Substance Use and Mental Health Estimates from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Overview of Findings

Abstract

Background: Behavioral health problems, particularly depression, contribute to the burden of disease worldwide. Knowing the percentage of people with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health issues in the United States is an important starting point for promoting the prevention of behavioral health problems and supporting recovery for those with behavioral health problems. Methods: Data from the 2013 NSDUH provides a recent look at illicit drug use, alcohol use, SUD, depression, and mental health issues and treatment for these behavioral health issues in the United States. Results: This report indicates that in 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older were current illicit drug users, 60.1 million were binge alcohol users, and 21.6 million had a past year SUD. An estimated 43.8 million adults aged 18 or older had any mental illness in the past year, and 10.0 million had serious mental illness. An estimated 2.6 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 had major depressive episode (MDE) during the past year, including 1.9 million who had past year MDE with severe impairment. Conclusion: This report underscores the magnitude of substance use and mental health issues in the United States. Recovery support, such as treatment or mental health service use, are used by only a proportion of individuals who need support.