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SAMHSA News Room
Contact Media Services: (240) 276-2130

SAMHSA Advisory

Date: 11/29/2006
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press
Telephone: 240-276-2130

Nearly Half of all Patients in Treatment for Both Alcohol and Drugs

N-SSATS Survey Released
The proportion of patients in treatment for drug and alcohol abuse made up nearly half of all clients (47 percent) according to the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): 2005, released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The survey showed that on March 31, 2005, 1.08 million people were enrolled in substance abuse treatment, an 8 percent increase from 1 million in 2000.  Of them, 34 percent were in treatment for drug abuse only, up from 29 percent in 2000.  In contrast, clients enrolled in treatment only for alcohol abuse declined from 23 percent in 2000 to 19 percent in 2005.  

N-SSATS: 2005 contains data on the location, characteristics, and use of alcoholism and drug abuse treatment facilities and services throughout the United States and its territories. A total of 14,047 facilities responded to the 2005 survey, a response rate of 95 percent.

The 2005 national survey reported that the number and proportion of clients receiving methadone increased from 172,502 (17 percent of all clients) in 2000 to 235,836 in 2005 (22 percent of all clients). It also indicated that opioid treatment programs, which focus on treating addiction to heroin and prescription narcotic pain medications, were available in 8 percent of all substance abuse treatment programs.

N-SSATS, a snapshot of the substance abuse treatment delivery system, helps SAMHSA and state and local governments assess the nature and extent of services provided in state-supported and other treatment facilities, and forecast treatment resource requirements.  The date of March 31  is used a reference point because it is when survey participants report on the number of clients in treatment.  

N-SSATS is also used to update SAMHSA’s Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, available at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov. The locator service provides the phone numbers and locations of the nearest state-approved treatment facilities.

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.


Page Last Updated: 12/1/2006