Nearly one in three U.S. adolescents received mental health treatment in 2023, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Around 8.3 million people aged 12 to 17 received counseling, medication, or other forms of treatment. That’s an increase of roughly half a million people, but SAMHSA officials say it could also be positive news because of decreasing stigma and an increase in treatment availability.
The share of adults receiving mental health treatment has also increased, rising from 21.8% in 2022 to 23% in 2023. Among adults, 16.3% received prescription medication for mental health treatment, up from 15.2% in 2022.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health also found that vaping continues to rise. Nearly one in ten Americans aged 12 or older vaped nicotine in the past month, up from 8.3% in 2022. In the past year more people started vaping, 5.9 million people, compared to any other substance. Those aged 18 to 25 were the most likely to use tobacco products or vape, and among adolescents, vaping was by far the most common method (75%) for using nicotine.
Rates of marijuana and other illicit drug use, including stimulants and opioids, remained roughly the same as the previous year. However, alcohol use dropped more than a percentage point, from 48.7% of adults and adolescents in 2022 to 47.5% in 2023.
Overall, 17.1% of the population, or 48.5 million people, met the criteria for a substance use disorder at some point in the past year. Despite this, fewer than 1 in 4 Americans who needed addiction treatment received medical care for their substance use.