Demographic Differences Among Adults and Emerging Adults With, Without, and in Recovery from Alcohol and Other Drug...

Nearly two thirds of adults who have experienced a substance use disorder (SUD) are in recovery. Differences in recovery from SUD remain understudied. We examined demographic characteristics related to SUD and recovery in a nationally representative sample.

Data were from the 2021 National Survey of Drug Use and Heath (unweighted N = 44,877). Binary logistic regressions compared demographic groups' odds of past-year SUD and lifetime recovery from SUD among adults and emerging adults (ages 18-25).

Among all adults, 17.2% reported past-year SUD and 8.4% reported being in recovery. Multiracial, Native American, and White adults had higher odds of SUD and recovery than other groups (ORs = 1.30-5.91). Bisexual and gay/lesbian adults had higher odds of SUD and recovery than heterosexual adults (ORs = 1.67-2.99). Older groups had lower odds of SUD (ORs = 0.42-0.78) and higher odds of recovery than emerging adults (ORs = 1.91-2.68). Men had higher odds of SUD (OR = 1.57) and recovery (OR = 1.75) than women. Among emerging adults, Native American and White adults had higher odds of SUD than other groups (ORs = 1.27-4.09). Multiracial, Hispanic, and White had higher odds of recovery than other groups (ORs = 1.61-4.81). Bisexual (OR = 2.25) and gay/lesbian (OR = 1.42) emerging adults had higher odds of SUD; bisexual emerging adults (OR = 2.76) had higher odds of recovery than heterosexual peers. Among emerging adults, men had higher odds of SUD than women (OR = 1.37).

Findings suggest demographic differences in SUD and recovery. Results underscore disparities in SUD outcomes that have important implications for changes in public health strategies and individualized treatment and recovery support services.