A recent study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs reveals that nearly 160 million Americans have experienced harm due to someone else's substance use.

This harm, referred to as 'secondhand harm,' affects approximately 113 million individuals specifically due to alcohol use.

These findings highlight a significant public health issue, suggesting that for every person with a substance use disorder, many others may also be affected by their behavior.

Kerr noted the urgent need for improved access to substance abuse treatment and harm reduction initiatives to support those impacted by the substance use disorders of others.

While alcohol-related harms are more commonly reported, the research on secondhand effects of drug use is still developing, indicating a need for further studies to explore these issues in detail.

Additionally, around 46 million people reported being harmed by someone else's use of marijuana, opioids, or other drugs.

The survey indicated that fewer individuals reported harms from drug use compared to alcohol, likely due to the higher prevalence of alcohol use disorders.

Notably, there is significant overlap between those harmed by alcohol and those affected by other drugs; about 30% of those reporting alcohol-related harms also experienced issues from drug use.

Participants were asked about specific harms related to substance use, including physical harm, family problems, financial difficulties, and traffic accidents.

The study analyzed responses from 7,800 U.S. adults surveyed between September 2019 and April 2020, prior to the pandemic's influence on substance use.

The researchers acknowledged the limitations of the survey and plan to conduct a follow-up study with more detailed questions regarding individual drugs' harms.

William Kerr, Ph.D., a co-author of the study, emphasized that the consequences of substance use extend beyond the individual user, affecting families, relationships, and communities.