Communities differ in substance abuse and mental health problems, and a new report from SAMSHA details the use of addictive substances -- pain relievers, marijuana, cocaine -- based on responses from 200,000 people in 345 selected regions of all 50 states. Some of the findings:
- Nationally, 7.7 percent of the population aged 12 or older was classified with being dependent on or having abused alcohol in the past year in 2004-2006.
- Nationally, 7.6 percent of adults aged 18 or older experienced having MDE [major depressive episode] in the past year.
- In 2004-2006, the percentage of persons aged 12 or older who needed but did not receive treatment for alcohol use problems was more than twice as large (7.3 percent) as the percentage for illicit drug use problems.
The report is available at from the Office of Applied Studies.
