Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues At-A-Glance

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Connecticut is ranked as one of the 10 States with the highest rates of drug and alcohol dependency. Results based on prior month’s drug use cited that illicit drug use was most commonly seen in individuals age 18 to 25. This stems from a wide array of drug abuse, which has been staggeringly on the rise in Connecticut for the past decade.

Due to this dependency on drugs as a whole, Connecticut’s rates have stayed at or above the national rates. In 2004 to 2005 and in 2005 to 2006, individuals age 18 to 25 had the highest rate in the country. The dependence on alcohol dependence was also among the nation’s highest in the country for this age group.

The National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS) states the amount of treatment facilities in Connecticut decreased from 247 in 2002 to 209 in 2006. In 2006, 179 of 209 treatment centers were private nonprofit, 12 were private for-profit, and 1 was owned by a tribal government. Between 2002 and 2006, Connecticut lost 32 private for-profit facilities and 10 private nonprofit centers, accounting for the reduction in facilities. The number of facilities include 152 offering outpatient care, 66 facilities offering residential care, and 41 facilities offering an opioid treatment program, which incorporates drug detox into its services.

Based on the 2006 NSSATS survey, a one-day total of 22,809 clients were in treatment, with 20,896 participating in outpatient treatment; 645 of these patients were below 18 years old. Between 1992 and 2006 there has been a steady rise in the yearly number of treatment admissions, from precisely 39,000 in 1992 to 46,000 in 2006.

The past 15 years has witnessed a steep decline in the amount of patients admitted to treatment facilities for alcohol dependency; dropping from 78 percent in 1992 to 50 percent in 2006. Simultaneously, admissions for heroin treatment have almost doubled, skyrocketing from 22 percent in 1992 to 41 percent in 2006. On a more comforting note, admissions for alcohol treatment have decreased from about 36 percent in 1992 to approximately16 percent in 2006. The statistics for drug-only admissions have shown prevalence, reflecting an increase from 22 percent in 1992 to 45 percent in 2006.

Unfortunately, there are individuals who need help, but do not seek it. In Connecticut, the rates for individuals who required treatment but did not receive it in the past year have stayed at or above the national average. In 2005–2006, these rates for individuals age 12 to 17 and 18 to 25 were among the nation’s highest. To empower Connecticut with a lower ranking and for the sake of their health, individuals needing treatment are urged to find it.

Aspetuck-Bethel-Branchville-Bridgeport-Cannondale-Danbury-Darien-Easton-Fairfield-Georgetown-Greenfield Hill-Greens Farms-Greenwich-Lyons Plain-New Canaan-Newtown-Norwalk-Redding-Ridgefield-Shelton-Southport-Stamford-Stratford-Titicus-Topstone-Trumbull-Weston-Westport-Wilton-Blue Hills-Bristol-Broad Brook-Canton Valley-Collinsville-East Hartford-Glastonbury Center-Hartford-Hazardville-Kensington-Manchester-New Britain-Newington-North Granby-Rocky Hill-Salmon Brook-Sherwood Manor-Simsbury-Southington-Southwood Acres-Suffield Depot-Tariffville-Terramuggus-Thompsonville-Weatogue-West Hartford-West Simsbury-Wethersfield-Windsor-Windsor Locks-Bantam-Canaan-Kent-Lakeville-Litchfield-New Milford-New Preston-Oakville-Terryville-Thomaston-Torrington-Winsted-Clinton-Durham-East Hampton-Fenwick-Higganum-Lake Pocotopaug-Middletown-Moodus-Portland-Saybrook Manor-Ansonia-Cheshire-Derby-East Haven-Hamden-Heritage Village-Meriden-Milford-Naugatuck-New Haven-North Haven-Orange-Seymour-Waterbury-West Haven-Wolcott-Woodmont-Colchester-Groton-Groton Long Point,-Jewett City-Mystic-New London-Niantic-Norwich-Pawcatuck-Poquonock Bridge-Stonington-Uncasville-West Mystic-Coventry-Coventry Lake-Crystal Lake-Rockville-South Coventry-Stafford Springs-Storrs-Vernon-Danielson-East Brooklyn-Moosup-North Grosvenor Dale-Plainfield-Putnam-Quinebaug-South Windham-South Woodstock-Wauregan-Willimantic

Resource: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov