2015 NSDUH Results

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently announced findings from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

According to a press conference held to discuss some of the survey’s results, “underage substance use levels have remained constant despite reductions in underage drinking and smoking” (Lavitt, 2016). Additionally, the NSDUH found that while 21.7 million people required addiction help in 2015, only 2.3 million received treatment in a rehab (Lavitt, 2016).

The NSDUH also found that cocaine use in young adults increased (1.1 percent in 2013 to 1.7 percent in 2015), 6.4 million people “misuse psychotherapeutic medications,” and 3.8 million people misuse and abuse prescription pain medication on a regular basis (Lavitt, 2016).

ONDCP Director Michael Botticelli stated, “We need to increase the capacity of people getting treatment across the country. We need to expand access to treatment and we need to do it now. Like every other disease, people who want treatment should be able to get it . . . we need Congress to act” (Lavitt, 2016).

References

Lavitt, J. (2016). National survey highlights underage drinking decline, rising prescription drug misuse. Retrieved from https://www.thefix.com/national-survey-highlights-underage-drinking-decline-rising-prescription-drug-misuse