Drug use and mental health issues affect millions of adolescents and adults, according to the September 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) by the Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Persons 12 years and older, who were not institutionalized, were polled on illicit drug use, alcohol use, substance abuse treatment and reasons for not receiving treatment.
In 2013, an estimated 24.6 million individuals aged 12 or older were current (within the past month) illicit drug users. In 2013, 60.1 million individuals were binge drinkers, including 1.6 million adolescents. Of an estimated 22.7 million who needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem, only about 2.5 million received treatment at a specialty facility.
About 1 in 10 (10.7 percent) adolescents had a Major Depressive Episode (MDE) during the past year. Just 38.1 percent of those adolescents received treatment or counseling for depression.
In 2013, nearly one in five adults 18 years and older had a mental illness, 4.2 percent had a serious mental illness and 3.9 percent had serious thoughts of suicide.
The administration asked respondents about their illicit drug use in the 30 days before the interview. Illicit drugs included marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, hallucinogens, heroin and prescription-type drug abuse. An estimated 24.6 million Americans were current illicit drug abusers. Use of prescription drug abuse came second after marijuana at 9.4 percent.
More than half of Americans aged 12 or older were current alcohol users. Nearly one quarter (22.9 percent) were binge drinkers (60.1 million). Heavy drinking was reported by 6.3 percent of the population (16.5 million).
Of adolescents aged 12 to 17, 11.6 percent were current alcohol users; 1.6 million reported binge drinking.
In 2013, almost 23 million had a Substance Use Disorder in need of treatment. An estimated 2.5 million received treatment at a specialty facility This means over 20 million individuals did not receive treatment.
Reasons for not receiving treatment were (1) no health coverage or could not afford cost (37.3 percent), (2) not ready to stop, (3) did not know where to go for treatment, (4) health coverage, (5) no transportation.
NSDUH estimates 43.8 million suffered any mental illness and 10 million were of serious mental illness. Suicide was contemplated by 9.3 million.
Of the 2.6 million adolescents in 2013 with MDE, 977,000 received treatment for depression. In 2013 34.6 million aged 18 or older had received mental health care during the past 12 months.
The administration stated health treatment is important to facilitate recovery. Treatment or counseling can also decrease risk of relapse and promote recovery and remission of mental disorders.
