National surveys indicate that 70% of alcohol binge drinking episodes involve Americans ages 26 years and older.
Studies indicate that elevated levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein associated with inflammation, in cocaine abusers is associated with endothelial abnormalities and coronary artery calcification; factors known to contribute to heart disease.
Sudden cessation of long term use of morphine by long term heavily dependent users may be fatal, although morphine withdrawal is considered to be less dangerous than alcohol withdrawal.
Since first being marketed in 1996, OxyContin became a 1.2 billion dollar industry by 2003.