Addiction Recovery Statistics

Addiction Recovery Rates

Addiction recovery is often the next step after completing an addiction treatment program. However, addiction recovery can look very different depending on the individual’s unique situation.

Recovery typically includes options such as therapy, sober living, recovery coaching, and support groups.

While statistics on rising rates of addiction and overdose deaths often make headlines, many people find their way to recovery.

A study from the Recovery Research Institute revealed that roughly 22.3 million Americans (more than 9% of adults) are in recovery from some form of substance use disorder (SUD).

In a 2020 study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 3 out of 4 people who experience addiction eventually recover.

The Importance of Addiction Treatment

Although some people attempt to treat their addiction themselves, many are unsuccessful. Addiction is a complex disease that often requires a combined treatment approach. Quitting cold turkey or trying to self-treat frequently leads to relapses and possible accidental drug overdoses.

However, it’s not impossible for individuals to self-treat their addiction. People with mild or moderate substance abuse issues commonly report cases of successful self-treatment. Even still, self-treatment usually takes longer and is far more difficult for individuals to manage on their own.

Professional help can lead to quicker recovery and allow addicts to avoid potential harm. Seeking professional treatment improves the chance of successfully entering recovery, addressing underlying mental health challenges, and helping patients develop strategies to remain in recovery.

While some addicts may require several attempts at treatment, the data proves that treatment does work when the addict is committed to their recovery. According to SAMHSA, 68% of people who complete drug and alcohol detox programs report their treatment to be successful.

Improving Addiction Recovery Success

Successful addiction recovery typically requires a multi-layered approach. In many cases, ongoing therapy, maintenance medication, and intentional support systems are essential to successful recovery.

However, each addict’s recovery will be unique to their needs and circumstances. One person’s recovery cannot be compared to someone else’s, as each effective method will vary from person to person.

Support Systems

Support systems refer to any family or peer support offered to an addict as part of their recovery. Such support could be a loved one fully engaging in the addict’s recovery and helping hold them accountable.

In the case of peer support, this could include support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery or online forums or chat rooms focused on recovery. Support systems provide a sense of belonging to combat the isolation drug use tends to worsen.

Support systems also improve accountability, motivation, and practical assistance like driving the addict to support meetings, outpatient treatment, or errands.

According to a Recovery Research Institute study, among the roughly 22.3 million Americans in recovery from some form of a substance use disorder (SUD), 17% successfully recovered through support services. Among that 17%, 9% were faith-based services, and 6% were community recovery centers.

Medications

Addiction medicine, also known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT), has significantly improved treatment and recovery outcomes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has currently approved medications for only opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder.

These medications can help with various symptoms like intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

All MATs are safe to use and do not simply replace one addiction for another. Instead, they replace a potentially fatal substance with a safe alternative that often lowers relapse rates.

According to a study from the National Academies of Sciences, treatment using agonist medication is associated with an estimated reduction in deaths of approximately 50% among people with an opioid use disorder.

MATs used to treat opioid use disorder include:

• Methadone
• Buprenorphine
• Naltrexone

MATs used to treat alcohol use disorder include:

• Acamprosate
• Disulfiram
• Naltrexone

Therapy

Therapy has long been a staple of addiction recovery. One-on-one psychotherapy is often used at every stage of addiction treatment and recovery support.

Not only can it help individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions, but it also helps address behavioral health issues that lead to addiction.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is by far the most common form of addiction therapy used in both inpatient drug rehab and outpatient substance abuse treatment settings. However, other therapy types cater to different learning styles and experiences.

The purpose of therapy during recovery is to help the addict further what they learned in treatment, identify and treat any co-occurring disorders, and develop strategies that prevent relapse.

Unfortunately, there are no current statistics on the efficacy of therapy for SUD treatment. However, addiction therapy remains a bedrock treatment for all drug use disorders and alcohol addiction.

Potential Challenges to Recovery

The more an addict commits to their treatment, the more likely they are to recover. However, commitment is not always enough, with many addicts facing other external challenges.

Relapse

Relapse is one of the biggest challenges addicts face when entering recovery. Sadly, the mentality around relapse is rather harsh, with many addicts assuming they’re a failure for relapsing.

Relapse does not mean failure, however. Many recovering addicts will relapse at some point.

According to NIDA, the relapse rate for drug addiction is 40% to 60%. While that may appear high, consider that the relapse rate for hypertension and asthma is 50% to 70%. Relapse can be a typical part of recovery for some, but it should never be encouraged or taken lightly.

When a relapse occurs, patients should speak with their healthcare providers immediately so they can make any adjustments needed to their treatment plan.

Comorbidity with Mental Illness

According to NIDA, 7.7 million people in America have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.

Of the 20.3 million people with SUDs, 37.9% also had mental illnesses. Of the 42.1 million people with mental illness, 18.2% had SUDs.

Addiction often co-occurs with other chronic diseases like mental illness. Mental health conditions like depression, personality disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders frequently occur alongside addiction and worsen the effects of addiction.

Ideally, treatment and recovery would also address mental health symptoms, but this is not always the case. Some addicts may find recovery upkeep impossible to manage due to their mental illness and require help from loved ones.

Access to Treatment

Many addiction treatment centers are notoriously expensive. High-end inpatient residential treatment can often be thousands of dollars a day, with many less expensive options still too costly for low-income patients to afford.

In fact, according to NIDA’s 2017 report on addiction treatment, 52.2% of respondents reported treatment costs as the main reason they did not seek addiction or mental health treatment.

While more affordable or free options are slowly becoming more accessible, distance can be another significant barrier to treatment. Patients in rural or underserved areas may lack access to treatment or have limited transportation options.

Lacking a Support System

Unfortunately, many addicts do not have a support system to strengthen their recovery. Some addicts lose their support systems due to repeated failures to reach sobriety or never had stable support from the start.

For these individuals, support groups can provide community socialization and accountability that help addicts maintain their efforts toward recovery. Support groups can help addicts feel less alone, less judged, more motivated, and more connected to others.

Find Addiction Treatment Near You

Addiction affects millions of Americans every day. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, the good news is that addiction is treatable. Talk to your healthcare provider about your substance abuse issues and see what treatment they recommend.

If you don’t have a doctor or don’t know where to start, check out SAMHSA’s helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or visit their online program locator to find addiction treatment options in your area.