Unmet need for treatment for substance use disorders across race and ethnicity

The objective was to analyze disparities in unmet need for substance use treatment and to observe variation across different definitions of need for treatment.

Data were analyzed from the 2002 to 2005 National Survey of Drug Use and Health and the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Logistic regressions estimated the likelihood of specialty substance use treatment across the two data sets. Parallel variables for specialty, informal and any substance abuse treatment were created. Perceived need and normative need for substance use treatment were defined, with normative need stratified across lifetime disorder, past twelve month disorder, and heavy alcohol/any illicit drug use. Treatment rates were analyzed, comparing Blacks, Asians and Latinos to non-Latino whites across need definitions, and adjusting for age, sex, household income, marital status, education and insurance.

Asians with past year substance use disorder had a higher likelihood of unmet need for specialty treatment than whites. Blacks with past year disorder and with heavy drinking/illicit drug use had significantly lower likelihood of unmet need. Latinos with past year disorder had a higher likelihood of unmet need for specialty substance abuse treatment. Asians with heavy drinking/illicit drug use had lower likelihood of unmet need.

The findings suggest that pathways to substance abuse treatment differ across groups. Given high rates of unmet need, a broad approach to defining need for treatment is warranted. Future research to disentangle social and systemic factors from factors based on diagnostic criteria is necessary in the identification of need for treatment.