Substances of Abuse, 1992

Since 1991, NDATUS has classified clients by whether they were being treated for drugs only, alcohol only, or both. Besides the actual substances abused by clients, this classification may reflect provider expectations. That is, if a provider is oriented toward alcohol abuse (or drugs or both), they are more likely to report that their clients abuse alcohol (or drugs or both). State funding, licensing, and reporting practices may also influence the reporting of clients' problems.

• Among clients in treatment, abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs (such as cocaine, opiates, and marijuana) together was the most common pattern of substance abuse across the U.S. --- 38% of clients abused both alcohol and drugs. A slightly smaller fraction (37%) abused only alcohol; and a smaller fraction (25%) abused only drugs.

• Clients' reported substance abuse by census regions exhibited similarities and differences. The proportion of clients abusing both alcohol and drugs was essentially the same in the Northeast (44%), the South and the Midwest (43%). Clients in the South and the Midwest had similar overall substance abuse patterns. The West had by far the highest proportion of alcohol-only clients (52%). In the Northeast, the proportion of drug-only clients was relatively high (34%).

• Clients' reported substance abuse varied widely by State. The proportion of alcohol-only clients was highest in West Virginia (73%), followed by California and South Dakota (60%), and Vermont (59%). The lowest proportion of alcohol-only clients was in Massachusetts (13%), followed by New York and Texas (16%).

• The proportion of drug-only clients was highest in New York (44%), followed by Arizona and Nevada (40%). The lowest proportions were in North Dakota (5%), Vermont (6%), South Dakota (7%), Iowa and Nebraska (8%), and Montana (9%).

• The proportion of clients that abused both alcohol and drugs was highest in Massachusetts (73%), followed by Minnesota (60%), Texas (58%), and Oklahoma (57%). Over half of specialty treatment clients in 11 States abused both alcohol and drugs. The lowest proportion was reported in West Virginia (14%), followed by California (17%).

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