Addiction Statistics
All addiction statistics are for 2017 unless otherwise noted.
- 14.5 million American adults have an alcohol use disorder, and 7.5 million have an illicit drug use disorder. Of those with an illicit drug use disorder 4.1 million people used marijuana, 2.1 million used opioids, 1.7 million used prescription pain killers and 0.7 million used heroin.1
- 8.5 million American adults suffer from co-occurring disorders – both mental health and substance use disorders at the same time.1
- ~20 million people age 12 and older needed treatment for a substance use disorder. Of those, only 4 million received the treatment they needed.1
- 14,500 specialized substance abuse treatment facilities exist in the U.S.A, providing counseling, behavioral therapy, medication, case management, and other care.2
- 40-60% of those with a substance use disorder do relapse. This is similar to the relapse rate of those with other chronic diseases like hypertension or asthma.3
Sources:
1 https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2017-nsduh-annual-national-report
3 https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
Insurance & Addiction
More of us than ever have access to health insurance which may cover addiction treatment, mental health treatment, detox, co-occurring disorders, counseling, medication, and more. People with addictions and insurance should use their coverage to the fullest in order to get the care they need to leave addictions behind for good.
Talking to your healthcare provider is a great place to start, but remember that the staff of addiction treatment facilities can also be of vital help when trying to use your coverage.
If you don’t have insurance, you may be able to get help financially in other ways. There may be state-sponsored scholarships and grants for treatment. There may be state insurance you can get covered under if you meet the guidelines. You may also be able to find a faith-based or low-cost facility that will ease your financial burden while allowing you to get the help you need.