Survey: Most Americans with substance use disorders don’t receive treatment

Over 46 million Americans aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder in 2021, 16.5% of the population, only 6% of whom received treatment, according to the latest National Survey of Drug Use and Health. Among other findings, nearly one in four adults had a mental illness, with adults under age 26 having the highest rate of serious mental illness and lowest rate of treatment. According to the agency, 2021 survey estimates should not be compared with estimates from previous years because the COVID-19 pandemic required methodological changes to the data collection process; however, this is the most comprehensive report on substance use and mental health the agency has released to date.