Drug and alcohol abuse is a problem that can split up many families, but simply knowing "how" to talk to a loved one can make all the difference.

Volunteers from the Malachi House II and Forsyth Medical Center Behavioral Services answered your questions live during a call-in phonebank on the Good Morning Show Monday.

When you see the statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse that more than half of new illicit drug users begin with Marijuana, with prescript pain relievers to follow, it shows how big of a issue this is.

• Drug use is highest among people in their late teens and twenties
• Most people start using drugs for the first time when they are teenagers, half of them are under the age of 18
• There were just over 3 million new users of illicit drugs in 2011
• Approximately 75 percent of people who use illicit drugs are employed, leading to an increased risk of an accident on the job
• Drug use is increasing among people in their fifties

Watch the attached videos for our volunteers' advice on how to talk with loved ones about the addiction.

For more on the Malachi House II and the services they offer to those living in the Triad, click here.

Forsyth Medical Center Behavioral Health Services offers an array of of resources for drug and alcohol abuse. Click here to learn more.

Alcohol/Drug Council of NC: 1-800-688-4232

National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence, Inc.:            1-800-622-2255

 

WFMY News 2, National Institute on Drug Abuse