SAMHSA releases 2021 survey on mental health, substance use

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced the results of its annual national survey on drug use and health for 2021.

According to a release from HHS, the report includes selected estimates by race, ethnicity and age group, comprising the most comprehensive report on substance use and mental health indicators SAMHSA has released to date.

“As the findings make clear, millions of Americans young and old faced mental health and substance use challenges – sometimes both at once – during the second year of the pandemic,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the release. “As we work to improve behavioral health across the nation, HHS is committed to ensuring that all people facing mental health or substance use challenges are connected to appropriate services and supports.”

Among the primary findings from the report, 61.2 million people (or 21.9% of the population) aged 12 years or older, used illicit drugs in the past year, with the most commonly used illicit drug being marijuana (52.5 million people).

In 2021, 9.2 million people, aged 12 years and older, misused opioids in the past year, but 46.3 million individuals (or 16.5% of the population) met DSM-5 criteria for having a substance use disorder, including 29.5 million classified as having an alcohol use disorder and 24 million classified as having a drug use disorder.

The percentage of people who were classified as having a past-year substance use disorder, including alcohol use and/or drug use disorder, was highest among young adults aged 18-25 years compared with youths and adults aged 26 years and older.

Regarding mental health, the release stated that one in five adolescents reported a major depressive episode in the past year. Nearly 75% of that population showed symptoms consistent with severe impairment, causing severe problems with their ability to do chores at home, do well at work or school, get along with their family or have a social life.

Additionally, 94% of those aged 12 years or older who were diagnosed with a substance use disorder did not receive any treatment, while nearly 1 in 4 adults aged 18 years and older, and 1 in 3 among adults aged 18 to 25 years a mental illness. Adults with serious mental illness had higher rates of treatment compared with those who had any mental illness, per the release.

Concurrence of substance use and mental illness also came to light in the report, which stated almost 1 in 3 adults had either a substance use disorder or any mental illness in the past year, and 46% of young adults aged 18 to 25 years had either a substance use disorder or any mental illness. Data also revealed that 12.3 million adults aged 18 years or older had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, 3.5 million made suicide plans and 1.7 million attempted suicide.

Per the release, estimates from the 2021 NSDUH should not be compared with estimates from previous years because the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated methodological changes to the data collection process.

“A commitment to data and evidence is one of SAMHSA’s four core principles,” Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, PhD HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, said in the release. “Harnessing the power of data and evidence is critical to ensuring policies and programs have the greatest opportunity to achieve positive outcomes.”