Pontiac Drug Abuse Statistics

Pontiac is a city in the State of Michigan, which is well known for General Motors manufacturing plants. The city was named in memory of the Ottawa leader Obwandiyag, also known as Pontiac, who led the struggle against the British for their military occupation of the region around the Great Lakes.

Geographically, the City of Pontiac is surrounded by cities, such as Auburn Hills and Lake Angelus, and Townships, like Waterford and Bloomfield. Pontiac has a population of about 66,095, of which almost 50 percent are African Americans. The city is also known for its Pontiac Silverdome, which is a stadium that hosted Detroit Lions from 1975 to 2002. But lesser known are Pontiac MI alcoholism/drug abuse statistics, which are enough to shock you.

Poverty in Pontiac is rampant. Approximately 22 percent of the entire population is under the poverty line, which includes almost 18 percent of the families, 30 percent who fall under the age group of 18 and 16 percent of those who are older than 65 years of age. Addictions are commonly found in areas where people are wealthy or extremely poor. As a vast population of Pontiac falls under such a category, alcoholism and drug addiction Pontiac MI statistics show a continuous rise.

The drug abuse statistics for the state of Michigan show that the drug addiction is highest between the age of 36 and 40 years. However, this is not the case when it comes to Pontiac MI narcotic abuse statistics. In Pontiac, drug abuse is present among the 18 year olds as much as it is prevalent among those who are around 36 years old. The socio-economic conditions in Pontiac are such that they have forced many people to turn to drugs for comfort or oblivion.

The most popular drug in Pontiac is marijuana, which is closely followed by heroin as well as cocaine. Although marijuana had lost its popularity during the nineties, its demand never diminished completely; in fact, it has been steadily rising, making it the number one cause for drug addiction in Pontiac MI.

Marijuana is supplied in Michigan through Mexico in very large quantities, and it is produced locally too. These factors make marijuana the most widely used drug in Pontiac than any other drug.

Considering that a vast percentage of the population is below poverty line, which includes the youth of the city, it is essential that substance abuse in Pontiac MI be eradicated for a bright future. The law enforcement agencies along with rehabilitation centers are working tirelessly to achieve this goal and to direct their city back on the path of development. However it isnt proving to be an easy task.

After all drug abuse statistics in Pontiac MI seem to be inversely proportional to the development of the city. Thus for the progress and growth of society Pontiac MI narcotic abuse statistics must be brought down. Raising awareness about drug addiction and alcoholism is the best way to reduce the incidence of substance abuse in Pontiac MI.