Substance Abuse in the Largest Metropolitan Areas

Here is some government statistics that will help you to put things in perspective:

Substance Use in the 15 Largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas: 2002-2005

Table 1. U.S. 2005 Population (in Millions) of 15 Largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas

Metropolitan Statistical Area	Annual Census Estimates of the Population (July 1 2005; in Millions)*
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA	18.7
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA	12.9
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-IN-WI	9.4
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	5.8
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	5.8
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, FL	5.4
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX	5.3
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	5.2
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA	4.9
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI	4.5
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH	4.4
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	4.2
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	3.9
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	3.9
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	3.2
Total United States	296.4

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006
For more information go to the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mentl site.

If these figures are right that is 296.5 million people that is being influenced by alcohol and other drugs.