Addiction Treatment: Statistics on Efficacy

Statistics on Addiction Treatment Efficacy

As the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) continues to rise worldwide, it’s important to understand the efficacy of treatment procedures. Understanding factors around access to medical care and costs can also be crucial.

In this article, we’ll go over the latest statistics on addiction treatment, its effectiveness, and the barriers that prevent access to care. 

General Success Rates and Perceptions

The efficacy of addiction treatment is a multifaceted issue. Success rates typically vary based on the type of treatment, the substance involved, and individual factors.

Here are some notable statistics on success rates and perceptions:

• Relapse rates for drug and alcohol use are estimated to be between 40-60% for individuals in recovery, similar to relapse rates for other chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
• According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), out of 29.0 million adults who believe they have a substance abuse problem, 72.2% considered themselves to be in recovery.
• Out of 58.7 million adults with mental health problems alongside addiction, 66.5% considered themselves to be in recovery.
• Research suggests that 75% of people who experience addiction and receive treatment for it eventually recover, with approved medications for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) shown to reduce deaths from addiction by 50% or more.

Treatment Admissions and Demographics

Different demographics seek treatment to recover from different substances. Understanding those demographics and how they receive treatment can provide valuable insights into addiction treatment.

Treatment admissions vary by age and race, with significant disparities in access to treatment and outcomes for different racial groups. Here are some key statistics:

• The primary substances for which people seek treatment are alcohol (30.8%), opiates (30.3%), marijuana (11.2%), and prescription stimulants (11.9%).
• Among the 15 million individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), less than 8% receive treatment.
• In 2018, nearly 19 million people aged 12 and older needed substance abuse treatment.
• Most people receiving substance use treatment are male (64.8%), despite males making up about 49% of the U.S. population.
• 401,000 Native Americans with a substance use disorder sought treatment.
• Among adolescents with both major depressive episodes and SUD, 65.7% received either substance abuse treatment at a specialty facility or mental health services.

Addiction Statistics by Different Demographics

People from different ethnicities and social groups can be affected by addiction in different ways. This is due to differences in socioeconomic status, pressures, and other challenges.

Here are some key statistics:

• 10.3 million people (61.6%) who identified as LGBTQ+ had a substance use disorder or mental illness in the past year.
• 6.3% of adolescents (12 to 17) and 24.4% (18 to 25) of young adults had a SUD in 2020.
• 8.1 million African American adults aged 18 or older had a substance use disorder and/or mental illness.
• 7% of Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (1.5 million) aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder in the past year.
• 5.7 million Hispanic/Latino people aged 18 or older had a substance use disorder.
• More than half of white Americans aged 12 and older have engaged in illicit drug use in their lifetime, while 22.5% engaged in illicit drug use in the past year.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Behavioral Therapies

The combination of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and behavioral therapies has shown promising results in the treatment of addiction, particularly for opioid use disorders. Consider these findings:

• Medications such as methadone and buprenorphine are effective in reducing opioid use, with patients on methadone having 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests and being more likely to stay in treatment.
• 16 mg of Buprenorphine a day or more increases the likelihood of staying in treatment by 1.82 times.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) have been shown to reduce substance use and improve mental health outcomes.
• Long-term treatments, lasting 90 days, have higher success rates than short-term treatments.
• Over 75% of individuals entering psychotherapy report some benefit, indicating a strong general effectiveness of psychotherapy for mental health issues, with CBT having a success rate of 50% – 75% after 5-15 sessions.

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Access to Addiction Treatment

Despite the high prevalence of addiction, a significant gap exists between those needing treatment and those receiving it. Here are some notable statistics on access and barriers to addiction treatment:

• Over 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only about 10% of them receive treatment for their addiction.
• An estimated 90% of individuals with substance addiction do not seek professional help.
• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid expansion in some states have increased access to treatment for low-income adults. 
• Meanwhile, the expansion of telemedicine services allows individuals in remote areas to connect with mental health specialists.

Barriers to Addiction Treatment

People may not have access to addiction treatment due to various factors. Some of the most common barriers to seeking treatment include:

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The Cost of Addiction Treatment

Treatment for substance abuse averages approximately $1,583 per year per person. On the other hand, the average cost of substance abuse is roughly $11,487 a year.

Here are some key statistics on the cost of addiction treatment:

• Inpatient rehab facilities may cost between $10,000 and $30,000 on average for a 30-day program, with some well-known centers charging up to $20,000.
• Outpatient programs for mild to moderate addictions are generally cheaper than inpatient rehab, with many costing $5,000 for a three-month program.
• Luxury inpatient rehab centers, which provide exclusive treatment in a private, upscale setting, are the most expensive type of addiction rehab, costing $80,000 or more.

Despite the high costs of treatment, rehab is generally less expensive in the long run compared to the costs associated with drug and alcohol addiction. SUD is typically associated with lost productivity, legal problems, health issues, and the price of drugs or alcohol itself.

The statistics presented in this article show the complexity and nuance behind addiction treatment. However, they also highlight its effectiveness. Understanding these insights can help improve treatment modalities and access to care.

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