and many others can be withdrawn from successfully in a supervised and professional setting, though these studies often suggest that long periods of time may be required [1] in order for the individual to completely withdraw from the substance and recover from the negative impacts it has had on their body.
The mental health impacts of addiction are often treated in the later stages of rehabilitation, typically after the individual has gone through the withdrawal process and therefore prepared their body and mind for these next steps.
During mental health treatment, individuals will focus on a number of different factors such as the root cause of their addiction, the impact that it has had on their lifestyle and emotions, and in which they can learn to manage and respond to the different triggers and cravings that they will likely face after rehab.
Addiction is a disease that is known to commonly co-occur with other mental health issues, often causing additional stresses and impacts to their well-being as a result.
When treating mental health issues at the same time as undergoing addiction rehabilitation, a dual diagnosis is recommended.
This refers to a treatment programme that focuses on all mental health issues that are affecting the individual, not solely the addiction.
There are some mental health issues that co-occur with addiction more often than others, though studies often cite factors such as relative age of onset, severity, and duration of the substance use [2] as significant contributors to these mental health issues.
Commonly co-occurring mental health issues often found alongside addiction include:
As addiction is such a unique disorder from individual to individual, there is no one cause as to why someone may develop an addiction.
However, it can be argued that living in some countries may create specific challenges and environments in which an individual may be more or less likely to develop an addiction, for example.
This can be due to a number of factors, some of which include the country’s population size, the most common form of housing and households, access to medical care and he quality and availability of education, though there are countless other factors that also have an impact.
The following subheadings outline some of the countries with the highest rates of addiction, as well as some of the countries which have especially well-covered and well-documented issues with addiction.
This, of course, already raises some issues as some countries may be more or less likely to keep records of these issues, as well as issues with the country then going on to share and publish this information to the rest of the world.
Regardless, the following subheadings outline some of these countries, though there are many more that struggle with high rates of addiction and therefore high levels of negative consequences as a result.
As one of the largest countries in the world, both in terms of area covered and population size, the United States (US) is one of the most well-known countries for having a serious problem with addiction and the associated treatment needs.
Despite the US’s history of harsh punishment for drug-related activities, it still remains at the top of the list for populations who have serious health issues and effects as a result of high rates of addiction. [3]
Many theories exist for this, aside from just the size of the United States.
Common suggestions include the proximity to drug production centres in central and southern America, the relatively strong economy, and the different ways that medications and treatments are prescribed to citizens.
Perhaps the most well-known addiction crisis in the US is related to prescription medications that are given to individuals through the American healthcare system.
Often, instead of funding the individual’s long-term rehabilitation and recovery process for a serious injury, these individuals are prescribed strong and often physically addictive substances.
This may treat the individual’s short-term symptoms of the injury or illness, but it can have serious consequences in the long term when it comes to withdrawing from the substance, with many doctors continuing to prescribe these substances in the long term rather than assess the severity of the situation.
Though significantly smaller in size and population compared to many other countries on this list, the United Kingdom (UK) does struggle with high rates of addiction and therefore associated costs to the NHS.
The UK Office for Health Improvement & Disparities reported almost 300,000 cases of adults seeking drug and alcohol services between April 2022 and March 2023, marking an increase from the previous year. [4]
Though this is a small percentage of the overall population, it is still representative of the severe issues that the UK faces as a result of addiction.
The UK is widely regarded as having a population of heavy drinkers, with nights out at the pub and going out at the weekend being popular and regularly occurring activities across the country.
This can have serious impacts on an individual, however, as the commonplace nature of the ‘drinking culture’ can often excuse behaviour that can go unnoticed and untreated for long periods of time.
The UK also has significant issues with cocaine abuse, despite it being illegal.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been a rapidly developing country ever since the 1970s.
Although this comes with a host of positive impacts for the country as a whole, it can also have a number of unforeseen consequences that can quickly worsen as the development of the country increases in speed.
Studies have suggested that the ‘catapult’ of individuals from a relatively isolated lifestyle to one of a more luxurious nature comes with the drawback of increased anti-social behaviour – drug use and substance abuse being included within this. [5]
This study also goes on to note how many individuals, families, and businesses are making their wealth through these means, selling and dealing drugs and other addictive substances in order to maintain their lifestyle within the ever-changing UAE.
In addition, the high demands of working within some areas of this development can cause serious mental health issues and additional strain – something that is known to increase the likelihood of an individual turning to substance abuse as a method of coping.
As an even more recent example of addiction becoming more and more common across different countries, Estonia is becoming known as a country with one of the highest rates of drug addiction in the world relative to its size and population.
One paper suggests that, despite its noticeable economic growth compared to its neighbours, this increase in rates of addiction may have started as recently as the 1990s, [6] after Estonia’s independence from the Soviet Union.
The cited academic paper goes on to state that most of the opiate addiction sufferers in Estonia were part of the Russian-speaking minority, indicating the complex social pressures that exist in this country that may drive such a high rate of substance abuse.
As a final section of this article, it is also important to analyse the different types of rehabilitation and support that are available in a variety of different countries, as this can often influence the severity of the issue, the chances of successful recovery and the difficulties that someone may face when entering care.
If an individual is unable to access the care they need to beat addiction, then they are likely to experience the most serious impacts of their disease, some of which can be life-threatening if not properly identified and treated in a suitable period of time.
The following subheadings outline some of the key features of the different types of addiction care around the world, as well as the perceptions, stigmas, and stereotypes that may impact this.
Most of the research concerning the US’s approach to drug rehabilitation concerns the addiction care that individuals are able to receive whilst incarcerated as part of their ‘recovery’ process.
This already highlights some of the key issues within the American care system, as individuals outside of the prison system may not have as much access to rehabilitation as those who are encouraged to take part in these programmes while in prison.
Though this is not always the case, the majority of American rehabilitation research refers to those who receive drug rehabilitation while in prison.
Although these programmes are not reflective of the general population’s experience with gaining access to rehabilitative care, they often suggest that these treatments are highly effective in helping someone overcome addiction while incarcerated. [7]
The issues, however, arise when an individual is released from prison.
Some rehabilitation programmes may contribute toward ‘good behaviour’, meaning that individuals can progress through these programmes while in care, but they may not be able to access this same care once they are released, leading to issues of relapse.
The UK has a strong network of rehabilitation centres, as well as a variety of different treatment programmes available up and down the country.
This is where Rehab 4 Addiction is based and, although our services are not constrained to the UK alone, it is where the majority of referrals and advice will direct the individual who is seeking care.
In some cases, it may be suitable for individuals entering rehabilitation to consider rehab in other areas of the world.
This may be suitable in cases of anonymity, or perhaps in more serious cases in which the individual may need to completely remove themselves from the environment in which they developed their addiction in the first place.
In the UK, the perceptions of addiction are also becoming more and more educated, with research being released to the public to encourage seeking help for addiction rather than treating it as a stigma that not many individuals are comfortable speaking about or have the knowledge to communicate.
Like the UK, the rest of Europe is also becoming more and more accepting of rehabilitation practices rather than the punishment and isolation of those who struggle with addiction.
This means that there are also countless different rehabilitation options available across the continent, with many centres in countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Poland and many more.
If attending rehabilitation in a country other than the one that you currently reside in is something that is vital to your recovery, then it is important that this is mentioned to an addiction advisor or medical professional as soon as the process of beginning recovery starts.
Though there are many benefits to attending rehabilitation overseas, it is not suitable for everyone and so must be carefully considered before beginning any form of care.
There are many different forms of rehabilitation all around the world, and although in an ideal world everyone would be able to access these sources of support, this is not always the case.
Some factors such as religion, beliefs and community traditions can massively impact an individual’s experience of addiction, sometimes being treated as an outcast or being seriously discriminated against as a result of their struggles.
No matter where these individuals are, Rehab 4 Addiction will always endeavour to help.
We have a bounty of information and advice relating to all different areas of addiction and can provide expert support free of charge on our helpline.
Looking to take the next step in your rehabilitation journey? Concerned about a friend or family member? Can’t find the answers to the rehabilitation questions that you have?
No matter how small or serious your questions may seem to be, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Rehab 4 Addiction today.
We offer free, friendly and confidential information on a range of different issues relating to addiction, as well as being able to refer individuals to specific forms of support that are specialised for their individual differences and needs.
To find out more on how we can help you or someone you know, call our addiction support hotline on 0800 140 4690 today.
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4654762/
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9222266/
[3] https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-detailed-tables
[5] https://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/handle/10443/173
[6] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/145507250602301S12?icid=int.sj-abstract.similar-articles.8
[7] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2681083/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
