Chapter 3
Characteristics of Admissions: 2005

This chapter highlights important findings in the 2005 TEDS data. The tables include all items in the TEDS Minimum Data Set [Tables 3.1a-3.7] and Supplemental Data Set [Tables 3.8-3.13] for 2005. Data are tabulated as percentage distributions of treatment admissions according to primary substance of abuse.

The Minimum Data Set consists of 19 items that include:

• Demographic information
• Primary, secondary, and tertiary substances and their route of administration, frequency of use, and age at first use
• Source of referral to treatment
• Number of prior treatment episodes
• Service type, including planned use of medication-assisted opioid therapy

The Supplemental Data Set consists of 15 items that include psychiatric, social, and economic measures.

Definitions and classifications used in the Minimum and Supplemental Data Sets are detailed in Appendix B.

Not all States report all data items in the Minimum and Supplemental Data Sets. Most States report the Minimum Data Set for all or nearly all TEDS admissions. However, the items reported from the Supplemental Data Set vary greatly across States. Tables 4.3 and 4.4 indicate, by State, the item response rates for the Minimum and Supplemental Data Sets.

The figures in this chapter represent counts of admissions for each primary substance of abuse by gender, age, and race/ethni­city (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic of Mexican origin, Hispanic of Puerto Rican origin,* American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander [Table 3.1a]).

* Hispanics of Mexican and Puerto Rican origin made up 69 percent of all Hispanic admissions.

All Admissions

• Non-Hispanic White males made up 39 percent of all treatment admissions in 2005, followed by non-Hispanic White females (20 percent), non-Hispanic Black males (15 percent), and non-Hispanic Black females (7 percent) [Table 3.3a].
• The average age at admission was 34 years. Eight percent were under age 18, and 2 percent were under age 15 [Table 3.2a].
• Forty-six percent of treatment admissions had not been in treatment before the current episode, but 10 percent had been in treatment five or more times previously [Table 3.5].
• Most admissions (62 percent) were to ambulatory treatment, approximately one in five (21 percent) were to detoxification, and 17 percent were to rehabilitation/residential treatment [Table 3.6].
• The criminal justice system and self- or individual referral were responsible for 36 percent and 34 percent, respectively, of referrals to treatment [Table 3.5].
• Less than one-third (29 percent) of admissions aged 16 and over were employed [Table 3.7].
• Thirty-four percent of admissions aged 18 and over had not completed high school or a GED [Table 3.7].

Alcohol Only

• Admissions for abuse of alcohol alone, with no secondary drug abuse, represented 22 percent of TEDS admissions in 2005 [Table 3.1b].
• Non-Hispanic White males made up 50 percent of all alcohol-only admissions, followed by non-Hispanic White females (19 percent) [Table 3.3a]. The average age at admission was 40 years [Table 3.2a].
• Abuse of alcohol alone was the problem most likely to be reported by admissions aged 30 and older [Table 3.2b].
• Eighty-eight percent of alcohol-only admissions reported that they first became intoxicated before age 21, the legal drinking age. Almost one-third (30 percent) first became intoxicated by age 14 [Table 3.4].
• More than half (51 percent) of all alcohol-only admissions reported no prior treatment episodes, while an additional 21 percent reported one prior admission to treatment [Table 3.5].
• The criminal justice system referred 42 percent of alcohol-only admissions to treatment; 28 percent were referred by themselves or another individual [Table 3.5].

Alcohol with Secondary Drug Abuse

• Admissions for primary abuse of alcohol with secondary abuse of drugs represented 18 percent of TEDS admissions in 2005 [Table 3.1b].
• Non-Hispanic White males accounted for 43 percent of admissions for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse, followed by non-Hispanic Black males (19 percent) and non-Hispanic White females (17 percent) [Table 3.3a].
• The average age at admission for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse was lower, at 35 years, than for abuse of alcohol alone (40 years) [Table 3.2a].
• Almost all admissions (94 percent) for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse reported first being intoxicated before age 21 (the legal drinking age). Approximately half (47 percent) first became intoxicated by age 14 [Table 3.4].
• Admissions for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse were less likely to be in treatment for the first time than alcohol-only admissions (42 percent vs. 51 percent) [Table 3.5].
• Marijuana was the most frequently reported secondary substance by all primary alcohol admissions (25 percent), followed by smoked cocaine (12 percent) [Table 5.8].

Figure 15
Alcohol with secondary drug abuse
Admissions by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: TEDS 2005

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.3.06.

Heroin

• Heroin was the second most common illicit drug responsible for treatment admissions in 2005, accounting for 14 percent of TEDS admissions [Table 3.1b].
• About one-third (32 percent) of primary heroin admissions were non-Hispanic White males, followed by non-Hispanic White females (18 percent), non-Hispanic Black males (15 percent), and males of Puerto Rican origin (11 percent) [Table 3.3a]. Almost half (46 percent) of all admissions of persons of Puerto Rican origin were for primary heroin abuse [Table 3.1b].
• Injection was the most common route of administration for primary heroin admissions (63 percent). However, 33 percent reported inhalation as their usual route of administration [Table 3.4]. Daily use of heroin was reported by 75 percent of primary heroin admissions [Table 3.4].
• Most primary heroin admissions (74 percent) had been in treatment prior to the current episode, and 24 percent had been in treatment five or more times [Table 3.5].
• Medication-assisted opioid therapy was planned for 30 percent of primary heroin admissions [Table 3.6].
• Sixty-four percent of primary heroin admissions reported abuse of secondary substances, most frequently alcohol (22 percent) and non-smoked cocaine (21 percent) [Table 5.8].

Other Opiates

• Opiates other than heroin accounted for 4 percent of TEDS admissions in 2005 [Table 3.1b]. These drugs include methadone, codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, morphine, opium, oxycodone, pentazocine, propoxyphene, tramadol, and any other drug with morphine-like effects.
• Non-Hispanic White males accounted for 48 percent of admissions for primary opiates other than heroin, and non-Hispanic White females for 41 percent [Table 3.3a].
• The most frequent route of administration for primary opiates other than heroin was oral (72 percent), followed by inhalation (13 percent) and injection (12 percent) [Table 3.4].
• Twenty-four percent of admissions for primary opiates other than heroin first used these drugs after age 30 [Table 3.4].
• Fifty-two percent of admissions for primary opiates other than heroin were self- or individual referrals [Table 3.5].
• Medication-assisted opioid therapy was planned for 20 percent of admissions for primary opiates other than heroin [Table 3.6].
• Sixty-two percent of admissions for primary opiates other than heroin reported abuse of other substances. The most commonly reported secondary substances of abuse were alcohol (22 percent), marijuana (20 percent), and tranquilizers and non-smoked cocaine (10 percent each) [Table 5.8].

Smoked Cocaine (Crack)

• Smoked cocaine (crack) was the third most common illicit drug responsible for treatment admissions in 2005, accounting for 10 percent of TEDS admissions [Table 3.1b].
• Non-Hispanic Black males accounted for 31 percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions, followed by non-Hispanic White males (21 percent), non-Hispanic Black females (20 percent), and non-Hispanic White females (17 percent) [Table 3.3a].
• The average age at admission for primary smoked cocaine abuse was 38 years, and 68 percent were aged 35 or more [Table 3.2a].
• Daily use was reported by 40 percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions [Table 3.4].
• Fifty-eight percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions did not use the drug until age 21 or older [Table 3.4].
  
• The main sources of referral for primary smoked cocaine admissions were self- or individual referrals (38 percent) and the criminal justice system (26 percent) [Table 3.5].
  
• Sixty-nine percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions reported abuse of other substances. The most commonly reported secondary substances of abuse were alcohol (50 percent) and marijuana (31 percent) [Table 5.8].
  

Non-Smoked Cocaine

• Non-smoked cocaine accounted for 4 percent of TEDS admissions in 2005 [Table 3.1b].
• Non-Hispanic White males accounted for 32 percent of primary non-smoked cocaine admissions, followed by non-Hispanic White females (20 percent) and non-Hispanic Black males (19 percent) [Table 3.3a].
• More than four-fifths (81 percent) of admissions for primary non-smoked cocaine reported inhalation as the route of administration, followed by injection (11 percent) [Table 3.4].
• Forty-five percent of primary non-smoked cocaine admissions reported first using the drug by age 18 or less [Table 3.4].
• The principal sources of referral for primary non-smoked cocaine admissions were the criminal justice system (34 percent) and self- or individual referral (32 percent) [Table 3.5].
• Seventy-three percent of admissions for primary non-smoked cocaine reported abuse of additional substances. Alcohol was most common, reported by 48 percent of primary non-smoked cocaine admissions, followed by marijuana (35 percent) [Table 5.8].
  

Marijuana/Hashish

• Marijuana was the most common illicit drug responsible for treatment admissions in 2005, accounting for 16 percent of TEDS admissions [Table 3.1b].
• Non-Hispanic White males accounted for 37 percent of primary marijuana admissions, followed by non-Hispanic Black males (22 percent) and non-Hispanic White females (15 percent) [Table 3.3a].
• Primary marijuana abuse accounted for more than half of all admissions in the age groups under 15 years and 15 to 19 years (56 percent and 55 percent, respectively) [Table 3.2b].
  
• First use of marijuana began at an early age among primary marijuana admissions—25 percent had first used marijuana by age 12, 56 percent by age 14, and 92 percent by age 18 [Table 3.4].
• Sixty percent of primary marijuana admissions reported no prior treatment episodes [Table 3.5].
• More than half (57 percent) of primary marijuana admissions were referred to treatment through the criminal justice system [Table 3.5].
  
• Sixty-three percent of admissions for primary marijuana abuse reported abuse of additional substances as well. Alcohol was most common, reported by 47 percent of primary marijuana admissions, followed by methamphetamine/amphetamines (10 percent) [Table 5.8].
  

Methamphetamine/Amphetamine and Other Stimulants

• Methamphetamine/amphetamines and other stimulants were reported as the primary substance for 9 percent of 2005 TEDS admissions [Table 3.1b]. Ninety-nine percent of all stimulant admissions were for methamphetamine or amphetamine abuse [Table 3.1a].
• Thirty-eight percent of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions were non-Hispanic White males, followed by non-Hispanic White females (34 percent) [Table 3.3a]. Twenty-one percent of all admissions among persons of Mexican origin were for primary methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse [Table 3.1b].
• The main routes of administration for primary methamphetamine/amphetamines were smoking (63 percent), injection (19 percent), and inhalation (12 percent) [Table 3.4].
• Approximately half (49 percent) of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions were referred to treatment by the criminal justice system [Table 3.5].
• Sixty-six percent of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions reported secondary use of other substances, principally marijuana (41 percent) and alcohol (34 percent) [Table 5.8].
  

Tranquilizers

• Tranquilizers were reported as the primary substance by less than one-half of 1 percent of 2005 TEDS admissions [Table 3.1b].
• Non-Hispanic White females accounted for almost half (46 percent) of admissions for primary abuse of tranquilizers, followed by non-Hispanic White males (39 percent) [Table 3.3a].
• The average age at admission for primary tranquilizer abuse was 35 years, and 49 percent were aged 35 or more [Table 3.2a].
• Among primary tranquilizer admissions, 58 percent reported daily use of tranquilizers [Table 3.4].
• Twenty-seven percent of primary tranquilizer admissions first used tranquilizers after age 30 [Table 3.4].
• More than one-quarter (28 percent) of primary tranquilizer admissions who were 18 and over had more than 12 years of education [Table 3.7].
• Secondary abuse of another substance was reported by 70 percent of primary tranquilizer admissions. Secondary abuse of alcohol was reported by 28 percent, opiates other than heroin by 22 percent, and marijuana by 20 percent [Table 5.8].

Sedatives

• Admissions for primary sedative abuse were responsible for less than one-half of 1 percent of TEDS admissions in 2005 [Table 3.1b].
• Primary sedative admissions showed patterns similar to those for abuse of tranquilizers. Non-Hispanic White females accounted for 47 percent of admissions for abuse of sedatives, followed by non-Hispanic White males (34 percent) [Table 3.3a].
• Forty-five percent of primary sedative admissions reported daily use of sedatives [Table 3.4].
  
• Twenty-six percent of primary sedative admissions first used sedatives after age 30 [Table 3.4].
• Nearly one-third (32 percent) of primary sedative admissions who were 18 and over had more than 12 years of education [Table 3.7].
• Sixty percent of primary sedative admissions reported abuse of other substances as well, primarily alcohol (25 percent) and marijuana (21 percent), followed by opiates other than heroin (13 percent) [Table 5.8].
  

Hallucinogens

• Hallucinogens were responsible for one-tenth of 1 percent of TEDS admissions in 2005 [Table 3.1b]. Hallucinogens include LSD, DMT, STP, mescaline, psilocybin, peyote, etc.
• Approximately half of admissions for primary hallucinogen abuse were non-Hispanic White males (49 percent), followed by non-Hispanic White females (19 percent) and non-Hispanic Black males (12 percent) [Table 3.3a]..
• Twenty-nine percent of primary hallucinogen admissions were less than 20 years of age, and another 27 percent were aged 20 to 24 years [Table 3.2a].
• Fifty-two percent of primary hallucinogen admissions reported not using the drug in the past month [Table 3.4].
• Fifty-four percent of primary hallucinogen admissions reported first using hallucinogens by the age of 16 [Table 3.4].
• The criminal justice system was the source of referral for 48 percent of primary hallucinogen admissions [Table 3.5].
• Seventy-five percent of primary hallucinogen admissions reported abuse of drugs in addition to hallucinogens, mainly alcohol and marijuana (37 percent each), followed by non-smoked cocaine (12 percent) and methamphetamine/amphetamines (9 percent) [Table 5.8].
  

Phencyclidine (PCP)

• Phencyclidine (PCP) was reported as a primary substance by less than one-half of 1 percent of TEDS admissions in 2005 [Table 3.1b].
• Thirty-eight percent of primary PCP admissions were non-Hispanic Black males, followed by non-Hispanic Black females (14 percent) and non-Hispanic White males (13 percent) [Table 3.3a].
• The usual route of administration for primary PCP admissions was smoking, reported by 89 percent of admissions; 6 percent reported oral use, and 3 percent reported inhalation [Table 3.4].
• The criminal justice system referred 60 percent of primary PCP admissions [Table 3.5].
• Seventy-four percent of primary PCP admissions reported abuse of other substances. Marijuana was reported as a secondary substance by 39 percent, alcohol by 36 percent, and smoked and non-smoked cocaine by 9 percent each [Table 5.8].

Inhalants

• Inhalants were reported as the primary substance of abuse by one-tenth of 1 percent of 2005 TEDS admissions [Table 3.1b]. Inhalants include ether, glue, chloroform, nitrous oxide, gasoline, paint thinner, etc.
• Forty-three percent of primary inhalant admissions were non-Hispanic White males, followed by non-Hispanic White females (23 percent) [Table 3.3a]..
• About one in five primary inhalant admissions (18 percent) was under age 15, and another 16 percent were aged 15 to 17 years [Table 3.2a].
• Thirty-one percent of primary inhalant admissions reported daily inhalant use [Table 3.4].
• Twenty-two percent of primary inhalant admissions had used inhalants by the age of 12, and 49 percent by the age of 14 [Table 3.4].
• The principal sources of referral for primary inhalant admissions were self- or individual referral (37 percent) and the criminal justice system (27 percent) [Table 3.5].
• Fifty-eight percent of primary inhalant admissions reported abuse of other drugs, principally alcohol (27 percent) and marijuana (25 percent) [Table 5.8].

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