Alcohol's Effects on Health

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Alcohol Treatment in the United States

Updated: December 2024

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Prevalence of Past-Year Alcohol Use Treatment

People Ages 12 and Older

According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2.3 million people ages 12 and older who had alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the past year (7.9% of people with past-year AUD in this age group) received alcohol use treatment in the past year.1,2

Youth Ages 12 to 17

According to the 2023 NSDUH, 73,000 youth ages 12 to 17 who had AUD in the past year (9.7% with past-year AUD in this age group) received alcohol use treatment in the past year.1,2 

Less than 10 percent of people with past-year alcohol use disorder receive any treatment. Source: 2023 NSDUH.

Adults Ages 18 and Older

According to the 2023 NSDUH, 2.2 million adults ages 18 and older who had AUD in the past year (7.8% of those with past-year AUD in this age group) received alcohol use treatment in the past year.1,2

People with AUD were more likely to seek care from a primary care provider for an alcohol-related medical problem rather than specifically for drinking too much alcohol.3,4

Medication-Assisted Treatment

People Ages 12 and Older

Among an estimated 28.9 million people ages 12 and older with past-year AUD in 2023, only 1.9% (or 554,000 people in this age group) received medication-assisted treatment for AUD in the past year.5,6,7

Youth Ages 12 to 17

Among an estimated 757,000 youth ages 12 to 17 with past-year AUD in 2023, only 0.3% (or 2,000 people in this age group) received medication-assisted treatment for AUD in the past year.5,6,7

Adults Ages 18 and Older

Among an estimated 28.1 million adults with past-year AUD in 2023, only 2.0% (or 552,000 people in this age group) received medication-assisted treatment for AUD in the past year.5,6,7

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), many (but not all) NSDUH estimates from 2023 are comparable with 2022 and updated 2021 estimates. However, 2021–2023 estimates are not comparable with 2020 or prior years’ estimates. Please see the 2023 NSDUH Frequently Asked Questions and section 2.3.4 of the 2023 Methodological Summary and Definitions report for more details.

References

  1. SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 5.30A – Received substance use treatment in past year: among people aged 12 and older; by age group and past year drug use disorder, past year alcohol use disorder, past year drug and alcohol use disorder, and past year substance use disorder, numbers in thousands, 2022 and 2023. [cited 2024 Aug 6]. Available from: https://samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-detailed-tables 
  2. SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 5.30B – Received substance use treatment in past year: among people aged 12 and older; by age group and past year drug use disorder, past year alcohol use disorder, past year drug and alcohol use disorder, and past year substance use disorder, percentages, 2022 and 2023. [cited 2024 Aug 6]. Available from: https://samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-detailed-tables
  3. Rehm J, Anderson P, Manthey J, Shield KD, Struzzo P, Wojnar M, Gual A. Alcohol use disorders in primary health care: what do we know and where do we go? Alcohol Alcohol. 2016;51(4):422-7. PubMed PMID: 26574600
  4. O’Connor PG, Nyquist JG, McLellan AT. Integrating addiction medicine into graduate medical education in primary care: the time has come. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154(1):56-9. PubMed PMID: 21200039
  5. SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 5.1A – Substance use disorder for specific substances in past year: among people aged 12 and older; by age group, numbers in thousands, 2022 and 2023. [cited 2024 Aug 6]. Available from: https://samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-detailed-tables
  6. SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 5.21B – Received medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol use in past year: among people aged 12 and older; received MAT for alcohol use in past year: among people aged 12 and older with past year alcohol use disorder; by demographic characteristics, percentages, 2022 and 2023. [cited 2024 Aug 6]. Available from: https://samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-detailed-tables
  7. SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 5.21A – Received medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for alcohol use in past year: among people aged 12 and older; received MAT for alcohol use in past year: among people aged 12 and older with past year alcohol use disorder; by demographic characteristics, numbers in thousands, 2022 and 2023. [cited 2024 Aug 6]. Available from: https://samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-detailed-tables

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