The presence of a mental disorder may contribute to the development or exacerbation of an SUD. Likewise, the presence of an SUD may contribute to the development or exacerbation of a mental disorder. Among the 3.3 million adults aged 26 to 49 in 2019 with past year SMI and a perceived unmet need, 31.9 percent (or 1.0 million people) did not receive mental health services in the past year (2019 DT 10.26). This percentage in 2019 was similar to the percentage in each year from 2008 through 2018. Among the 1.8 million young adults aged 18 to 25 in 2019 with past year SMI and a perceived unmet need, 43.2 percent (or 778,000 people) did not receive mental health services in the past year (2019 DT 10.26). Among the 6.2 million adults aged 18 or older in 2019 with past year SMI and a perceived unmet need, 32.8 percent (or 2.0 million people) did not receive mental health services in the past year (2019 DT 10.26).

Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 2019, 0.7 percent (or 172,000 people) received any substance use treatment in the past year (Figure 65 and 2019 DT 7.51). Among adults aged 26 to 49 in 2019, 0.6 percent (or 579,000 people) attempted suicide in the past 12 months (Figure 63 and 2019 DT 10.41). The percentage in 2019 who attempted suicide in the past year was similar to the percentages in most years from 2008 to 2018.

Receipt of Services among Adults with a Co-Occurring SUD and SMI

The number of young adults in 2019 who initiated cigarette smoking in the past year averaged to about 2,600 young adults each day (Table A.3A). Among people aged 12 or older, percentages for the past year misuse of prescription benzodiazepines declined from 2.1 percent (or 5.5 million people) in 2015 to 1.8 percent (or 4.8 million people) in 2019 (Figure 20 and 2019 DT 7.2). Among young adults aged 18 to 25 in 2019, 1.7 percent (or 577,000 people) used inhalants in the past year (Figure 17 and 2019 DT 7.11). The percentage of young adults who used inhalants in the past year remained stable between 2015 and 2019. Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 2019, 0.2 percent (or 41,000 people) used methamphetamine in the past year (Figure 15 and 2019 DT 7.5). The percentage of adolescents who used methamphetamine in the past year remained stable between 2015 and 2019.

  • All of the race categories are “single race,” meaning that only one race was reported on the death certificate.
  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2019 who had a past year SUD, 10.3 percent (or 2.1 million people) received any substance use treatment in the past year (Figure 67 and 2019 DT 7.56).
  • 29 Desoxyn® was not mentioned in 2019 as some other stimulant and has been mentioned only rarely in some years since 2015.
  • 31 Examples of forms of fentanyl presented to NSDUH respondents are available by prescription.
  • A huge reason this cycle continues is due to the fact many senior citizens are able to hide it better than young adults.
  • Among young adults aged 18 to 25 in 2019 with past year SMI, receipt of mental health services in the past year increased from 45.9 percent (or 567,000 people) in 2008 to 56.4 percent (or 1.6 million people) in 2019 (Figure 76 and 2019 DT 10.11).
  • About 1 in 15 people who misused pain relievers in the past year (6.2 percent) bought the last pain reliever they misused from a drug dealer or other stranger.

Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 2019, 23,000 people initiated prescription sedative misuse in the past year (2019 DT 7.41), which was similar to the numbers in most years from 2015 to 2018. The number of adolescents in 2019 who initiated prescription sedative misuse in the past year averaged to about 60 adolescents each day (Table A.3A). Respondents in the 2019 NSDUH who reported prescription pain reliever misuse in the past year were asked to report the reasons for misusing the last prescription pain reliever they misused. Respondents who reported more than one reason for misusing the last prescription pain reliever were asked to report their main reason for misusing it. First, it presents estimates of the misuse of subtypes among the total population aged 12 or older.

Initiation of Methamphetamine Use

Among people aged 12 or older, the percentage with a past year alcohol use disorder declined from 7.7 percent (or 18.1 million people) in 2002 to 5.3 percent (or 14.5 million people) in 2019 (Figure 37 and 2019 DT 7.46). The estimates in 2019 were lower than those in 2002 to 2015, but they were similar to those in 2016 to 2018. Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 2019, approximately 1.4 million people initiated marijuana use in the past year, which was similar to the numbers in most years from 2002 through 2018 (Figure 28 and 2019 DT 7.41).

  • Among young adults aged 18 to 25 in 2019, 7.2 percent (or 2.4 million people) used hallucinogens in the past year (Figure 16 and 2019 DT 7.11).
  • Because many elderly adults take prescription medication, drinking while actively being on medication can easily produce health risks.

This is one of the most common addictions in the elderly because they receive far more prescriptions than young adults. Symptoms of alcohol abuse to look out for include slurred speech and bruises from falls during blackouts. At-risk drinking occurs when there are pre-existing health complications that can worsen due to the use of alcohol. Although, when we dive https://ecosoberhouse.com/ deeper into the prevalence of SUD in aging adults, we see greater harm due to at-risk drinking. Another major sign of addiction in aging adults is a sudden lack of care for themselves or their environment. Those suffering from addiction may stop frequently showering or grooming themselves, and they might find themselves neglecting to grocery shop or pay bills.

National Take Back Day

Among people aged 12 or older, the percentage with a past year heroin use disorder increased from 0.1 percent (or 214,000 people) in 2002 to 0.2 percent (or 438,000 people) in 2019 (Figure 41 and 2019 DT 7.46). Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, the percentage with a past year cocaine use substance abuse in older adults disorder declined from 0.4 percent (or 105,000 people) in 2002 to less than 0.1 percent (or 5,000 people) in 2019 (Figure 40 and 2019 DT 7.47). These estimates in 2019 were lower than the estimates in all years from 2002 through 2017, but they were similar to the estimates in 2018.

substance abuse statistics for older adults in the united states

One factor that can influence whether people will use tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs is the extent to which they believe that using these substances might cause harm. In 2019, NSDUH respondents were asked how much they thought people risk harming themselves physically and in other ways when they use various substances in certain amounts or frequencies. Response choices for these items were “great risk,” “moderate risk,” “slight risk,” or “no risk.” Depending on the substance, respondents were asked about their perceived risk of harm from using a substance daily or using a substance once or twice a week (i.e., weekly use). Among young adults aged 18 to 25, the number of past year initiates of prescription sedative misuse declined from 86,000 people in 2015 to 39,000 people in 2019 (2019 DT 7.43).