2013 NSDUH results show illicit drug, alcohol abuse treatment gaps

According to results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 20.2 million Americans needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem but did not receive it at a specialty facility in the past year.

“This report presents detailed results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The survey is the primary source of information on the use of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco in the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States aged 12 years old or older,” the researchers wrote.

Data were collected via in-person interviews with a representative sample of the population, approximately 67,500 individuals, in their homes.

Drug use

In 2013, approximately 24.6 million Americans aged 12 years and older were current (ie, reported past month use) illicit drug users, representing 9.4% of the population aged 12 years and older.

The rate of illicit drug use among individuals aged 12 years and older in 2013 was similar to rates in 2010 (8.9%) and 2012 (9.2%), but higher than rates in 2002 to 2009, which ranged from 7.9% to 8.7%.

Marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug in 2013, with 19.8 million past-month users in 2013, approximately 7.5% of the population aged 12 years and older. This rate was similar to the rate in 2012 which was 18.9 million users.

Daily or almost-daily use of marijuana, defined by researchers as use for at least 20 days in the past month, increased from 5.1 million individuals in 2005-2007 to 8.1 million individuals in 2013.

There were 1.5 million current cocaine users in 2013, representing 0.6% of the population. This estimate was similar to those in 2009 and 2012, which ranged from 1.4 million (0.5%) to 1.7 million (0.7%).

There were 681,000 past-year heroin users in 2013, similar to the number of past-year users in 2009 to 2012, which was 582,000 to 669,000.

In 2013, approximately 2.8 million individuals used an illicit drug for the first time within the last year, averaging to about 7,800 initiates per day. This was similar to the estimate for 2012, which was 2.9 million.

Seventy percent of first time drug users reported their first drug was marijuana, while 20.6% initiated with prescription drugs, 6.3% initiated with inhalants and 2.6% initiated with hallucinogens.

Substance dependence, abuse and treatment

In 2013, approximately 21.6 million individuals were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year based on DSM-IV criteria. This estimate was similar to the number in each year from 2002 through 2012, ranging from 20.6 million to 22.7 million.

Of those with past-year dependence or abuse in 2013, 4.2 million were dependent on marijuana, 1.9 million were dependent on pain relievers and 885,000 were dependent on cocaine.

There were 517,000 individuals with heroin dependence or abuse in 2013, similar to numbers in 2009 to 2012 (361,000 to 467,000) but higher than those in 2002 to 2008 (189,000 to 324,000).

Of the 22.7 million individuals who needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem, 2.5 million received treatment at a specialty facility. Thus, 20.2 million individuals needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem but did not receive it at a specialty facility in the past year.

The most common reason for not receiving treatment, reported by 37.3% of individuals who needed treatment but did not receive it, was a lack of insurance coverage and inability to afford the cost, according to combined data from 2010 to 2013. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

Reference:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings. NSDUH Series H-48, HHS Publication (SMA) 14-4863. Published September 2014. Accessed Oct. 20, 2015.