The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) generates state-level estimates for 23 measures of substance use and mental health problems for four age groups: the entire state population over the age of 12 (12+); individuals age 12 to 17; individuals age 18 to 25; and individuals age 26 and older (26+). Since state estimates of substance use and abuse were first generated using the combined 2002-2003 NSDUHs and continuing until the most recent state estimates based on the combined 2005-2006 surveys, Florida ‘s rates of drug and alcohol use have been quite variable. For measures of past year and past month marijuana use, Florida’s rates have generally mirrored the national rates. Rates of past month use of an illicit substance other than marijuana, however, have generally been higher than the national rates. All measures of alcohol use, including binge alcohol use, have generally been below the national rates.


Abuse and Dependency in Florida

Questions in NSDUH are used to classify persons as being dependent on or abusing specific substances based on criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).
On the global measure of any past year abuse of or dependence on illicit drugs or alcohol, Florida has generally ranked at or below the national average.

FLORIDA PAST YEAR ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
AMONG INDIVIDUALS AGE 12 AND OLDER




FLORIDA PAST YEAR ILLICIT DRUG DEPENDENCE
AMONG INDIVIDUALS AGE 12 AND OLDER



Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities in Florida

According to the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS) annual surveys2 the number of treatment facilities in Florida has increased from 612 in 2002, to 668 in 2006. In 2006, more than half (380 of 668 facilities) were private nonprofit, and just over one-third (244 of 668) were private for-profit. The increase between 2002 and 2006 is primarily attributable to the addition of 17 private not-for-profit facilities and 27 private for-profit facilities.

Although facilities may offer more than one modality of care, 537 Florida facilities (80%) in 2006 offered some form of outpatient treatment. An additional 228 facilities offered some form of residential care, and 44 facilities offered opioid treatment programs. In addition, 608 physicians and 68 treatment programs are certified to provide buprenorphine treatment for opiate addiction.

In 2006, 57 percent of all facilities (382 of 668) received some form of Federal, State, county, or local government funds; and 254 facilities had agreements or contracts with managed care organizations for the provision of substance abuse treatment services.

Substance Abuse Treatment in Florida

State treatment data for substance use disorders are derived from two primary sources—an annual one-day census in N-SSATS and annual treatment admissions from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).3 In the 2006 N-SSATS survey, Florida showed a one-day total of 52,734 clients in treatment, the majority of whom (44,602 or 85%) were in outpatient treatment. Of the total number of clients in treatment on this date, 4,253 (8%) were under the age of 18.

Across the last 15 years, there has been a steady decline in the number of admissions mentioning alcohol as a substance of abuse and increases in opiates other than heroin.

Across the years for which TEDS data are available, Florida has seen a substantial shift in the constellation of problems present at treatment admission. Alcohol-only admissions have declined from over 36 percent of all admissions in 1992, to just over 16 percent in 2006. Concomitantly, drug-only admissions have increased from 21 percent in 1992, to 46 percent in 2006.

Unmet Need for Addiction Treatment in Florida

NSDUH defines unmet treatment need as an individual who meets the criteria for abuse of or dependence on illicit drugs or alcohol according to the DSM-IV, but who has not received specialty treatment for that problem in the past year.

Rates of needing and not receiving treatment for drug use in Florida have generally been at or above the national rate for this measure. In 2005-2006, the rate for individuals age 12 to 17 was among the 10 highest5 in the country.

Rates for individuals needing and not receiving treatment for alcohol use have been generally at or below the national rates, with the exception of the age group 26 and older.