Prevalence and Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders Based on Kentucky Medicaid 2012-2019 Datasets

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a leading substance use issue in the U.S., causing significant health and family problems.
• Understanding AUD prevalence and treatment patterns is crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in AUD prevalence and treatment utilization among Kentucky Medicaid enrollees from 2012 to 2019.
• To identify demographic and clinical factors associated with AUD and its treatment.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Kentucky Medicaid claims data (2012-2019) with ICD codes for AUD identification and logistic regression for analysis.
• National Drug Codes and procedure codes identified pharmacological and psychosocial treatments, respectively.

Main Results:

• AUD prevalence showed an upward trend, with higher rates in metro areas, ages 45-54, and comorbid mental disorders or tobacco use.
• Approximately 60% of AUD patients had co-occurring major depressive disorder or anxiety.
• Treatment utilization increased but remained below 25% in 2019; pharmacological and psychosocial treatment use rose significantly but remained low.

Conclusions:

• AUD prevalence is increasing, accompanied by a rise in comorbid conditions like depression and anxiety.
• Despite increased utilization, AUD treatment rates remain critically low, indicating a substantial gap in care.
• There is an urgent need for accessible, evidence-based, and personalized treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder.