Drug Rehab Statistics

Drug Rehab Statistics by Type of Program

When it comes to the types of drug rehab programs, there are many to choose from. The two broad types of rehab are inpatient and outpatient, with a few methods within these categories. Each addict is unique and, therefore, may require unique rehab options for successful recovery.

In 2019, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued a report that tracked types of treatment once a patient was discharged from a hospital.

• 43% outpatient
• 16% detoxification
• 13% intensive outpatient
• 13% Medication-assisted opioid therapy or detoxification
• 9% short-term residential
• 6% long-term residential
• >1% hospital residential

Inpatient Rehab Statistics

Inpatient rehab is a residential treatment program where patients typically stay at the addiction treatment center for a set amount of time. Average stays are usually 30 days (short-term) but can be longer (long-term) depending on the patient’s treatment plan.

SAMHSA’s 2020 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services identified the following trends in inpatient rehab care:

• Residential (non-hospital) treatment was offered in less than a quarter of facilities (24%).
• Long-term residential treatment (longer than 30 days) was the most common type, with 18% of facilities offering this type of treatment.
• Short-term treatment (30 days or fewer) was offered in 15% of facilities.
• Residential detoxification was offered in 9% of facilities.
• Hospital inpatient was the least common, with only 5% of facilities offering hospital inpatient care.

Outpatient Rehab Statistics

Outpatient rehab is far more common in the world of drug addiction treatment. Under the umbrella term of outpatient rehab, you’ll find Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP).

SAMHSA’s 2020 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services reported the following statistics about outpatient treatment programs:

• 82% of treatment facilities offered some form of outpatient treatment, whether that’s IOP, PHP, or outpatient addiction therapy.
• Standard outpatient treatment was offered at 76% of facilities, making it the most commonly offered treatment.
• Less than half of facilities (45%) offered Intensive outpatient treatment.
• Outpatient day treatment, partial hospitalization, and outpatient detox were offered at 14% and 12% of facilities, respectively.

Specialization Rehabs Statistics

Some treatment facilities have special rehab treatment programs for specific substances. For example, some treatment centers have opioid treatment programs or have programs focusing on alcohol use disorder.

• SAMHSA reported that facilities with opioid treatment programs made up 8 to 11% of all facilities between 2010 and 2020.
• According to SAMHSA, outpatient methadone/buprenorphine maintenance or naltrexone treatment was offered at over a third of facilities (36%).
• Between 2012 and 2020, the proportion of facilities with opioid treatment programs that offered methadone, buprenorphine, and injectable naltrexone increased from 12% in 2012 to 31% in 2020.
• Over a third of facilities (39%) reported that they administer or prescribe medication-assisted treatment (MAT) such as disulfiram, naltrexone, or acamprosate for alcohol use disorder.

Drug Rehab Statistics by Demographic

Drug use issues can affect anyone of any demographic. However, some substance abuse issues hit particular demographics harder than others due to socioeconomic problems, access to healthcare, and cultural norms.

Certain stigmas around seeking help for substance abuse or mental health issues can form a barrier to seeking treatment in certain parts of the population.

Drug Rehab Statistics by Age

It is never too late or too early to seek help through a drug rehab program. Addiction treatment is catered to younger patients, but each age group has a unique set of challenges and influences to consider.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), adolescents may be slower to understand they have a problem, causing more challenges during treatment and requiring more patience from providers.

NIDA also states that aging addicts may have been self-medicating for much longer and may have other co-occurring disorders or health conditions that worsen the effects of their substance abuse.

• According to SAMHSA, of all rehab discharges, 5% were aged 12 to 20 at the time of admission, 17% were 25 to 29, and 19% were 50 years or older.
• The number of clients under the age of 18 years declined from 82,532 in 2011 to 39,271 in 2020.
• The proportion of admissions aged 25 to 34 years increased from 27% in 2009 to 34% in 2019, and the proportion of admissions aged 50 years and older increased from 13% in 2009 to 20% in 2019.

Drug Rehab Statistics by Gender

Drug and alcohol addiction affects men and women very differently. The difference is caused not only by biological differences but also by behavioral and societal differences.

• According to NIDA, there are more men than women in treatment for substance use disorders.
• Women are more likely to seek treatment for abuse issues with sedatives like sleep medications and anti-anxiety medications.
• Men are more likely to seek treatment for heroin use, although the rate of women seeking treatment for heroin use has been increasing over the past few decades.
• Data from SAMHSA states that males accounted for 64% of all rehab discharges.

Drug Rehab Statistics by Race

There is not much data available on race and those who seek drug rehab treatment.

However, research from SAMHSA’s 2020 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services does shed some light on the percentage of which ethnicities are being discharged from drug rehab centers.

• White individuals accounted for 68% of all discharges
• Blacks or African American individuals accounted for 19% of all discharges
• Hispanic or Latino individuals accounted for 13% of all discharges

Addiction Recovery Statistics

Addiction recovery is often defined by many ups and downs. It’s not uncommon for individuals with severe drug or alcohol abuse issues to relapse after exiting rehab. However, relapse does not indicate that treatment failed.

Rehab is just one small part of the recovery process. Appropriate aftercare, like ongoing cognitive behavioral therapy, support groups, and medication (if applicable), can all help lower the chances of relapse and improve treatment outcomes.

Drug Rehab Success Rates

It’s difficult to define success when it comes to addiction recovery, as each person will manage their addiction differently throughout their life.

For some people, addiction recovery means complete abstinence from the substance, while others learn moderation with things like alcohol. Others may measure success by completing a treatment program or lowering relapse rates.

• When it comes to completion rates, SAMHSA reports that, among all discharges in 2019, 42% completed treatment, and another 22% were transferred to further substance use treatment.
• In terms of abstinence, around 76% of alcohol rehab patients who complete treatment report still being sober at three months, 69% are still sober at six months, and 70% are still sober at nine months.
• According to SAMHSA, 68% of people who complete drug and alcohol detoxification programs report their treatment to be successful.
• Among all 50 states, Florida has the highest success rate in drug rehab, with approximately 70% of all those entering treatment programs completing their program.

How Drug Rehab Helps Reduce Overdose Numbers

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 112,000 Americans died of an overdose in a 12-month period ending in April of 2023.

Getting treatment as soon as possible is the best way for those who have developed an addiction to avoid dangerous health effects, including drug overdoses.

A recent Boston Medical Center study of 48,274 adults seeking specialty outpatient treatment for opioid use disorder showed evidence that medication-based treatment helped prevent overdose deaths.

• Patients receiving medication therapy were five times less likely to die of overdose during treatment than patients receiving other types of care.
• Unfortunately, after discharge, the difference in death rates disappeared.
• However, patients who remained in treatment longer, especially at least 12 months, were less likely to overdose after discharge.

Find Substance Abuse Treatment Options Near You

If you have a drug use disorder and are looking for effective treatment options, there are options available to you. You can start by speaking with your healthcare provider or getting a consultation with an addiction specialist or nearby treatment center.

You can also seek out support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery that can connect you to resources and local treatment centers that are currently accepting patients.

If you don’t have a doctor or don’t know what centers might be in your area, try SAMHSA’s online treatment locator or call their helpline. They can list your area’s drug rehab and behavioral health resources.