Extent
of substance abuse in the US.
The federal
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
which funds much public and private substance abuse treatment
nationally, has published a report recently about the extent
of substance abuse in the US. Some of the data include:
An estimated
1,136,287 people are receiving substance abuse treatment
in the US on any given day
48% of those in treatment are receiving treatment for both
alcohol and drug addiction (as opposed to only one substance)
21% of people in treatment are receiving treatment for alcohol
alone
31% of people in treatment are receiving treatment for drugs
alone
49% of treatment centers have programs for co-occurring
substance abuse and mental health disorders
For more information, or to order a free copy of the report,
go to www.samhsa.gov.
The name of the report is Results from the 2002 NSDUH: National
Findings.
If you
are in need of Kentucky data, go to cdar.uky.edu
and you can download data from the Kentucky Treatment Outcome
Study (KTOS) or the Kentucky Needs Assessment files.
New
Kentucky Study Shows Substance Abuse Treatment Works
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 2, 2003) --- A year after receiving treatment
for substance abuse problems, clients in a Kentucky study
reported experiencing fewer legal and psychological problems,
significant reductions in alcohol and drug use, and attaining
higher rates of employment.
The 2000 Kentucky Substance Abuse Treatment Outcome Study
compares self-reported data taken from clients who entered
treatment in 2000 with self-reports 12 months later.
The
study involved 892 clients at Kentucky’s 14 Regional
Mental Health Centers and affiliated agencies, who agreed
to participate in the research.
Researchers
estimate that for every dollar spent on treatment in the
state in 2000, there was a $4.16 avoided cost of crime.
“This study further reinforces that treatment for substance
abuse works and is more cost-effective in the long-run,”
said Mike Townsend, director of the state’s Division
of Substance Abuse. “While there is a severe shortage
of publicly supported treatment services in Kentucky, those
who receive services usually have excellent outcomes.”
According to the study, conducted by the Division of Substance
Abuse through a contract with the University of Kentucky
Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, 12 months after treatment:
· The number of clients who reported being arrested
on all charges decreased 66 percent,
· Self-reported serious depression was down 29 percent,
· The number of clients reporting working full-time
increased 27 percent,
· Daily alcohol use was reduced by 61 percent, and
· Daily marijuana use decreased 71 percent.
Nationally,
it is estimated that 76 percent of those in need of treatment
for a problem with illicit drugs do not seek or receive
treatment. Last month, Gov. Paul Patton signed an alcohol
and drug addiction recovery proclamation, urging Kentuckians
to support men, women and youth who are in drug and alcohol
addiction treatment and recovery, and their families.
It also recognized the successes of individuals who are
in recovery and acknowledged men and women in the treatment
field who dedicate their lives to helping those with addictions.
For more information about substance abuse and addiction
treatment in Kentucky, or to obtain a copy of the report,
contact the Division of Substance Abuse, at (502) 564-2880
or your Regional Mental Health Center.
The
study may also be found online at http://www.uky.edu/RGS/CDAR/KTOS/
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