Addiction Medicine: Closing the Gap between Science and Practice

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

2002 2004 2006 2008 2009

P E R C E N T

Source: CASA Columbia analysis of The Treatment Episode Data

Set(TEDS), 2009.

Figure 7.I

Trends in Admissions to Publicly-Funded

Addiction Treatment by Substance, 2002-2009

Multiple

Substances

Alcohol

Illicit Drugs other

than Marijuana

Marijuana

Prescription

Drugs

7.2

9.2

9.8

10.7

11.0

18.8

19.7

21.0

27.8

Addiction Hotline/Helpline

Mental Health Professional

Church/Clergy or Relgious/Spiritual Leader

Friend/Family Member

Addiction Treatment Center

"Do Research/Look It Up"

Other Health Professional

Mutual Support Program

Primary Care Physician

Source: CASA Columbia National Addiction Belief and Attitude

Survey (NABAS), 2008.

P E R C E N T

Figure 7.J

Where People Would Turn for Information/Help

with Addiction for Someone Close to Them

Between 2002 and 2009, treatment
admissions to publicly-funded addiction
treatment increased by 7.0 percent (from
1.4 million to 1.5 million). During that
time, admissions where prescription
drugs were the primary substances of
addiction increased the most--by 92.7
percent; admissions where marijuana was
the primary substance of addiction
increased by 13.1 percent. At the same
time, admissions where illicit drugs other
than marijuana were the primary
substances of addiction declined by 11.0
percent and admissions where alcohol
was the primary substance of addiction
declined by 6.5 percent. Between 2002
and 2009, admissions for addiction
involving multiple substances declined
by 1.2 percent.^63 (Figure 7.I)

Treatment Referrals and Venues ......................................................................................

CASA Columbia’s NABAS found that
46.8 percent of respondents would turn to
a health professional--such as their
physician (27.8 percent), a health
professional other than their primary care
physician* (19.7 percent) or a mental
health professional (9.2 percent)†--if
someone close to them needed help for
addiction.^64 (Figure 7.J)

• Not including mental health professionals.
  † Some respondents chose more than one response so

the 46.8 percent reflects those who chose either one
of these health professionals.