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 4. SAMHSA Announces National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Results
    Detailing Mental Illness and Substance Use Levels in 2021

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2023
Contact: HHS Press Office

202-690-6343
media@hhs.gov


SAMHSA ANNOUNCES NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH (NSDUH) RESULTS
DETAILING MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE LEVELS IN 2021

2021 NSDUH report includes selected estimates by race, ethnicity, and age and is
the most comprehensive key findings report to date.

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results of its
annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which shows how people
living in America reported about their experience with mental health conditions,
substance use, and pursuit of treatment in 2021. The 2021 NSDUH national report 
includes selected estimates by race, ethnicity, and age group. It is the most
comprehensive report on substance use and mental health indicators that SAMHSA
has released to date.

“Every year since 1971, this survey has given us a window into our nation’s
mental health and substance use challenges and 2021 was no different. As the
findings make clear, millions of Americans young and old faced mental health and
substance use challenges – sometimes both at once – during the second year of
the pandemic,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “As we work to improve
behavioral health across the nation, HHS is committed to ensuring that all
people facing mental health or substance use challenges are connected to
appropriate services and supports.”

“A commitment to data and evidence is one of SAMHSA’s four core principles. The
annual NSDUH results help inform our efforts to expand access to treatment
options and recovery supports across the nation,” said HHS Assistant Secretary
for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the leader
of SAMHSA. “Harnessing the power of data and evidence is critical to ensuring
policies and programs have the greatest opportunity to achieve positive
outcomes.”

Estimates from the 2021 NSDUH should not be compared with estimates from
previous years because the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated methodological changes
to the data collection process.

Key findings from the 2021 NSDUH include:

Drug Use and Substance Use Disorder

 * Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 61.2 million people (or 21.9 percent
   of the population) used illicit drugs in the past year. The most commonly
   used illicit drug was marijuana, which 52.5 million people used. Nearly 2 in
   5 young adults 18 to 25 used illicit drugs in the past year; 1 in 3 young
   adults 18 to 25 used marijuana in the past year.  
 * 9.2 million people 12 and older misused opioids in the past year.
 * 46.3 million people aged 12 or older (or 16.5 percent of the population) met
   the applicable DSM-5 criteria for having a substance use disorder in the past
   year, including 29.5 million people who were classified as having an alcohol
   use disorder and 24 million people who were classified as having a drug use
   disorder.
   * The percentage of people who were classified as having a past year
     substance use disorder, including alcohol use and/or drug use disorder, was
     highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 compared to youth and adults 26
     and older.
 * In 2021, 94% of people aged 12 or older with a substance use disorder did not
   receive any treatment. Nearly all people with a substance use disorder who
   did not get treatment at a specialty facility did not think they needed
   treatment.

Major Depressive Episodes (MDE) Among Adolescents

 * In 2021, 1 in 5 adolescents had a major depressive episode in the past year.
   Of these, nearly 75 percent had symptoms consistent with severe impairment,
   which caused severe problems with their ability to do chores at home, do well
   at work or school, get along with their family, or have a social life.
   * The prevalence of past year MDE among Black and Asian adolescents was lower
     compared to adolescents from most other racial/ethnic groups.
   * More than half of youth with an MDE did not receive treatment in the past
     year.

Mental Illness among Adults

 * Nearly 1 in 4 adults 18 and older, and 1 in 3 among adults aged 18 to 25, had
   a mental illness in the past year.
 * Adults with serious mental illness had higher rates of treatment compared to
   those with any mental illness.  Despite having the highest rate of serious
   mental illness, people aged 18 to 25 had the lowest rate of treatment in
   comparison to adults in other age groups.
 * White and Multiracial adults were more likely to receive mental health
   services in the past year than Black, Hispanic or Latino, or Asian adults.

Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorder with Any Mental Illness

 * 13.5 percent of young adults aged 18 to 25 had both a substance use disorder
   and any mental illness in the past year.
 * Nearly 1 in 3 adults had either a substance use disorder or any mental
   illness in the past year, and 46 percent of young adults 18-25 had either a
   substance use disorder or any mental illness.
 * The percentage of adults aged 18 or older who met criteria for both a mental
   illness and a substance use disorder in the past year was higher among
   Multiracial adults than among White, Black, Hispanic or Latino, or Asian
   adults. Asian adults were less likely to have had both AMI and a substance
   use disorder in the past year compared with adults in most other racial or
   ethnic groups.

Serious Thoughts of Suicide, Suicide Plans, and Suicide Attempts

 * 12.3 million adults aged 18 or older had serious thoughts of suicide in the
   past year, 3.5 million made suicide plans, and 1.7 million attempted suicide.
 * Hispanic or Latino adults were more likely than White or Asian adults to have
   attempted suicide in the past year, and Black adults were more likely than
   Asian adults to have they attempted to suicide in the past year.

Recovery

 * 7 in 10 (72.2 percent or 20.9 million) adults who ever had a substance use
   problem considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery.
 * 2 in 3 (66.5 percent or 38.8 million) adults who ever had a mental health
   issue considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery.

About the National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Conducted by the federal government since 1971, the NSDUH is a primary source of
statistical information on substance use and mental health of the U.S. civilian,
noninstitutionalized population 12 or older. The NSDUH measures:

 * Use of illegal drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco,
 * Substance use disorder and substance use treatment,
 * Major depressive episodes, mental illness, and mental health care, and
 * Perceived recovery from substance use and mental health issues.

Addressing the nation’s mental health crisis and drug overdose epidemic are core
pillars of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Unity Agenda. The Administration
has invested $3.8 billion through the American Rescue Plan and more than $800
million through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in SAMHSA grant programs as
part of President Biden’s comprehensive effort to improve access to mental
healthcare, prevent overdoses, and save lives. These investments enabled the
expansion of lifesaving prevention, treatment, and recovery services and
supports in communities throughout the country, including the transition to the
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in July 2022.

Americans seeking treatment for mental health or substance use issues should
call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357) or
visit findtreatment.samhsa.gov. If you or someone you know is struggling or in
crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org , external
link .

Reporters with questions should send inquiries to media@samhsa.hhs.gov.

###
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other news materials are available
at https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/index.html.
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and sign up for HHS Email Updates.
Last revised: January 4, 2023


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Content created by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA)
Content last reviewed January 4, 2023

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