Findings from NSDUH reveal that only a subset of individuals receive services for substance use and mental health issues

Thursday, September 21, 2017

A new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reveals that 19.9 million adults that needed substance use treatment in the past year, representing 8.1 percent of adults aged 18 or older in the United States. Out of 19.9 million adults needing substance use treatment, only 10.8 percent received treatment at a specialty facility (2.1 million). That means that about 17.7 million adults who needed treatment did not receive treatment at a specialty facility for their substance use.

In addition, out 44.7 million adults with any mental illness (AMI) in the past year, about 19.2 million (43.1 percent) received mental health services. Included in the 44.7 million adults with past year AMI were 10.4 million adults with serious mental illness (SMI). Of the 10.4 million adults in 2016 with past year SMI, 64.8 percent received mental health services in the past year.

SAMHSA developed the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (Lifeline) to provide immediate help to people in crisis. The Lifeline is a nationwide network of crisis centers that provides help 24 hours a day, seven days a week for individuals in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

Today’s report, Receipt of Services for Substance Use and Mental Health Issues among Adults: Results from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, is available at: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DR-FFR2-2016/NSDUH-DR-FFR2-2016.htm. The report was drawn from some of the key findings of SAMHSA’s 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) report. The NSDUH report is a scientifically conducted annual survey of approximately 68,000 people throughout the country, aged 12 and older.

To find specialty substance use and mental health treatment facilities, use SAMHSA's Behavioral Health Treatment Locator: https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

For more information, contact the SAMHSA Press Office at 240-276-2130.