Diagnosed Substance Use Disorders (DSU)

The percentage of persons 13 years of age and older who were diagnosed with a substance use disorder during the measurement period. Four rates are reported: 

  1. The percentage of persons diagnosed with an alcohol disorder. 
  2. The percentage of persons diagnosed with an opioid disorder. 
  3. The percentage of persons diagnosed with a disorder for other or unspecified drugs. 
  4. The percentage of persons diagnosed with any substance use disorder. 

Why It Matters

In 2022, 48.7 million individuals in the U.S. 12 years of age or older (approximately 17.3% of the population) were classified as having had an SUD in the past year. (1) A SUD is recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs that causes significant impairment, both clinically and functionally (2). Individuals with SUDs are at increased risk of overdose, injury, soft tissue infections and mortality (3). In 2021, drug overdose accounted for 106,699 deaths, representing a 14% increase in overdose deaths compared to 2020 (4). Similarly, over 140,000 people die each year from excessive alcohol use (5). 

By providing data on the diagnosed-prevalence of SUD, this measure allows plans to understand the size of the population affected and provide case management services to the members and coordinate treatment as appropriate. The performance score of the measure estimates the size of the population diagnosed and addressed by complementary SUD quality measures. 

Note: This measure provides information on the diagnosed prevalence of substance use disorders. Neither a higher nor lower rate indicates better performance. 

Historical Results – National Averages

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References

  1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2019. Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (HHS Publication No. PEP19‐5068, NSDUH Series H‐54). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq[1]reports/NSDUHNationalFindingsReport2018/NSDUHNationalFindings
  2. SAMHSA. 2016. “Receipt of Services for Substance Use and Mental Health Issues among Adults: Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.” http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-ServiceUseAdult-2015/NSDUH-ServiceUseAdult-2015/NSDUH-ServiceUseAdult-2015.htm
  3. Bahorik, A.L., D.D. Satre, A.H. Kline-Simon, C.M. Weisner, C.L. Campbell. 2017. “Alcohol, Cannabis, and Opioid Use Disorders, and Disease Burden in an Integrated Health Care System.” J Addiction Medicine 11(1),3–9.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2023. Drug Overdose Deaths. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/index.html
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022. Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/features/excessive-alcohol-deaths.html#:~:text=More%20than%20140%2C000%20people%20die,in%20the%20U.S.%20each%20year

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