Research/Document Library

Serious Mental Illness and Its Co-Occurrence with Substance Use Disorders, 2002

This report presents information on the prevalence and treatment of serious mental illness (SMI) and their association with substance use and co-occurring substance use disorders based on the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The survey, formerly known as the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), is a project of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). For this report, a substance use disorder is defined as dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs. NSDUH is an annual survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States aged 12 years old or older. Conducted by the Federal Government since 1971, it is the primary source of statistical information on the use of illegal drugs by the U.S. population. Estimates in this report are based on data from the 2002 survey for adults aged 18 or older. Because of changes to the 2002 survey, this report's estimates should not be compared with estimates from previous survey years. National estimates for the prevalence and treatment of SMI are presented. The prevalence of treatment for substance use and mental health disorders among persons with SMI and co-occurring substance use disorders also is examined by demographic, socioeconomic, substance use, and substance dependence or abuse characteristics.

Available online

http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/

Author(s)

Joan Epstein, Peggy Barker, Michael Vorburger, Christine Murtha

Date

2004

Publisher

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies