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Emerging Health Perspectives

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Addiction Medicine

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Abstract

According to the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than half of Americans who are 12 years of age or older report being current drinkers. Approximately 19.9 million Americans of the same age group admitted to using at least one illicit drug in the past month—approximately 8% of the nation’s population 12 and older. Although marijuana remains the most commonly used illicit drug by Americans (14.4 million admitting to past-month use), non-therapeutic or non-medical use of prescription drugs comes in second in terms of use (6.9 million users 12 and older). It has been recognized that prescription opioids are associated with higher rates of abuse and dependence than other substances, as well as increased mortality. At the same time, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 19.5 million people who have been identified as having a substance use disorder do not feel they need treatment. Early screening, brief intervention, referral, and treatment can have a profound impact on identifying and treating those who do not acknowledge their substance use disorder or are in the early stages of the disorder. By integrating substance abuse treatment into the primary care setting, individuals who do not present to specialty facilities can be reached and referred to treatment. For those who have sought treatment, the flexibility to create a treatment program that meets their specific needs—culturally, physically, etc.—is critical. Substance abuse treatment must be holistic. The Access to Recovery program provides a voucher system that allows clients to choose services and providers that meet their specific needs. Medication-Assisted Treatment programs for opioids-dependent clients also have proven their success in delivering effective treatment. However, diversion and mortality concerns need to be continuously tracked and addressed. Finally, the influence of parity law and impending health care reform needs to be addressed regarding substance abuse treatment programs and services to ensure that when changes are initiated, substance abuse treatment is included.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD, USA

    H. Westley Clark & Linda Hutchings

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  1. H. Westley Clark
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  2. Linda Hutchings
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Correspondence to Linda Hutchings .

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  1. , Depts Psychiat & Neurobehav Sciences, Me, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22908, Virginia, USA

    Bankole A. Johnson

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Clark, H.W., Hutchings, L. (2010). Emerging Health Perspectives. In: Johnson, B. (eds) Addiction Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0338-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0338-9_1

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