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NIDA Home > Drugs of Abuse/Related Topics > Trends & Statistics > InfoFacts > Treatment Trends

NIDA InfoFacts: Treatment Trends

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In 2003,* there were nearly 1.7 million admissions to publicly funded substance abuse treatment programs. Most admissions (23.2 percent) were for alcohol treatment. Marijuana accounted for the largest percentage of illicit drug admissions (15.4 percent), followed by heroin (14.4 percent).

By Drug: Admissions to Publicly Funded
Substance Abuse Treatment Programs, 2003


Percentage
of Admissions 
Substance
or Drug
23.2 alcohol
18.7 alcohol + another drug
15.4 marijuana
14.4 heroin
9.9 smoked cocaine (crack)
7.7 amphetamines
3.5 other-than-smoked cocaine (e.g., cocaine powder)
3.1 unknown substances
2.9 opiates other than heroin
0.4 tranquilizers
0.2 PCP
0.2 sedatives
0.1 hallucinogens
0.1 inhalants

Nearly 62 percent of admissions were White, 23.6 percent were African-American, and 13.3 percent were Hispanic or Latino.

By Race: Admissions to Publicly Funded
Substance Abuse Treatment Programs, 2003


Percentage
of Admissions 
Race/Ethinicity
61.8 White
23.6 African-American
13.3 Hispanic or Latino
10.1 Other
2.3 American Indian or Alaska Native
1.1 Asian American,
Native Hawaiian, or
Other Pacific Islander
1.1 Unknown

The largest age group entering treatment facilities were 36 to 40 years old (15.6 percent), followed by those 41 to 45 (14.2 percent) and 31 to 35 (13.6 percent).

By Age Group: Admissions to Publicly Funded
Substance Abuse Treatment Programs, 2003


Percentage
of Admissions 
Age Group
15.6 36 – 40
14.2 41 – 45
13.6 31 – 35
13.3 21 – 25
11.3 26 – 30
9.0 46 – 50
8.5 12 – 17
6.5 18 – 20
4.5 51 – 55
1.8 56 – 60
0.7 61 – 65
0.5 66 or older
0.2 11 or younger
0.2 unknown age


For other information on treatment trends, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies Web site at www.oas.samhsa.gov or visit the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at ncadi.samhsa.gov.

For information on treatment research findings, visit the NIDA web site at www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Treatment.html.



*Source: 2003 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Revised 3/05 This page has been accessed 960923 times since 11/5/99.


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