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Among those aged 12 or older, blacks and persons from other racial and ethnic groups were equally likely to need treatment for substance use in the past year. That is, 9.1 percent of blacks (2.6 million persons) and 9.3 percent of persons from other racial and ethnic groups (20.4 million persons) needed treatment for illicit drug or alcohol use (Figure 1). Although blacks were less likely than persons from other racial and ethnic groups to need treatment for alcohol use (6.8 vs. 7.8 percent), they were more likely to need treatment for illicit drug use (4.1 vs. 3.0 percent).
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Races/Ethnicities | Need for Alcohol Use Treatment* |
Need for Illicit Drug Use Treatment* |
Need for Illicit Drug or Alcohol Use Treatment |
---|---|---|---|
Blacks | 6.8% | 4.1% | 9.1% |
Persons of Other Races and Ethnicities |
7.8% | 3.0% | 9.3% |
*Difference between blacks and persons of other races and ethnicities is significant at the .05 level. Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2003 to 2005, 2006 to 2010 (revised March 2012), and 2011. |
Among those aged 12 or older in need of substance use treatment, blacks were more likely than persons from other racial and ethnic groups to receive specialty treatment. An estimated 403,000 blacks (15.2 percent) and 2.0 million persons from other racial and ethnic groups (9.6 percent) needed and received specialty treatment for illicit drug or alcohol use (Figure 2). Among those in need of alcohol treatment, blacks were more likely than persons from other racial and ethnic groups to receive specialty treatment for alcohol use (13.5 vs. 7.6 percent). Similarly, among those in need of illicit drug use treatment, blacks were more likely than persons from other racial and ethnic groups to receive specialty treatment for illicit drug use (21.3 vs. 17.3 percent).
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Races/Ethnicities | Received Alcohol Use Treatment* |
Received Illicit Drug Use Treatment* |
Received Illicit Drug or Alcohol Use Treatment* |
---|---|---|---|
Blacks | 13.5% | 21.3% | 15.2% |
Persons of Other Races and Ethnicities |
7.6% | 17.3% | 9.6% |
*Difference between blacks and persons of other races and ethnicities is significant at the .05 level. Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2003 to 2005, 2006 to 2010 (revised March 2012), and 2011. |
An estimated 2.2 million blacks needed but did not receive specialty substance use treatment in the past year, compared with 18.4 million persons for other racial and ethnic groups. Among blacks who needed but did not receive substance use treatment, 92.0 percent did not feel the need for treatment, 5.2 percent felt the need for treatment but did not make an effort to get it, and 2.8 percent felt the need for treatment and made an effort to get it (Figure 3). In comparison, among persons from other racial and ethnic groups, 95.1 percent did not feel the need for treatment, 3.5 percent felt the need for treatment but did not make an effort to get it, and 1.4 percent felt the need for treatment and made an effort to get it.
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Races/Ethnicities | Blacks | Persons of Other Races and Ethnicities |
---|---|---|
Did Not Feel They Needed Treatment | 92.0%* | 95.1% |
Felt They Needed Treatment and Made an Effort | 2.8%* | 1.4% |
Felt They Needed Treatment and Did Not Make an Effort | 5.2%* | 3.5% |
* Difference between blacks and persons from other races and ethnicities is significant at the .05 level. Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2003 to 2005, 2006 to 2010 (revised March 2012), and 2011. |
Blacks who were 12 to 17 or 18 to 25 years of age were less likely than persons in the same age groups from other racial and ethnic groups to need specialty treatment (Table 1). Compared with their counterparts in other racial and ethnic groups, blacks aged 26 or older were more likely to need specialty treatment and were more likely to receive it. Black females were less likely than females of other racial and ethnic groups to be in need of treatment (5.4 vs. 6.5 percent), but black males were more likely to need treatment than males of other races and ethnicities (13.5 vs. 12.3 percent).
Demographic Characteristic | Needed Substance Use Treatment: Blacks |
Needed Substance Use Treatment: Persons of Other Races and Ethnicities |
Received Substance Use Treatment: Blacks Who Needed Treatment |
Received Substance Use Treatment: Persons of Other Races and Ethnicities Who Needed Treatment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 9.1% | 9.3% | 15.2%* | 9.6% |
Aged 12 to 17 | 5.3%* | 8.5% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
Aged 18 to 25 | 15.3%* | 22.1% | 7.7% | 7.5% |
Aged 26 or Older | 8.4%* | 7.3% | 19.1%* | 10.9% |
Male | 13.5%* | 12.3% | 15.6%* | 9.8% |
Female | 5.4%* | 6.5% | 14.5%* | 9.3% |
Less than 100% Federal Poverty Level (FPL)** |
11.7%* | 12.8% | 20.4% | 17.5% |
100%-199% FPL** | 9.1% | 9.6% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
200% or More FPL** | 7.7%* | 8.5% | 11.6%* | 7.6% |
Health Insurance Coverage | 7.7%* | 8.3% | 15.4%* | 8.7% |
No Health Insurance Coverage |
15.9% | 15.5% | 14.8% | 12.6% |
* Difference between blacks and persons of other race/ethnicities is significant at the .05 level. ** Estimates are based on a definition of the Federal Poverty Level that incorporates information on family income, size, and composition and is calculated as a percentage of the U.S. Census Bureau's poverty thresholds. Respondents aged 18 to 22 who were living in a college dormitory were excluded. Estimates for poverty are only based on 2005 to 2011 data. Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 2003 to 2005, 2006 to 2010 (revised March 2012), and 2011. |
Among those with incomes less than 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, blacks were less likely than persons from other racial and ethnic groups to need substance use treatment (11.7 vs. 12.8 percent) but no more likely to receive treatment if they needed it. Among those with incomes greater than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, blacks were less likely than persons from other racial and ethnic groups to need treatment (7.7 vs. 8.5 percent) but more likely to receive treatment if they needed it (11.6 vs. 7.6 percent). Blacks with health insurance coverage were less likely to need specialty treatment (7.7 vs. 8.3 percent) and more likely to receive treatment if they did need it (15.4 vs. 8.7 percent).
SAMHSA aims to reduce the impact of substance abuse and improve access to quality behavioral health services and support. This report shows that blacks are more likely to need illicit drug use treatment than individuals from other racial and ethnic groups. Among those who needed treatment for illicit drug or alcohol use in the past year, blacks are more likely than persons from other racial and ethnic groups to receive specialty treatment. Blacks with a substance use problem are more likely to recognize their need for treatment and more likely to make an effort to receive specialty treatment. This report highlights variations in substance use treatment need and receipt between blacks and persons of other racial and ethnic groups. The findings presented here may help guide efforts to address access to specialty treatment facilities and outreach programs for the black population.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2003 to 2011 data used in this report are based on information obtained from 2.7 million non-Hispanic African Americans (blacks) aged 12 or older, and 20.4 million non-blacks aged 12 or older. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence. The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following publication: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2012). Results from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of national findings (HHS Publication No. SMA 12-4713, NSDUH Series H-44). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also available online: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/data-we-collect/nsduh-national-survey-drug-use-and-health. |
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