Study: 1 in 10 Adults Has Experienced Drug Use Disorder

Nearly 10% of American adults has had a drug use disorder (DUD) during their lifetime, and most are never treated, according to the results of a recent study.

Information about the prevalence of DUD as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is limited.
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To update estimates to reflect the current diagnostic system, researchers conducted a cross-sectional representative survey involving 36,309 adults. Participants underwent in-person interviews between 2012 and 2013 as part of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III, reporting 12-month and lifetime DUD, including data on amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, nonheroin opioids, sedatives, and inhalants.

Overall, the prevalence of lifetime DUD was 9.95%, and the prevalence during the last 12 months was 3.9%.

Significant associations were found between both lifetime and 12-month DUD and depressive disorders, dysthymia, biopolar, posttraumatic stress disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Lifetime DUD was also associated with generalized anxiety disorder.

Among those with 12-month and lifetime DUD, 13.5% and 24.6% received treatment, respectively.

When researchers extrapolated data to represent the entire US population, they represented 10 million cases of 12-month DUD and more than 23 million cases of lifetime DUD.

“These findings indicate the need for additional studies to understand the broad relationships in more detail; estimate present-day economic costs of DUDs; investigate hypotheses regarding etiology, chronicity, and treatment use; and provide information to policy makers about allocation of resources for service delivery and research,” they concluded.

“Findings also indicate an urgent need to destigmatize DUD and educate the public, clinicians, and policy makers about its treatment to encourage affected individuals to obtain help."

—Michael Potts

Reference:
Grant BF, Saha TD, Ruan J, et al. Epidemiology of DSM-5 drug use disorder: results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions–III JAMA Psychiatry. November 18, 2015. [epub ahead of print]. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.2132.