Less Than 5% of People With a Substance Use Disorder Get Treatment

A new federal report found that 48.5 million Americans aged 12 and up had a substance use disorder (SUD) in 2023. Only 4.5% of this group received treatment for their condition.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) identified this discrepancy in its newly released 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

A lack of understanding about the importance of SUD treatment may contribute to the number of people who do not receive SUD treatment, and adults who felt they needed treatment but did not seek it offered three main reasons for their choice. Almost three-quarters felt they should be able to handle their alcohol or drug use on their own, 65% believed they were not ready to start treatment and 60% felt they were not ready to stop or cut back on their alcohol or drug consumption.