Addiction Recovery Statistics in the United States

Addiction recovery in the United States shows both progress and challenges. 

A 2021 survey found that 72.2% of adults who struggled with substance use considered themselves in recovery. However, only about 24% of people who needed treatment received it in the past year. 

Read on to learn more about addiction recovery statistics in the United States.

Key Takeaways:

• In a 2021 survey, 72.2% of adults with a substance use issue considered themselves in recovery.
• In 2023, 23.6% of people needing substance use treatment received care in the past year.
• In 2022, there were 17,353 substance abuse treatment facilities in the U.S.
• In 2022, 72% of treatment facilities offered pharmacotherapy for addiction treatment. 57% used medication-assisted treatment for opioid disorders.
• 2.1 million people participated in self-help groups in 2019.
• According to a 2019 study, less than 20% of patients remain sober for a year after treatment.
• According to a 2014 study, Assertive Continuing Care shows a 57% abstinence rate after 12 months.
• Statista reports that 39,000 clients under 18 were in treatment for substance abuse in 2020.
• California had the highest number of substance abuse treatment facilities in 2020.

Addiction Recovery Success Rates in the U.S.

• According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 72.2% of adults who ever had a substance use problem considered themselves to be in recovery.
• According to the 2023 NSDUH conducted by SAMHSA, approximately 23.6% of individuals aged 12 and older who required substance use treatment—equivalent to about 12.8 million people—received treatment within the past year. 

Addiction Recovery Treatment Facilities in the U.S.

• According to the National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (N-SUMHSS) 2022 by SAMHSA: 

• As of 2022, there were 17,353 substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States.
• Out of these, 19.5% of the facilities were private for-profit entities. 

• 3,935 facilities offered both substance use and mental health treatment services.
• Approximately 72% of substance use facilities offered pharmacotherapies as part of their treatment services.
• 57% of facilities reported using medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder.
• 41.9% provided MAT for alcohol use disorder.
• 42% offered pharmacotherapies for tobacco cessation.
• 52.9% of facilities offered suicide prevention services.
• According to Statista: 

• In 2020, over 1 million clients were enrolled in substance abuse treatment facilities across the U.S.
• Approximately 39,000 clients under the age of 18 were receiving treatment in these facilities in 2020. 
• California had the highest number of substance abuse treatment facilities in the U.S. in 2020. 

Addiction Recovery Treatment Modalities in the U.S.

• A 2014 study by Godley et al., “The Effectiveness of Assertive Continuing Care on Continuing Care Linkage, Adherence, and Abstinence Following Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents,” found that, in the United States, adolescents receiving Assertive Continuing Care (ACC) had a 57% abstinence rate at 12 months post-treatment, compared to 20% for those receiving standard care. 

• In a 2017 study by Li et al., “Mindfulness Treatment for Substance Misuse: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” mindfulness-based interventions were associated with a significant reduction in substance use, with an average effect size of 0.27. 
• According to SAMHSA, in 2019, approximately 2.1 million people living in the United States aged 12 and older participated in substance use treatment through self-help groups.

Recovery Treatment Duration and Relapse Rates in the U.S.

• According to Thompson et al.’s 2019 article “Alcoholism Treatment and Management”:
  • Less than 20% of people remain abstinent for a full year.
  • Among people who have been sober for 2 years, the relapse rate is 40%.
  • People who have been sober for 5 years are likely to remain sober, but they are still at risk for relapse.
• According to a 2005 study by Dennis et al., “The Duration and Correlates of Addiction and Treatment Careers,” which used a sample of 1,271 people who participated in publicly funded treatment programs in a large U.S. metropolitan area:
  • 47% of individuals reached at least 12 months of abstinence during the 3 years following treatment intake.
  • The median time from first use to last use was reported to be 27 years among participants.
  • The median time from the first treatment episode to the last use was found to be 9 years.
  • Years to recovery were significantly longer for males, individuals who began using substances before the age of 21 (particularly those who started before 15), people who had participated in treatment 3 or more times, and those with high levels of mental distress.
• According to a 2004 study by Laudet and White, “An Exploration of Relapse Patterns Among Former Poly-Substance Users,” which involved 354 people in recovery living in New York City:
  • 71% of respondents reported having at least 1 period of abstinence lasting 1 month or more during their recovery journey.
  • 50% of respondents reported having 4 or more periods of abstinence of 1 month or more before achieving stable recovery.
  • The time between recurrences of substance use ranged from 1 month to more than 5 years.
  • Among those who experienced recurring use, 67% had resumed alcohol or other drug use for 1 year or more before achieving stable recovery.
  • 31% of participants identified associating with active users as a key factor contributing to their relapse.
  • 23% of participants reported that they learned the importance of changing their lifestyle and social circle in order to maintain their recovery.

• According to a 2009 study by DuPont and colleagues, “Outcomes of Physician Health Programs for Substance Use Disorder,” which followed 904 physicians treated for substance use disorders as part of a Physician Health Program:
  • Over a 5-year period, nearly 90% of participants had no positive drug tests.
  • Among those who had a positive drug test, only 18% had a subsequent positive drug test.

Addiction Recovery Demographics

• According to a 2019 study by Kelly et al. “How Many Recovery Attempts Does It Take To Successfully Resolve an Alcohol or Drug Problem? Estimates and Correlates From a National Study of Recovering U.S. Adults”:
  • Males had a higher mean number of recovery attempts (6.12) compared to females (4.18).
  • Median recovery attempts were the same for both males and females.
  • Non-Hispanic Black participants reported the highest median number of recovery attempts (3 attempts).

• Participants who were not married had a higher mean number of recovery attempts (6.07) compared to those who were married or living with a partner (4.68).
• Participants earning less than $50,000 annually reported a slightly higher mean number of recovery attempts (5.46) compared to those earning $50,000 or more (5.22).

Addiction Recovery by Substance Type

• According to a 2019 study by Kelly et al. “How Many Recovery Attempts Does It Take To Successfully Resolve an Alcohol or Drug Problem? Estimates and Correlates From a National Study of Recovering U.S. Adults,” the participants whose primary substance was an opioid had the highest mean number of recovery attempts (8.48 attempts). 

• According to a 2017 study by Kelly et al. “Prevalence and Pathways of Recovery From Drug and Alcohol Problems in the United States Population: Implications for Practice, Research, and Policy”:

• Nearly 259,260 U.S. adults with primary opioid use disorder reported achieving recovery for up to 1 year.
• Approximately 489,465 individuals with primary opioid use disorder achieved recovery for 1-5 years.
• Recovery from alcohol use disorder was more common, with 1.6 million individuals in early recovery (<1 year) and 2.6 million individuals in mid-recovery (1-5 years).
• On average, individuals with primary opioid use resolved their addiction after 8.4 years of use, compared to 21.9 years for those with primary alcohol use.
• Among individuals in early recovery (<1 year), 26% of opioid users and 11% of alcohol users used medication-assisted treatment, while 30% of opioid users and 27% of alcohol users engaged in recovery support services.
• In mid-recovery (1-5 years), 42% of opioid users and 10% of alcohol users used medication-assisted treatment, while 73% of opioid users and 39% of alcohol users attended mutual-help organizations.

FAQs

What Is the Current Success Rate of Addiction Recovery in the U.S.?

In a recent survey, 72.2% of adults who struggled with substance use considered themselves to be in recovery. 

However, success rates vary depending on the treatment approach, with some methods like Assertive Continuing Care and mindfulness-based therapy showing better long-term results.

How Accessible Is Addiction Treatment in the United States?

Addiction treatment in the U.S. has low accessibility. According to SAMHSA, only 23.6% of individuals needing addiction treatment received it in 2023.

How Do Mental Health Disorders Like Anxiety or Grief Affect Addiction Recovery in the United States?

Mental health disorders such as anxiety and grief can complicate addiction recovery. A 2009 study by Havassy, Alvidrez, and Mericle highlighted that 50-60% of those in addiction treatment also have a co-occurring mental health disorder. 

The study also found that those with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders were often less likely to receive treatment for both, hindering recovery. Learn more about anxiety in our post called “Anxiety Statistics in the United States”.