Treatment Need

Need Treatment But Not Received It – Participants were asked if they needed but did not receive drug/alcohol treatment in the past year. Table 9.1 presents the estimated number of adult Kentuckians who reported they needed treatment in the past 12 months but did not receive treatment.

Table 9.1: Estimated number of adult Kentuckians who needed and tried to obtain treatment in the past year but did not receive treatment (questions G8, G9)

DSM-IV-TR Criteria – There were few persons who met abuse or dependence criteria in the past year and also received treatment in the past year. Table 9.2 presents the estimated number of adult Kentuckians who met drug/alcohol abuse and/or dependence criteria in the past year but did not receive drug/alcohol treatment in the past year.

Table 9.2: Estimated number of adult Kentuckians who met DSM-IV-TR criteria for abuse or dependence in the past year but did not receive treatment

Risky Behavior – Persons who engaged in risky behaviors due to drug/alcohol use in the past 12 months but did not receive treatment can be considered being in need of treatment. Risky behaviors include:

• Continued use despite medical or psychological problems caused or exacerbated by using
• Self-reported to be more likely to engage in risky behaviors due to drug/alcohol use
• Engaged in physical fights after using drugs/alcohol
• Drove after using drugs/alcohol
• Arrested for DUI
• Any other self-identified risky behaviors engaged in while under the influence

Driving after consuming alcohol or drugs was reported by 6.2% of respondents. Of those who reported driving after using, only 6.7% were ever arrested for DUI. Of those persons who drove after using in the past year, 43.1% considered alcohol or drugs as a problem. Of those persons arrested for a DUI in the past year, only 58.8% considered alcohol or drugs a problem.

At least one of these risky behaviors must have been reported during the past 12 months and the person was not receiving drug/alcohol treatment to be included here. Table 9.3 presents the estimated number of adult Kentuckians with risky behaviors in the past year but did not receive drug/alcohol treatment.

Table 9.3: Estimated number of adult Kentuckians who engaged in risky behaviors in the past year but did not receive treatment

Recent Use Despite Considering Drugs or Alcohol a Problem – Persons who considered themselves as having a problem with drugs or alcohol and used drugs or alcohol within the past 30 days can be considered as needing treatment. Table 9.4 presents the estimated number of adult Kentuckians who considered drugs/alcohol to be a problem in their life and used substances within the past 30 days. It is interesting to note that the number of persons who used any drugs or alcohol (after considering any drug or alcohol to have been a problem in their life) is greater than those who thought alcohol was a problem but used alcohol and those who thought drugs were a problem but used drugs. This is an indication that persons who consider themselves as having a problem with alcohol continue to use drugs and visa versa.

Table 9.4: Estimated number of adult Kentuckians who considered drugs/alcohol to be a problem and used a substance in the past 30 days

Pregnancy and Use – Women who are pregnant and used drugs or alcohol within the past 30 days could need treatment. Table 9.5 presents the estimated number of adult female Kentuckians who are pregnant and used alcohol or drugs in the past 30 days.

Table 9.5: Estimated number of adult female Kentuckians who used drugs or alcohol during pregnancy

Overall Treatment Need – When considering the indicators of substance abuse treatment need, there are individuals who meet multiple treatment need criteria. To make an overall determination for Kentucky drug/alcohol treatment need, a respondent is included as needing treatment if he/she indicated any of the following: (1) A self-report of need for treatment; (2) Meeting the DSM-IV-TR criteria for substance abuse or dependence in the past 12 months; (3) Continued use of substances in the past 12 months in spite of self-reported problems related to substance use; (4) Engaging in high risk behavior related to substance use in the past 12 months; and (5) Using substances in the past 30 days during pregnancy . Table 9.6 presents the estimated total number of adult Kentuckians who would need drug/alcohol treatment services.

The overall treatment need stayed about the same in 2004 (12.0%) when compared to 1999 (12.6%). However, the need for substance abuse treatment did change by gender. The estimated percentage of males who need substance abuse treatment declined from 21.3% to 17.5%, whereas the estimated percentage of females who need substance abuse treatment increased from 4.7% to 6.9%.

Table 9.6: Estimated number of adult Kentuckians currently in need of alcohol/drug treatment