by Lisa Frederiksen
The toll that substance abuse, poor emotional health, and mental illnesses takes on America’s children, adults, workplaces and communities is tremendous. 
Quoting from SAMHSA’s “Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHAS’s Roles and Actions, 2011-2014, Executive Summary and Introduction,” here are some of the numbers:
The annual total estimated societal cost of substance abuse in the United States is $510.8 billion.1
By 2020, behavioral health disorders will surpass all physical diseases as a major cause of disability worldwide.2
In 2008, an estimated 9.8 million adults aged 18 and older in the United States had a serious mental illness. Two million youth aged 12 to 17 had a major depressive episode during the past year.3
In 2009, an estimated 23.5 million Americans aged 12 and older needed treatment for substance use.4
Half of all lifetime cases of mental and substance use disorders begin by age 14 and three-fourths by age 24.5
Take this opportunity to learn more. Check out SAMHSA’s strategic initiatives paper – an overview of SAMHSA’s goals, priorities, and action steps for accomplishing its mission of reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.
• • • • •
References:
1 Miller, T., & Hendrie, D. (2009).
Substance abuse prevention dollars and cents: A cost-benefit analysis (DHHS Pub. No. SMA 07-4298). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.
2 World Health Organization (WHO). (2004).
Promoting mental health: Concepts, emerging evidence, practice. Summary report. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/en/promoting_mhh.pdf
3 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2009).
Results from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National findings. (Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-36, DHHS Publication No. SMA 09-4434). Rockville, MD: SAMHSA.
4 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2010).
Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Vol. I. Summary of national findings. (Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-38A, DHHS Publication No. SMA 10-4856Findings). Rockville, MD: SAMHSA.
5 Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of
DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.
Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593–602.
by Lisa Frederiksen
The toll that substance abuse, poor emotional health, and mental illnesses takes on America’s children, adults, workplaces and communities is tremendous.
Quoting from SAMHSA’s “Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHAS’s Roles and Actions, 2011-2014, Executive Summary and Introduction,” here are some of the numbers:
Take this opportunity to learn more. Check out SAMHSA’s strategic initiatives paper – an overview of SAMHSA’s goals, priorities, and action steps for accomplishing its mission of reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.
• • • • • References: 1 Miller, T., & Hendrie, D. (2009). Substance abuse prevention dollars and cents: A cost-benefit analysis (DHHS Pub. No. SMA 07-4298). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. 2 World Health Organization (WHO). (2004). Promoting mental health: Concepts, emerging evidence, practice. Summary report. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/en/promoting_mhh.pdf 3 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2009). Results from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National findings. (Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-36, DHHS Publication No. SMA 09-4434). Rockville, MD: SAMHSA. 4 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2010). Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Vol. I. Summary of national findings. (Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-38A, DHHS Publication No. SMA 10-4856Findings). Rockville, MD: SAMHSA. 5 Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593–602.