States where the most people are receiving substance use treatment
Published in Slideshow World
Approximately 49 million people in the U.S. population aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in 2021—and most went without treatment.
That amounted to 17.3% of the population living with these disorders, according to 2022 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration data released in November 2023. These sometimes deadly disorders are on the rise: The share of Americans with substance use disorders jumped by nearly a percentage point from 2021 to 2022, per SAMHSA data. Reported drug overdose deaths are also rising compared to historical levels, reaching nearly 106,000 in the 12 months ending in September 2023, compared to just under 69,000 during the same period in 2019.
The survey used official diagnostic criteria to determine estimates of the prevalence of substance use disorder, basing questions on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5).
The 2021 SAMHSA survey showed that most who didn't receive treatment believed they didn't need it. But there are many other reasons people don't seek treatment, including a lack of facilities, long waiting lists, and high expenses. There are exceedingly low vacancies at residential substance use rehab facilities, so help isn't always available for those who seek it.
Treatment for substance use disorders can save lives—but treatment options aren't universally accessible. Ophelia identified the number of people in each state being treated at substance use treatment facilities as of the 2022 National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey, the most recent and comprehensive data available. For this analysis, statistics are mapped as the number of patients per capita within each state.
Visit thestacker.com for similar lists and stories.