Many in need of substance use disorder treatment are not receiving it.

Many in need of substance use disorder treatment are not receiving it.


A gap persists between the need for and receipt of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment among US individuals, according to a research letter. published in JAMA Network Open,

Ligang Liu, Pharm.D., from The Ohio State University in Columbus, and colleagues described treatment needs, treatment receipts, perceived needs, and treatment barriers for SUD. The analysis included annual reports for the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2013 to 2023; 657,583 participants).

The researchers found that the prevalence of individuals needing SUD treatment increased from 8.2% in 2013 to 17.1% in 2023, with the prevalence of alcohol use disorder increasing from 6.6 to 10.2% and drug-use disorder increasing from 2.6 to 9.6%. Opioid use disorder prevalence increased from 0.8% in 2016 to 2.0% in 2023.

However, the percentage of participants receiving treatment decreased, overall, from 9.3% in 2013 to 6.5% in 2020. There was a rebound in SUD treatment rates to 14.9% in 2022, with stabilization thereafter. A similar pattern was seen for alcohol use disorder treatment (6.3% in 2013, 4.3% in 2020, and 7.6% in 2022); drug use disorder treatment (13.4% in 2013, 7.1% in 2020, and 13.1% in 2022); and opioid use disorder treatment (11.2% in 2020, 22.1% in 2021, and 18.3% in 2022).

Cited reasons for not receiving treatment included reluctance to stop substance use, insufficient health care coverage, lack of awareness about treatment programs, and negative impacts on employment and community perceptions.

“These results call for urgent interventions to bridge the gap between the need for and receipt of SUD treatment,” the authors write.

More information:
Ligang Liu et al, Trends in Treatment Need and Receipt for Substance Use Disorders in the US, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.53317

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Citation: Many in need of substance use disorder treatment are not receiving it (2025, January 8) retrieved 8 January 2025 from

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