The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an operating division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is charged with reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. SAMHSA is pursuing this mission at a time of significant change. Health reform has been enacted, bringing sweeping changes to how the United States delivers, pays for, and monitors health care. Examining trends in behavioural health data is critical to providing the most appropriate and highest quality behavioural health care. Each year, SAMHSA publishes the most recent annual results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). This survey is the primary source of statistical information on the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco by the civilian, non-institutionalized population of the United States aged 12 years old or older. The survey also covers mental health issues, allowing for a comprehensive look at the behavioural health of the United States. This national report, Behavioural Health Trends in the United States: Results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, presents a set of substance use and mental health indicators. For most of the indicators, the results represent the nation as a whole (i.e., people aged 12 or older). Where applicable, however, results are also presented for selected age groups: adolescents aged 12 to 17, young adults aged 18 to 25, and adults aged 26 or older. Mental health indicators for adults also are presented for young adults aged 18 to 25, adults aged 26 to 49, and those aged 50 or older. NSDUH provides a unique overview of the nation’s behavioural health at a single point in time (e.g., 2014) and a mechanism for tracking changes and trends over time. This national report covers key indicators of behavioural health. Other topics included in the 2014 NSDUH are being published separately as data reviews. These data reviews cover national trends in suicidal thoughts and behaviour among adults, substance use treatment, mental health service use, initiation of substance use, and substance use risk and protective factors. As part of SAMHSA’s larger behavioural health quality improvement approach, SAMHSA is also publishing detailed tables and mental health detailed tables that provide estimates of substance use and mental health by key demographic categories. NSDUH is a critical element in supporting SAMHSA’s larger behavioural health quality improvement approach, and this report provides a first look at the latest trends in the behavioural health of the United States. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting