June 25, 2009 |
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In 2007, 21.1 percent of young adults (an estimated 6.9 million persons) needed treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use in the past year (Figure 1). Nearly one fifth (17.2 percent) were in need of alcohol use treatment, 8.4 percent were in need of illicit drug use treatment, and 4.4 percent were in need of both alcohol and illicit drug use treatment.
Substance | Percent |
---|---|
Alcohol or Illicit Drugs | 21.1% |
Alcohol | 17.2% |
Illicit Drugs | 8.4% |
Alcohol and Illicit Drugs | 4.4% |
Source: 2007 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). |
Need for alcohol or illicit drug treatment varied by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Young adult males were more likely than their female counterparts to have needed treatment (26.3 vs. 15.9 percent). Young adults with family incomes of less than $20,000 per year and those with family incomes of more than $75,000 per year were more likely to be in need of treatment than those with family incomes of $20,000 to $49,999 per year and $50,000 to $74,999 per year (Figure 2). The rate of need for treatment was higher among young adults with no health insurance coverage than among those with private insurance, Medicaid/CHIP, or other health insurance.
Family Income | Percent |
---|---|
Less Than $20,000 | 23.0% |
$20,000 to $49,999 | 19.7% |
$50,000 to $74,999 | 18.6% |
$75,000 or More | 22.6% |
Health Insurance Coverage* | Percent |
---|---|
Private | 21.0% |
Medicaid/CHIP** | 14.1% |
Other*** | 20.9% |
No Coverage | 24.4% |
* Respondents could indicate multiple types of health insurance; thus, categories are not mutually exclusive. |
** CHIP is the Children's Health Insurance Program. |
*** Other health insurance is defined as having Medicare, CHAMPUS, TRICARE, CHAMPVA, the VA, military health care, or any other type of health insurance. |
Source: 2007 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). |
Of the 6.9 million young adults who needed alcohol or illicit drug use treatment in the past year, 7.0 percent (482,000 persons) received treatment at a specialty facility in the past year. Among those who needed treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use, those who had private insurance were less likely to have received treatment at a specialty facility than those who had Medicaid/CHIP, other health insurance, or no health insurance (Figure 3). There was little difference in the percentage receiving specialty treatment by gender or family income.
Health Insurance Coverage*** | Percent |
---|---|
Private | 4.0% |
Medicaid/CHIP* | 13.2% |
Other** | 8.7% |
No Coverage | 10.6% |
* CHIP is the Children's Health Insurance Program. |
** Other health insurance is defined as having Medicare, CHAMPUS, TRICARE, CHAMPVA, the VA, military health care, or any other type of health insurance. |
*** Respondents could indicate multiple types of health insurance; thus, categories are not mutually exclusive. |
Source: 2007 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). |
NSDUH provides information on the difference between the number of people in need of treatment and the number of people who received it in a specialty facility. Among young adults in need of substance use treatment in the past year, 93.0 percent did not receive it.
Although the gap between treatment need and treatment receipt appears large, it is important to point out that a couple of factors contribute to this gap. First, the capacity of the treatment system is constrained by available fiscal and personnel resources and, in some instances, by legislation. Secondly, the treatment gap may be exacerbated by the fact that many persons who need treatment may not perceive that they need it and hence not seek the services that are available.5 Of the young adults who needed but did not receive substance use treatment in a specialty facility in the past year, 96.0 percent did not perceive a need for treatment. Among the 4.0 percent of young adults who did not receive treatment in a specialty facility but perceived a need for it, less than one third (32.2 percent) made an attempt to get treatment.
This analysis on young adults provides important insights into opportunities in both prevention and treatment. Illicit drug and alcohol dependence and abuse are preventable disorders, and increased prevention efforts targeted at young adults could reduce the prevalence of these disorders among this age group. Similarly, outreach efforts to help individuals with substance use disorders to recognize the disorder and access the help available could increase the percentage who seek and use available treatment services.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2007 data used in this report are based on information obtained from 22,187 persons aged 18 to 25. 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 International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following publication: Office of Applied Studies. (2008). Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 08-4343, NSDUH Series H-34). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. |
The NSDUH 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 online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov.
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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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