The National Survey on Drug Use and Health
(NSDUH) generates state-level estimates for 23
measures of substance use and mental health problems
for four age groups: the entire state population over the age
of 12 (12+); individuals age 12 to 17; individuals age 18
to 25; and, individuals age 26 and older (26+). Since state
estimates of substance use and abuse were first generated
using the combined 2002 2003 NSDUHs and continuing
until the most recent state estimates based on the combined
2005 2006 surveys, the majority of drug and alcohol use and
abuse measures in Arizona have been at or below the national
rates. The notable exceptions have occurred for the past
month rates of the use of an illicit drug other than marijuana
for adolescents age 12 to 17. In this age group the rates of
drug use have been among the 10 highest in the country for 3
of the 4 survey years. Similarly, the rates of past year cocaine
use for the State population age 12 and older, as well as for
adolescents age 12 to 17, have consistently been among the 10
highest in the country.
Abuse and Dependance
Questions in NSDUH are used to classify persons as being dependent on or abusing specific substances based on criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).
Rates of past year alcohol dependence in Arizona have generally been among the 10 highest in the country (Chart 1). Further, with the exception of 2002–2003, rates of past year dependence on illicit drugs have generally been at or below the national rates (Chart 2).
Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities
Questions in NSDUH are used to classify persons as being dependent on or abusing specific substances based on criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).
Rates of past year alcohol dependence in Arizona have generally been among the 10 highest in the country (Chart 1). Further, with the exception of 2002–2003, rates of past year dependence on illicit drugs have generally been at or below the national rates (Chart 2).
According to the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS) annual surveys,3 the number of treatment facilities in Arizona has remained relatively stable since 2002. In 2006, the majority of facilities (120 of 212, or 57%) were private nonprofit, and another 62 facilities were private for-profit. Twenty facilities in Arizona were owned or operated by Tribal authorities.
Although facilities may offer more than one modality of care, in 2006 the majority of facilities (169 or 80%) offered some form of outpatient treatment. An additional 53 facilities offered some form of residential care, and 29 facilities offered an opioid treatment program. In addition, 137 physicians and 40 treatment programs offered buprenorphine treatment for opiate addiction.
In 2006, 47 percent of all facilities (100 of 212) received some form of Federal, State, county, or local government funds, and 84 facilities had agreements or contracts with managed care organizations for the provision of substance abuse treatment services.
Treatment
State treatment data for substance use disorders are derived from two primary sources—an annual one-day census in N-SSATS and annual treatment admissions from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).4 In the 2006 N-SSATS survey, Arizona showed a one-day total of 26,913 clients in treatment, the majority of whom (24,958 or 93%) were in outpatient treatment. Of the total number of clients in treatment on this date, 2,097 (8%) were under the age of 18.
Chart 3 shows the percent of admissions mentioning particular drugs or alcohol at the time of admission.5 Across the last 9 years, there has been a steady increase in the number of admissions mentioning methamphetamine.
Across the years for which TEDS data are available, Arizona has seen a shift in the constellation of problems present at treatment admission (Chart 4). Alcohol-only admissions have declined slightly from over 18 percent of all admissions in 1992, to just over 14 percent in 2005. Drug-only admissions have increased from 15 percent in 1998, to 27 percent in 2005.
Unmet Need For Treatment
NSDUH defines unmet treatment need as an individual who meets the criteria for abuse of or dependence on illicit drugs or alcohol according to the DSM-IV, but who has not received specialty treatment for that problem in the past year.
Rates of unmet treatment need for drug use in Arizona have generally been above the national average (Chart 5).
Rates for unmet need for alcohol treatment have been similarly high (Chart 6).
