Addiction Treatment Statistics

General Addiction Treatment Data

By understanding the most effective treatment types, individuals dealing with addiction and their loved ones can gain insight into the best options for their needs.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2022, 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year. However, only about 1 in 4 (24.0% or 13.1 million people) received substance use treatment in the past year.

There are several reasons why an individual may not seek treatment for their SUD, ranging from issues like lack of transportation, lack of funds, or not being ready to receive treatment.

Unfortunately, in-depth data regarding addiction treatment is sorely lacking. Treatment for drug use disorders can often be a complicated, non-linear process where addicts are in and out of treatment centers.

Nonetheless, some emerging data can give us a clearer picture of addiction treatment.

Addiction Treatment Statistics Based on Substance Abuse

While data is slim regarding treatment per type of substance, we do have some data regarding some of the most commonly abused substances in the US.

• Alcohol—According to the 2022 NSDUH, 2.2 million adults ages 18 and older who had alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the past year received alcohol use treatment in the past year.
• Opioids—The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that only 1 in 5 U.S. adults with opioid use disorder received medications to treat it in 2021
• Cocaine—According to the Health Research Board, in 2023, stimulants like cocaine were the most common drug for which individuals are seeking treatment. Powder cocaine accounted for almost eight in every ten treated cocaine cases, while two in ten were crack cocaine.

Addiction Treatment Demographic Statistics

Many factors can affect who seeks addiction treatment. Things like gender, age, and ethnicity can all play a part in whether someone chooses to seek treatment for their alcohol or drug addiction.

Addiction Treatment Statistics by Gender

Rates of substance abuse and treatment can be quite different between genders. According to NIDA, men are more likely than women to use illicit drugs.

However, women are more likely to self-medicate with substances and can develop substance use disorders more quickly than men.

• The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reports that only 20% of individuals in drug treatment are women.
• According to SAMHSA, males accounted for 64% of all rehab discharges.
• NIDA reports that women typically enter SUD treatment with more severe behavioral, psychological, and social problems than men due to women’s quicker progression from first using to developing dependence.

Addiction Treatment Statistics by Age Group

Age appears to play a significant factor in deciding to seek treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Treatment is vital for people of all ages, but not everyone seeks it.

Adolescents may be more likely to enter treatment due to their parent’s influence. While young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 have the highest rates of drug abuse issues, many young people will not seek treatment right away.

As these addicts wait longer to seek treatment, other health conditions and chronic diseases can complicate treatment and worsen the effects of their addiction.

• A study from Weill Cornell Medicine in New York revealed that between 2008 and 2018, the proportion of admissions attributed to adults aged 55 or over increased from 9.04% to 15.64%.
• According to SAMHSA, only 8.7% of 18-25-year-olds with a substance use disorder received substance abuse treatment.
• SAMHSA also reported that only 11% of people 26 and older with SUD received treatment
• In addition, around 58% of treatment admissions were between the ages of 25 and 44.

Addiction Treatment Statistics by Ethnicity

Addiction has varied impacts on people of different races and ethnicities. Unfortunately, substance issues tend to hit some racial communities harder than others due to systemic inequities and limited access to treatment and support.

According to SAMHSA’s National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, the following treatment admissions by race/ethnicity in 2020 included:

• White – 66.3%
• Black/African American – 20%
• American Indian/ Alaska Native – 2.9%
• Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander – 1%
• Other – 9.7%. Of those, 14.5% identified as ethnically Hispanic.

However, another picture emerges when looking at the annual averages of treatment by race from 2015 to 2019:

• American Indian or Alaska Native – 24.8%
• Two or More Races – 18.4%
• Black or African American – 15.8%
• White – 14.9%
• Hispanic or Latino – 12.6%
• Asian – 5.9%

Addiction Treatment Type Statistics

Addiction treatment comes in many forms, from inpatient residential stays to intensive outpatient programs to addiction therapy.

Not all addicts will require residential stays; some patients only require therapy or find better success in support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery.

Stats on Behavioral Therapy for Addiction Treatment

Behavioral therapy or psychotherapy is typically used in inpatient and outpatient treatment centers. Different therapy methods have become the cornerstone of addiction treatment for many treatment centers and healthcare providers.

Therapy helps addicts identify and modify the underlying behaviors that lead to maladaptive actions such as drug abuse. By managing their overall behavioral health, many addicts can successfully manage their addiction and address other mental health conditions in the process.

SAMHSA’s National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services revealed that facilities commonly reported using the following types of therapy for addiction treatment:

• 98% provided substance abuse counseling
• 96% provided relapse prevention therapy
• 94% provided cognitive behavioral therapy
• 93% provided motivational interviewing

Stats on Detox and Medication-Assisted Treatment

Detox and medication-assisted treatments (MATs) are often the first step for many addicts entering treatment, especially if they are abusing a substance with severe or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

Through detox, patients can safely and more comfortably detox off the substance under medical supervision.

The use of MATs can assist the detox process as well as after treatment to help prevent relapse and overdose deaths.

• According to SAMHSA, over a third of facilities (39%) reported that they use medication-assisted treatment (MAT) such as disulfiram, naltrexone, or acamprosate for alcohol use disorder.
• SAMHSA also reports that medical professionals offered outpatient methadone/buprenorphine maintenance or naltrexone treatment at over a third of facilities (36%) for opioid use disorder.
• Individuals who enter detox before treatment have a 68% success rate of completing treatment.

Stats on Addiction Rehab

Addiction rehab may refer to inpatient residential rehab or outpatient rehab programs. These inpatient stays typically last 30 to 90 days or longer, depending on the patient’s progress.

• Among drug rehabs, long-term residential treatment (longer than 30 days) was the most common type of residential treatment, with 18% of facilities offering this service.
• Drug rehabs based in Florida have the highest success rate, with around 70% of patients completing their treatment programs.

Addiction Treatment Recovery Statistics

It’s nearly impossible to measure addiction recovery effectively. There are many different definitions of successful recovery within the community, making measuring its success challenging.

Many patients achieve recovery defined by complete abstinence from mind or mood-altering substances, while others may continue to struggle with relapses and require treatment off and on for the rest of their lives.

More recently, there has been a rise in patients who focus more on moderation rather than complete abstinence, only avoiding the substances or behaviors they cannot moderate.

Whatever a patient’s definition of success, the data shows that many people successfully recover and lead healthy, happy lives.

• According to the Recovery Research Institute, around 22.3 million Americans, or more than 9% of adults, are currently in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD).
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reported in 2020 that 3 out of 4 people who experience addiction eventually recover.

Seek Addiction Treatment for Substance Use Disorder

Finding addiction treatment can be a daunting process. However, treatment can save lives by preventing drug overdose and helping patients and their loved ones find long-term solutions for addictive behaviors.

You can start your journey to sobriety by speaking with your doctor or healthcare provider. Local support groups also offer community options.

Twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous can provide peer support and accountability, especially for addicts who are socially isolated. Secular recovery groups like SMART Recovery are also available.

If you’re unsure where to start, try SAMHSA’s online treatment locator or call their helpline. They can provide a list of available providers and treatment centers in your area that can help with addiction, mental illness, and more.