According to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that was based on findings from their Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) for 2009, rural and urban substance abuse treatment admissions in 2009 were different in almost every assessed aspect.
For instance, whilst 51.6% admissions of referrals were from the criminal justice system tended to be rural substance abuse treatment admissions, compared with just 28.4% of urban admissions in 2009, a similar differentiation was observed in the percentage of the referrals made by self-referrals (22.8%) or referrals from family members or friends (38.7%) in the same year.
Furthermore, 49.5% of rural admissions tended to report primary alcohol abuse compared with 36.1% of urban admissions, whilst reports of non-heroin opiates were 10.6% in rural admissions compared with 4.0% in urban admissions. 21.8% of urban admissions reported primary use of heroin with 11.9% of cocaine compared with 3.1% of heroin and 5.6% of cocaine reported in rural admissions.
Only 23.5% rural admissions reported daily use of primary substances compared with 43.1% of urban admissions and 32.1% of rural individuals under the age of 18 were more likely to use these substances, compared with 26.7% of urban teenagers.
The survey revealed that urban admissions were older than rural admissions, more racially and ethnically diverse, and less likely to be in full or part-time employment at the age of 18 or older.
SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde concluded:
“There is a real need in this country for substance abuse prevention and treatment in both rural and urban areas. This report underscores that need. It’s a tool that policymakers and treatment providers can use to more effectively meet the substance abuse prevention and treatment needs of the communities they serve.”
Written by Petra Rattue