All Admissions
Alcohol Only
Alcohol with Secondary Drug Abuse
Heroin
Opiates Other than Heroin
Smoked Cocaine (Crack)
Non-Smoked Cocaine
Marijuana/Hashish
Methamphetamine/Amphetamine
Tranquilizers
Sedatives
Hallucinogens
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Inhalants

This chapter highlights important findings in the 2008 TEDS data. The tables include all items in the TEDS Minimum and Supplemental Data Sets for 2008. (See Appendix B for a complete data dictionary.) 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 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.

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,¹ American Indian/Alaska Native,² and Asian/Pacific Islander).

All Admissions

• The average age at admission was 34 years; 7 percent of admissions were aged 12 to 18 years [Table 2.1].


• Non-Hispanic Whites made up 60 percent of all treatment admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 (39 percent males and 21 percent females). Non-Hispanic Blacks made up 21 percent of all admissions (15 percent males and 6 percent females) [Table 2.3].


• Forty-three percent of treatment admissions had not been in treatment before the current episode, while 12 percent had been in treatment five or more times previously [Table 2.5].


• Most admissions (63 percent) were to ambulatory treatment, about one in five (19 percent) were to detoxification, and 18 percent were to residential/rehabilitation treatment [Table 2.7].


• The criminal justice system and self- or individual referrals were responsible for 38 percent and 32 percent, respectively, of referrals to treatment [Table 2.6].


• Less than one-third (28 percent) of admissions aged 16 and older were employed [Table 2.8].


• Thirty-three percent of admissions aged 18 and older had not completed high school or a GED [Table 2.9].

Alcohol Only

• Admissions for abuse of alcohol alone, with no secondary drug abuse, represented 23 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1].


• The average age at admission was 40 years. Abuse of alcohol alone was the problem most likely to be reported by admissions aged 30 and older [Table 2.1].


• Non-Hispanic Whites made up 69 percent of all alcohol-only admissions (49 percent males and 20 percent females) [Table 2.3].
  Eighty-eight percent of alcohol-only admissions reported that they first became intoxicated before age 21, the legal drinking age. Almost one-third (32 percent) first became intoxicated by age 14 [Table 2.5].


• Among admissions referred to treatment by the criminal justice system, alcohol-only admissions were more likely than admissions for alcohol with secondary drug abuse to have been referred as a result of a DUI/DWI offense (23 percent vs. 12 percent) [Table 2.6].


• Some 40 percent of alcohol-only admissions aged 16 and older were employed vs. 28 percent of all admissions [Table 2.8].

Alcohol with Secondary Drug Abuse

• Admissions for primary abuse of alcohol with secondary abuse of drugs represented 18 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1].


• The average age at admission for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse was lower, at 36 years, than for abuse of alcohol alone (40 years) [Table 2.1].


• Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 60 percent of admissions for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse (43 percent males and 17 percent females). Non-Hispanic Blacks made up 23 percent of admissions (17 percent males and 5 percent females) [Table 2.3].


• Almost half (48 percent) of admissions for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse first became intoxicated before age 14, and 94 percent first became intoxicated by age 21 (the legal drinking age) [Table 2.5].


• Admissions for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse were less likely to be in treatment for the first time than alcohol-only admissions (38 percent vs. 51 percent) [Table 2.5].


• Among admissions referred to treatment by the criminal justice system , admissions for alcohol with secondary drug abuse were more likely than alcohol-only admissions to have been referred to treatment as a condition of probation/parole (40 percent vs. 25 percent) [Table 2.6].


• Among admissions for alcohol with secondary drug abuse, marijuana and smoked cocaine were the most frequently reported secondary substances (25 percent and 11 percent, respectively) [Table 3.8].

Heroin

• Heroin accounted for 14 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1].


• Fifty-six percent of primary heroin admissions were non-Hispanic White (36 percent males and 20 percent females). Non-Hispanic Blacks made up 21 percent (14 percent males and 7 percent females). Among admissions of Puerto Rican origin, 42 percent were for primary heroin abuse [Table 2.2]. See Chapter 5 for additional data on heroin admissions.


• Injection was reported as the usual route of administration by 65 percent of primary heroin admissions; inhalation was reported by 31 percent. Daily heroin use was reported by 71 percent of primary heroin admissions [Table 2.4].


• Most primary heroin admissions (78 percent) had been in treatment prior to the current episode, and 27 percent had been in treatment five or more times [Table 2.5].


• Primary heroin admissions were less likely than all admissions combined to be referred to treatment by the criminal justice system (15 percent vs. 38 percent) and more likely to be self-referred (56 percent vs. 32 percent) [Table 2.6].


• Medication-assisted opioid therapy was planned for 30 percent of heroin admissions [Table 2.7].


• Only 15 percent of primary heroin admissions aged 16 and older were employed (vs. 28 percent of all admissions); 45 percent were unemployed (vs. 37 percent of all admissions) [Table 2.8].

Opiates Other than Heroin

• Opiates other than heroin accounted for 6 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1]. These drugs include methadone, codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, morphine, opium, oxycodone, pentazocine, propoxyphene, tramadol, and any other drug with morphine-like effects.


• Forty-six percent of admissions for opiates other than heroin were aged 20 to 29 compared to 29 percent of all admissions [Table 2.1]. The peak age at admission was about 25 years.


• Non-Hispanic Whites made up 89 percent of admissions for primary opiates other than heroin (48 percent males and 41 percent females) [Table 2.3].


• Primary opiates other than heroin were most frequently used orally (69 percent), followed by inhalation (17 percent) and injection (11 percent) [Table 2.4].


• Age at first use was older than for all admissions, with only 21 percent reporting use of primary opiates other than heroin before age 17 vs. 52 percent of all admissions [Table 2.5].


• Medication-assisted opioid therapy was planned for 19 percent of admissions for primary opiates other than heroin [Table 2.7].


• 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 marijuana (23 percent), alcohol (22 percent), and tranquilizers (11 percent) [Table 3.8].

Smoked Cocaine (Crack)

• Smoked cocaine (crack) accounted for 8 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1].


• Seventy-one percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions were age 35 or older vs. 48 percent of all admissions, and the average age at admission was 40 years [Table 2.1]. Admissions among non-Hispanic Blacks peaked at about 45 years, while Whites peaked about 5 years younger and had a secondary peak at 25 to 30 years of age.


• Non-Hispanic Blacks accounted for 50 percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions (30 percent males and 20 percent females). Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 39 percent (20 percent males and 19 percent females) [Table 2.3].


• Primary smoked cocaine admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to receive residential treatment (30 percent vs. 18 percent) [Table 2.7].


• Only 14 percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions aged 16 and older were employed vs. 28 percent of all admissions [Table 2.8].


• Sixty-nine percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions reported abuse of other substances. The most commonly reported secondary substances of abuse were alcohol (48 percent) and marijuana (31 percent) [Table 3.8].

Non-Smoked Cocaine

• Non-smoked cocaine accounted for 3 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1].


• The average age at admission for primary non-smoked cocaine admissions was 34 years [Table 2.1]. However, the peak age among non-Hispanic Whites was some 20 years younger, at about 25 years of age, than among non-Hispanic Black males (about 45 years of age).


• Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 52 percent of primary non-smoked cocaine admissions (32 percent males and 20 percent females). Non-Hispanic Black males accounted for 17 percent. [Table 2.3].


• Over four-fifths (82 percent) of admissions for primary non-smoked cocaine reported inhalation as the route of administration, followed by injection (10 percent) [Table 2.4].


• Non-smoked cocaine admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to be referred to treatment by a community source (15 percent vs. 11 percent) [Table 2.6].


• Seventy-two percent of admissions for primary non-smoked cocaine reported abuse of additional substances. Alcohol was most common, reported by 45 percent, followed by marijuana (33 percent) [Table 3.8].

Marijuana/Hashish

• Marijuana accounted for 16 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1].


• The average age at admission for primary marijuana admissions was 24 years, although the peak age at admission was 16 to 17 years. Forty percent of marijuana admissions were under age 20 (vs. 12 percent of all admissions) and primary marijuana abuse accounted for 63 percent of all admissions aged 12 to 14 years and 69 percent of admissions aged 15 to 17 years [Table 2.1].


• Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 49 percent of primary marijuana admissions (35 percent males and 14 percent females). Non-Hispanic Black males accounted for 23 percent [Table 2.3].


• Twenty-five percent of marijuana admissions had first used marijuana by age 12 and another 32 percent by age 14 [Table 2.5].


• Primary marijuana admissions were less likely than all admissions combined to be self-referred to treatment (15 percent vs. 32 percent) [Table 2.6].


• More than four in five marijuana admissions (84 percent) received ambulatory treatment vs. about 3 in 5 of all admissions (63 percent) [Table 2.7].


• Sixty percent of primary marijuana admissions reported abuse of additional substances. Alcohol was reported by 45 percent [Table 3.8].

Methamphetamine/Amphetamine

• Methamphetamine/amphetamines were reported as the primary substance by 6 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1]. Methamphetamine admissions represented 95 percent of this group.


• Primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions averaged 33 years old at admissions [Table 2.1]. Admissions peaked in the mid-20s, with a secondary peak in the late 30s [Figure 13].


• Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 65 percent of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions (35 percent males and 30 percent females) [Table 2.3]. Sixteen percent of all primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions were of Mexican origin [Table 2.2].


• The main routes of administration for primary methamphetamine/amphetamines were smoking (66 percent), injection (19 percent), and inhalation (9 percent) [Table 2.4].


• Primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to be referred to treatment by the criminal justice system (59 percent vs. 38 percent) [Table 2.6].


• Primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to receive long-term residential treatment (17 percent vs. 8 percent) [Table 2.7].


• Sixty-five percent of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions reported secondary use of other substances, primarily marijuana (36 percent) and alcohol (31 percent) [Table 3.8].

Tranquilizers

• Tranquilizers were reported as the primary substance by less than 1 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1].
  The average age at admission for primary tranquilizers was 34 years [Table 2.1].


• Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 84 percent of admissions for primary abuse of tranquilizers (41 percent males and 43 percent females) [Table 2.3].


• Twenty-four percent of primary tranquilizer admissions first used tranquilizers after age 30 [Table 2.5].


• Primary tranquilizer admissions were the least likely of all admissions to receive ambulatory treatment (45 percent vs. 63 percent). They were the most likely of all admissions to receive hospital inpatient detoxification (12 percent vs. 4 percent) [Table 2.7].


• Secondary abuse of another substance was reported by 72 percent of primary tranquilizer admissions. Secondary abuse of alcohol was reported by 28 percent, opiates other than heroin by 25 percent, and marijuana by 22 percent [Table 3.8].

Sedatives

• Admissions for primary sedative abuse were responsible for less than one-half of 1 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1].


• Four percent of primary sedative admissions were aged 65 and older, compared to less than 1 percent of total admissions [Table 2.1].


• Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 81 percent of primary sedative admissions (48 percent females and 33 percent males) [Table 2.3].


• Twenty-four percent of primary sedative admissions first used sedatives after age 30 [Table 2.5].


• Primary sedative admissions were more likely than all admissions to receive short-term residential treatment (17 percent vs. 10 percent) [Table 2.7].


• One-third (33 percent) of primary sedative admissions aged 18 and older had more than 12 years of education (vs. 24 percent of all admissions) [Table 2.9].


• Sixty-one percent of primary sedative admissions reported abuse of other substances as well, primarily alcohol (25 percent), marijuana (22 percent), followed by opiates other than heroin (15 percent) [Table 3.8].

Hallucinogens

• Hallucinogens were responsible for one-tenth of 1 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1]. Hallucinogens include LSD, DMT, STP, mescaline, psilocybin, peyote, etc.


• More than half (58 percent) of hallucinogen admissions were under age 20, compared to about one quarter (26 percent) of all admissions. Only 14 percent were over 30 years of age, compared to 48 percent of all admissions [Table 2.1].


• Two-thirds (67 percent) of admissions for primary hallucinogen abuse were non-Hispanic Whites (48 percent males and 19 percent females). Non-Hispanic Black males accounted for 13 percent [Table 2.3].


• Fifty percent of primary hallucinogen admissions reported not using the drug in the past month [Table 2.4].


• Primary hallucinogen admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to receive residential treatment (28 percent vs. 18 percent) [Table 2.7].


• Seventy-seven percent of primary hallucinogen admissions reported abuse of drugs in addition to hallucinogens, mainly marijuana (46 percent) and alcohol (32 percent), followed by non-smoked cocaine (11 percent) [Table 3.8].

Phencyclidine (PCP)

• Phencyclidine (PCP) was reported as a primary substance by less than one-half of 1 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1].


• Almost half (48 percent) of PCP admissions were aged 25 to 34, compared to about one quarter (26 percent) of all admissions [Table 2.1].


• Non-Hispanic Blacks accounted for 58 percent of primary PCP admissions (37 percent males and 21 percent females) [Table 2.3].


• Among admissions referred to treatment through the criminal justice system, primary PCP admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to be referred as a condition of probation/parole (59 percent vs. 43 percent) [Table 2.6].


• Primary PCP admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to receive residential treatment (28 percent vs. 18 percent), particularly long-term residential treatment (16 percent vs. 8 percent) [Table 2.7].


• Only 11 percent of PCP admissions aged 18 and older had more than a high school education (vs. 24 percent of total admissions) [Table 2.9].


• Seventy-one percent of primary PCP admissions reported abuse of other substances. Marijuana was reported as a secondary substance by 39 percent and alcohol by 32 percent [Table 3.8].

Inhalants

• Inhalants were reported as the primary substance of abuse by one-tenth of 1 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2008 [Table 1.1]. Inhalants include ether, glue, chloroform, nitrous oxide, gasoline, paint thinner, etc.


• Fifteen percent of primary inhalant admissions were aged 12 to 14 years, and another 24 percent were aged 15 to 17 years [Table 2.1].


• Two-thirds (66 percent) of primary inhalant admissions were non-Hispanic White (43 percent males and 23 percent females) [Table 2.3]. Eleven percent of all primary inhalant admissions were of Mexican origin [Table 2.2].


• Primary inhalant admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to be referred to treatment by a health care provider (11 percent vs. 6 percent) or schools (6 percent vs. 1 percent) [Table 2.6].


• Fifty-six percent of primary inhalant admissions reported abuse of other drugs, principally alcohol (33 percent) and marijuana (29 percent) [Table 3.8].


• Reflecting their overall youth, inhalant admissions were the most likely to have a dependent living arrangement (42 percent vs. 13 percent of all admissions) and Medicaid as the expected source of payment (30 percent vs. 15 percent of all admissions) [Tables 2.10 and 2.13].

To Table of Contents