Quick Facts

 Lowell House, Inc.

• Lowell House, Inc. (LHI) serves all the communities in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts
• In FY14 (July 2013 - June 2014), LHI served 1,955 people 18 to 90 years of age in its day and residential programs. This resulted in 6,736 outpatient visits, 5,451 half-day SOAP visits and 19,706 bed days in our residential programs.
• Male clients outnumbered female clients 2:1.
• 58% of clients served were addicted to alcohol, 22% addicted to heroin, 17% addicted to opiods (pain medication).
• The racial and ethnic backgrounds of individuals and families served in FY14 was  – 70% white, 5% African American, 12% Hispanic/Latino, 11% Asian.
• LHI receives 50% of its funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts/Department of Public Health, 23% from insurance (MassHealth), 17% from client fees, 8% from grants and 2% from fundraising.
• LHI is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. 

The Disease of Addiction

• It is estimated the two-thirds of the families in Greater Lowell are affected in some way by the disease of addiction.
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) data from the SAMHA National Survey on Drug Use indicates that: 
  • That one out of every 10 Americans is addicted to a substance that requires treatment. Only 10% of those individuals ever receive necessary treatment.
  • Substance abuse and addiction cause this country $600 billion in crime, lost work productivity and healthcare.
  • There were just over 2.8 million new users (initiates) nationwide of illicit drugs in 2012, or about 7,898 new users per day. Half (52%) were under 18.
  • Nearly half of the individuals using illicit drugs began with marijuana use.
  • Over 25% of the individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 reported using an illicit drug in the past month;
  • Over 7% of 8th graders admitted using marijuana in the past month which rose to nearly 23% of seniors in high school in 2013.
  • Illicit drug use is rapidly increasing in the elderly. 

Massachusetts and the Greater Lowell Area

• The number of medically related overdoses in the City of Lowell rose by 10% from 2012 to 2013. The projected rise in overdoses will exceed 15% in 2014.
• 60% of people seeking treatment for drug or alcohol addiction in Lowell are between the ages of  21 and 39 years of age (Department of Public Health data).
• 45% of individuals seeking treatment for drug or alcohol abuse in the City of Lowell has prior mental health treatment.
• A little more than 65% of the Bay State students ages 12 to17 years surveyed perceived no great risk in having five or more alcoholic drinks once or twice per week.