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November 7, 2003 |
In Brief |
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Studies show that many individuals who have substance use problems do not receive treatment for those problems.1, 2 The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asks persons aged 12 or older to report on their symptoms of dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs. "Any illicit drug" includes marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), inhalants, hallucinogens, heroin, or prescription-type drugs used nonmedically. NSDUH defines dependence or abuse using criteria in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), which includes such symptoms as withdrawal, tolerance, use in dangerous situations, trouble with the law, and interference in major obligations at work, school or home during the past year (Table 1).3
Respondents were also asked whether they had received treatment for a substance use problem. In these analyses, an individual was defined as receiving treatment only if he or she reported receiving specialty treatment for alcohol or illicit drugs in the past year.4 Specialty treatment is delivered at alcohol or drug rehabilitation facilities (inpatient or outpatient), hospitals (inpatient only), and mental health centers. It excludes treatment at an emergency room, private doctor's office, self-help group, prison or jail, or hospital as an outpatient. Persons are classified as needing treatment for a substance problem if they were dependent on or abused a substance or received specialty substance treatment in the past 12 months.5
Respondents who had not received specialty treatment were asked whether there was any time during the past 12 months when they felt they needed treatment or counseling for their alcohol or drug use but did not receive it. Those who answered that they felt they needed treatment ("perceived unmet treatment need") were then asked to identify the reasons they did not receive treatment.6
In this report, estimates of treatment need, treatment, perceived unmet treatment need and reasons for not receiving treatment are presented separately for illicit drugs and for alcohol. Because many people have problems with both alcohol and illicit drugs, there is considerable overlap in these estimates.7 For simplicity, the analyses in this report do not separate this population with multiple substance problems.
Table 1. DSM-IV Diagnosis of Substance Abuse or Dependence |
Table 2. Percentage of Persons Aged 12 or Older Who Needed Treatment for an Illicit Drug Problem or an Alcohol Problem* in the Past Year, by Demographic Characteristics: 2002 |
Among the 761,000 persons who perceived an unmet need for alcohol treatment in the past year, nearly half (49 percent) reported that they were not ready to stop using alcohol. Approximately 40 percent reported that the cost of treatment contributed to their not receiving treatment. Twenty-four percent reported concerns regarding stigma associated with seeking treatment, and 12 percent reported they did not know where to receive treatment.
Figure 1. Percentages of Persons Aged 12 or Older Who Reported Different Reasons for Not Receiving Treatment*** for Illicit Drug Use or Alcohol Use among Those Who Perceived an Unmet Treatment Need: 2002 |
** Individuals reporting two or more races were not included in this analysis.
*** Respondents could indicate multiple reasons; thus, these response categories are not mutually exclusive.
+ Reasons were (1) had no health care coverage, and you couldn't afford the cost; and (2) did have health care coverage, but it didn't cover treatment for [alcohol or illicit drug use], or didn't cover the full cost.
++ Reasons were (1) might cause neighbors or community to have negative opinion (includes responses of "did not want others to find out you needed treatment" that were "other reasons" specified by respondents), (2) might have negative effect on job; and (3) ashamed/embarrassed/afraid to go to treatment or were afraid they would get in trouble with the police or social services (these were responses specified as an "other reasons" by respondents).
Table 1 Source: American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Table 2 and Figure 1 Source: SAMHSA 2002 NSDUH.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Prior to 2002, this survey was called the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). The 2002 data are based on information obtained from 68,126 persons aged 12 or older. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence.
The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Information and data for this issue are based on the following publication and statistics: Office of Applied Studies. (2003). Results from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 033836, NHSDA Series H22). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also available on-line: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov. |
The NSDUH Report (formerly The NHSDA Report) is published periodically by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Office of Applied Studies are available on-line: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated.
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This page was last updated on December 30, 2008. |
SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.
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