Reports Examine Treatment Data by Metro Area
The United States is vast, and the substance abuse problems on the west coast may not be the same as those on the east coast.
To provide a more detailed understanding of substance abuse treatment activities in 27 metropolitan areas, SAMHSA developed a series of Metro Briefs.
“These briefs provide very valuable insight into the nature and scope of the behavioral health challenges facing each of these important communities,” said Peter J. Delany, Ph.D., LCSW-C, Director of SAMHSA’s Office of Applied Studies. “The data can help public health agencies, service providers, and partnering organizations identify the major problems affecting their communities and develop the most effective means for addressing them.”
Data include:
- Key demographic characteristics of treatment admissions (e.g., gender, age, race/ethnicity)
- Breakdowns on the substances of abuse involved in treatment admissions
- Breakdowns on the admission referral sources (e.g., community organizations, individuals/self, criminal justice systems)
- Types of care provided by area facilities (e.g., outpatient, residential, detoxification).
The briefs are based on the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS)—which collects information on the characteristics of people admitted to substance abuse treatment—and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS), an annual survey of treatment facilities.
Download Metro Briefs.
What types of data are in the Metro Briefs? See below for examples from California and Maryland.
San Diego
In 2008, there were approximately 13,600 total substance abuse treatment admissions in San Diego.
Both males and females reported methamphetamine as their primary substance of abuse more often than other substances, followed by alcohol, marijuana, and heroin.
In 2008, 136 facilities in San Diego offered substance abuse treatment services: 89 facilities offered outpatient care, 64 facilities offered non-hospital residential care, and 3 facilities offered hospital inpatient care.
In 2008, 8 of the 136 treatment facilities (6 percent) in San Diego operated opioid treatment programs (OTPs). On a typical day, 1,930 clients at these OTPs received medication-assisted opioid therapy with methadone or buprenorphine.
See more data on San Diego.
Baltimore
In 2008, there were approximately 25,000 total substance abuse treatment admissions in Baltimore.
Both males and females reported heroin as their primary substance of abuse more often than other substances.
In 2008, 220 facilities in Baltimore offered substance abuse treatment services: 184 facilities offered outpatient care, 47 facilities offered non-hospital residential care, and 9 facilities offered hospital inpatient care.
In 2008, 44 of the 220 treatment facilities (20 percent) in Baltimore operated OTPs. On a typical day, 11,776 clients at these OTPs received medication-assisted opioid therapy with methadone or buprenorphine.
See more data on Baltimore.