The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data report. NSDUH is a national survey for the United States that provides data on tobacco use, alcohol use, illicit drug use, mental health conditions, other health-related information, as well as treatment. Adults aged 18 and older as well as youth aged 12 to 17 from all 50 states and the District of Columbia have completed the survey. In total, the 2021 survey had approximately 70,000 respondents.

Key findings:

  • Illicit Drug Use/Misuse – 61.2 million people aged 12 and older used illicit drugs in the past year. The most commonly used illicit drug was marijuana, which has been used by 52.5 million people.
  • Tobacco Product Use, Nicotine Vaping, and Alcohol Use – The top 3 substances used by people ages 12 and older are alcohol (47.5% or 133.1 million people), a tobacco product (19.5% or 54.7 million people), and an illicit drug (14.3% or 40.0 million people). Vaping nicotine in the past month was highest among young adults ages 18 to 25 (14.1%), then youth ages 12 – 17 (5.2%), then adults aged 26 or older (3.2%). From the 133.1 million alcohol users aged 12 and older, the percentage of past month binge drinkers were highest among young adults ages 18 – 25 (29.2%), adults aged 26 and older (22.3%), and then youth age 12 to 17 (3.8%).
  • Substance Use Disorder and Treatment–For respondents aged 12 and older, 15.6% (43.7 million people) needed substance use treatment in the past year. Overall, amid 40.7 million people aged 12 or older who had an illicit drug or alcohol use disorder in the past year, 96.8% (39.5 million people) felt like in 2021 they did not need treatment, 2.1% (837,000 people) felt that they needed treatment but did not make an effort to receive treatment, and 1.1% (447,000 people) believed that they needed treatment and made an effort to receive treatment.
  • Adult Mental Health – 2 in 3 adults who had a mental health issue at least once in their life considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery.
  • Youth Mental Health – 1 in 5 youth had a major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. More than half of youth with MDE did not receive treatment in the past year.
  • Race, Ethnicity, Mental Health – White and multiracial adults were more likely to receive mental health services in the past year compared to adults who are Black, Hispanic or Latino, or Asian. 12.3 million adults had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, 3.5 million adults made suicide plans, and 1.7 million adults attempted suicide. Hispanic or Latino adults were more likely to attempt suicide compared to White or Asian adults. Black adults were more likely to attempt suicide compared to Asian adults.
  • Effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic – Among adults who had serious thoughts of suicide because of COVID-19 pandemic, 22.1% were Black or African American which is the largest percentage compared to other racial groups. Adults who were unemployed were more likely to have serious thoughts of suicide because of COVID-19 compared to full-time and part-time workers. Amongst youth who had a serious thoughts of suicide because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 16.3% were White which was the largest percentage compared to other racial groups.

References

  • SAMHSA, C. for B. H. S. and Q. (2022, January 4). Section 10: PE Tables Perceived Effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Tables – 10.1 to 10.17. Section 10 pe tables – results from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed tables, Samhsa, CBHSQ. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39441/NSDUHDetailedTabs2021/NSDUHDetailedTabs2021/NSDUHDetTabsSect10pe2021.htm
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023, January 1). Welcome to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://nsduhweb.rti.org/respweb/homepage.cfm