Substance Use, Dependence, and Treatment Among Veterans 

The NSDUH Report: Substance Use, Dependence, and Treatment among Veterans

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Highlights:

• Data from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were used to compare substance use, dependence and treatment among veterans and non veterans. Veterans were defined as persons who had formerly served in any of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, etc.). The nonveteran comparison group reflected the age, gender, and geographic distribution of veterans as indicated in the Veterans Health Administration's benefit eligibility data.

• In 2003, of the estimated 25 million veterans (93% were male) living in the United States, 8.4% were between the ages of 17 and 34; 30.1% between the ages of 35 and 54; 42.3% between the ages of 55 and 74; and 19.2% were aged 75 or older.

• SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that in 2003, an estimated 3.5% of veterans used marijuana in the past month compared with 3.0% of their nonveteran counterparts.

• Past month heavy use of alcohol was more prevalent among veterans (7.5%) than comparable nonveterans (6.5%).

• Estimated rates of dependence on alcohol and/or illicit drugs did not differ significantly between veterans and nonveterans. Rates of those dependent on alcohol and/or illicit drugs but who did not receive treatment in the past year were also comparable.

• An estimated 0.8% of veterans received specialty treatment for a substance use disorder (alcohol or illicit drugs) in the past year compared with 0.5% of comparable nonveterans.

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This Short Report, The NSDUH Report: Substance Use, Dependence, and Treatment among Veterans, isbased on SAMHSA's  National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS) in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is the primary source of information on the prevalence, patterns, and consequences of drug and alcohol use and abuse and for selected mental health measures in the general U.S. civilian non institutionalized population, age 12 and older.   SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use & Health also provides estimates for drug use and for selected mental health measures by State.

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This page was last updated on July 27, 2006.

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