An overview of substance use among New York State's upper income householders

A 1981 survey of substance use among household residents in New York State found rates of use consistently higher among the upper income group ($50,000 and over) than among groups with lower incomes. In addition, measures of the seriousness of the problem also revealed higher rates among the upper income group than the other income groups. In terms of preferences for treatment, the upper income group substance user clearly opts for the private professional. The findings generally suggest that there are few qualitative differences in patterns of substance-taking among the income groups, and it might be hypothesized that the availability of disposable income in the upper income group and some situational factors may facilitate that group's substance-using behavior.