The Addictions Treatment Market: 22.2 Million With Addiction Issues
In 2009, the United States spent $24.3 billion on the addiction treatment market. Public payers accounted for the vast majority of spending (69%) at $16.7 billion, while private payers (including private insurance, out-of-pocket spending, and other private spending) accounted for 31% ($7.6 billion). In 2012, there were an estimated 22.2 million persons classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year, but only 10.8% of these individuals (or 2.5 million) received treatment for their substance dependence or abuse in a specialty facility (defined as hospital inpatient, drug or alcohol rehabilitation, or mental health centers).
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates on spending for treatment are small compared to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimate for the economic cost of drug addiction. NIDA estimates that addictions cost the U.S. more than $600 billion each year in damages, health care, law enforcement, subsidized treatment, and prevention efforts. To describe the addictions treatment services market, we explore seven key elements that make up the addictions treatment market in this OPEN MINDS Market Intelligence Report:
1. Addictions treatment market defined as health services for addiction and substance abuse
2. Market size totaling $24.3 billion in 2009 and trends by payer
3. Market spending by provider type and care setting with outpatient and residential treatment services accounting for over two-thirds of all spending in 2009
4. Populations served an estimated 22.2 million persons aged 12 or older (8.5% of that population) were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year
5. State-specific market data showing numbers of people receiving treatment and spending per capita widely vary state to state
6. Agencies tracking data, like SAMHSA
7. Issues influencing the level, direction, and mix of payers such as addiction treatment being funded below the level of other categories of health care and spending on addiction treatment typically declines during periods of economic downturn