About One-third of Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Had a Psychiatric Problem


Many people entering substance abuse treatment have both substance use and mental health problems. The Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) is a national data system of annual admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities. In the 2012 TEDS, psychiatric status was reported for about 1.3 million admissions. Of these admissions, about one-third (32.5 percent) had a psychiatric problem in addition to a substance use problem. Among admissions with a psychiatric problem, alcohol was the most commonly reported substance of abuse (56.7 percent), followed by marijuana (39.4 percent) and opiates (37.9 percent).1 Most admissions with a psychiatric problem reported multiple substances of abuse. These admissions included 35.2 percent of admissions that abused two substances and 29.3 percent that abused three or more substances.2

Untreated mental illness can reduce the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment.3 Because of this, it is important for people with both substance use and mental health problems who enter treatment to receive services that address both problems. To find treatment and services to treat both problems, visit SAMHSA's Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

Figure. Selected and number of substances of abuse among substance abuse treatment admissions with a psychiatric problem: 2012
This is a bar graph comparing selected and number of substances of abuse among substance abuse treatment admissions with a psychiatric problem: 2012. Accessible table located below this figure.

Figure Table. Selected and number of substances of abuse among substance abuse treatment admissions with a psychiatric problem: 2012
Substances of Abuse Percent
Alcohol 56.7%
Marijuana 39.4%
Opiates 37.9%
Cocaine 26.9%
Methamphetamine 10.1%
Tranquilizers   8.0%
Sedatives   0.9%
One substance 35.1%
Two substances 35.2%
Three or more substances 29.3%
NOTE: The percentages of the number of substances of abuse do not sum to 100 percent because no substance of abuse was reported for 0.4 percent of admissions.


End Notes
1 TEDS collects data on the primary substance of abuse and up to two additional substances of abuse at the time of admission to treatment. Thus, the total exceeds 100 percent.
2 For each admission, up to three substances of abuse can be reported. These represent the substances that lead to the treatment episode and are not necessarily a complete enumeration of all substances used at the time of admission.
3 Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2005). Substance abuse treatment for persons with co-occurring disorders (DHHS Publication No. SMA 05-3922; Treatment Improvement Protocol [TIP], Series 42). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64197/


Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 2012, based on data received through October 17, 2013. TEDS is a compilation of data on the demographic characteristics and substance use problems of admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States, primarily facilities that receive public funding. TEDS is one component of the Behavioral Health Services Information System (BHSIS), an integrated data system maintained by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, SAMHSA. For more information on TEDS, see https://www.samhsa.gov/data/data-we-collect/teds-treatment-episode-data-set.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. The Data Spotlight may be copied without permission. Citation of the source is appreciated. Find this report and those on similar topics online at https://www.samhsa.gov/data/.