Unmet Treatment Needs for People with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Submitted by Ally
- 14 October 2017
In the US, less than 10% of adults with co-occurring mental health problems and substance use disorders get treatment for both. 50% do not receive treatment for either.
This highlights the vast discrepancy between the prevalence of co-occurring disorders and treatment among US adults.
There is thus a need to identify effective approaches to increasing the number of those entering treatment.
A new study authorised by scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and published in the academic journal Health Affairs, identities the primary reasons for people not seeking treatment as follows:
- Inability to afford treatment
- Lack of knowledge about where to get care
- Low perceived need among those with both disorders