Prevalence of Alcohol and Drug Use Disorders in Adolescents Has Declined, but So Has Drug Use Disorder Treatment Receipt

Adolescents are particularly susceptible to the deleterious effects of alcohol and drug use as their brains develop. Substance use disorder (SUD) in adolescents can result in short- and long-term health effects, but there are effective treatments that can mitigate these consequences. This study examined data collected 2011–2019 in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, specifically for adolescent treatment utilization across service settings and sociodemographic disparities in treatment receipt.

• In 2011, 4 percent of adolescents surveyed met criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD), 5 percent met criteria for drug use disorder (DUD), and 2 percent met criteria for both (using DSM IV criteria).
• The prevalence of all SUDs among adolescents declined over the study period (average annual percent change [AAPC], -10.5, -4.0, and -8.6, respectively).
• There was no significant change in receipt of AUD treatment (about 6 percent) over the study period. The proportion of adolescents with DUD who received treatment declined from 13 percent to 7 percent (AAPC -6.0), with girls less likely to receive treatment than boys.

Comments: It is encouraging that the prevalence of SUD decreased over the time period surveyed. However, only a small proportion of adolescents who need SUD treatment are receiving it, likely in part due to a paucity of adolescent treatment programs. The decline in treatment of DUD is particularly concerning. The gender gap in treatment receipt is also problematic, as females with AUD may experience health consequences earlier than their male counterparts. Adolescents screening for SUD at primary care visits and more adolescent-oriented treatment may improve SUD treatment receipt.

Corey McBrayer, DO, MPH* & Darius A. Rastegar, MD

* Rich Saitz Editorial Intern & Grant Medical Center Addiction Medicine Fellow, OhioHealth.

Reference: Lu W, Xu L, Goodwin RD, et al. Widening gaps and disparities in the treatment of adolescent alcohol and drug use disorders. Am J Prev Med. 2023;64(5):704–715.