Prevalence of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment (Table 12.1 and 12.2)

About 2% of the surveyed population aged 12 or older (representing about 3.4 million persons) reported receiving some type of substance abuse treatment in the past year. About 0.9% (representing about 2 million persons) received treatment for drug abuse, and about 1.4% (representing about 3.1 million persons) received treatment for alcohol abuse.25

Having received treatment was more common in the 18 to 25 and 26 to 34 age groups than in the other age groups. For example, 2% of those aged 18 to 34 received some form of substance abuse treatment in the past year, compared with 1% of those in the 12 to 17 and the 35 or older age groups.

Males were over twice as likely as females (2% vs. 1%) to have received any substance abuse treatment in the past year. This difference was statistically significant for any substance abuse treatment and alcohol abuse treatment. There were no significant differences across racial/ethnic categories, population density categories, or regions.

25 The percentages receiving substance abuse treatment may include people receiving treatment for conditions related to drug and/or alcohol abuse, as well as those in treatment to stop drug and/or alcohol use. For a more detailed analysis of NHSDA treatment data using earlier survey years, see Gerstein, Foote, and Ghadialy (1997).