Alcoholism At Large

A nationwide survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) produced the following findings, according to a November 2008 SAMHSA press release: an annual average of 5 million persons aged 12 or order attended a self-help group in the past year because of their use of alcohol or drugs; 45.3 percent attended a group because of their alcohol use only and 21.8 percent attended a group because of their illicit drug use only, while 33 percent attended a group because of their use of both alcohol and illicit drugs. Additionally, 45.1 percent of past year self-help group participants did not use alcohol or illicit drugs in the past month; almost one third of individuals who attended a self-help group for their substance use during the past year also received specialty treatment for substance abuse in the past year. Specialty treatment refers to substance abuse treatment received at a hospital as an inpatient, at a rehabilitation facility (either inpatient or outpatient), or at a mental health center.