The percentage of U.S. residents seeking help for their drug use disorders increased from 1992 to 2002, according to a recent analysis of data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).

In 2002 (the most recent year for which data are available), 6.1% of U.S. residents who met the criteria for substance abuse reported that they had sought treatment or help for their disorder, compared to 4.1% in 1992. An even greater increase was found for those meeting the criteria for substance dependence -- 30.7% reported seeking treatment in 2002, compared to 19.5% a decade earlier.

The authors note that while these are statistically significant increases, "treatment rates for drug use disorders . . . are substantially lower than corresponding treatment rates of other major psychiatric disorders."

Among their suggestions are to focus future research on the "development of instruments to screen, identify, and refer probable abuse and dependence in primary care settings" and to "computerize assessment and referral processes."

For details, including data charts, source information and caveats, download the PDF file at www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol16/16-23.pdf.

Reprinted from CESAR Fax, a weekly, one-page overview of timely substance abuse trends or issues, from The Center on Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.