Addiction and Mental Health by the Numbers

Written by: Wesley Gallagher

If there has been one benefit of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s the increased awareness given to mental health and addiction issues in the United States and around the world. In fact, a survey by CNN and the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) in 2022 found that 9 in 10 Americans believe there is a mental health crisis in the US. Unfortunately, this increased awareness has only come as the pandemic exacerbated an already ongoing and worsening mental health crisis in our country. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported provisional data that drug overdoses in the United States surpassed 107,000 in 2021, a nearly 15% increase since 2020. Of those overdoses, 80,816 were due to opioids, with continuing increases in deaths from synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl), methamphetamines, and cocaine.

The CDC also reports that the percentage of people receiving mental health treatment has been rising steadily, increasing from 19.2% in 2019 to 21.6% in 2021. Suicide rates also rose 4% from 2020 to 2021, following two consecutive years of decline.

Still, millions of Americans lack proper and affordable access to mental healthcare services. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), President Joe Biden has acknowledged the mental health crisis we are facing due to lack of access, pledging millions of dollars toward expanding lifesaving mental and behavioral health supports and services.

By the Numbers

Meadows Behavioral Healthcare has invested specifically in five states in the Western United States where mental and behavioral healthcare is of great need. Let’s take a look at the numbers in these states that help explain why such services are warranted now more than ever.

California

• The California Health Care Foundation reports that nearly 1 in 7 adults in the Sunshine State experience mental illness, with 1 in 26 suffering from a serious or debilitating form.
• Preliminary data indicated 6,843 opioid-related overdose deaths in California in 2021, with 5,722 of them involving fentanyl, according to the California Department of Public Health.
• The KFF reported that California’s mental healthcare professional shortage in 2022 meant only 24.3% of the state’s mental health needs were met.

Colorado

• The CDC reported 1,711 overdose deaths in Colorado in 2021 (up from 1,327 in 2020), driven largely by opioid and stimulant use.
• From September 29 to October 11, 2021, 32% of adults in Colorado reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, according to the KFF.
• The percent of need met by mental health professionals in Colorado in 2022 was 34.6%.

Nevada

• The CDC reported 932 overdose deaths in Nevada in 2021 (up from 917 in 2020), caused mostly by opioids, including illicitly-manufactured fentanyl.
• While Nevada has dropped out of the top 10 in the national rankings for suicide rates, it is still 12th in the nation, with an age-adjusted rate of 19.2 suicides per 100,000 residents in 2020, according to Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services. 
• The percent of need met by mental health professionals in Nevada in 2022 was 28.6%.

Texas

• KFF reports that, as of October 2021, 34.2% of Texas adults have symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, which is higher than the national percentage of 31.6%.
• Deaths due to drug overdose rose in Texas from 9.5 per 100,000 in 2015, to 14.3 per 100,000 in 2020, with opioids accounting for half of those overdoses.
• The percent of need met by mental health professionals in the Lone Star State in 2022 was 32.5%.

Arizona

• The CDC reported 2,688 overdose deaths in Arizona in 2021 (up from 2,405 in 2020), with opioids and stimulants involved in over 95% of those deaths.
• According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 40.8% of adults in Arizona reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in February 2021.
• The percent of need met by mental health professionals in Arizona in 2022 was a shocking 8.5%, the lowest percentage of any state.

The Meadows Cares About Your Mental Health

If you are struggling with mental illness or addiction and are unable to attend an inpatient treatment program, The Meadows Outpatient Center may be just the solution for you. With locations in Silicon Valley/Sunnyvale, Denver, Las Vegas, Austin, Houston, and Scottsdale, as well as a virtual option, we provide the same expertise as our inpatient programs on an intensive outpatient basis.

Our time-tested Meadows Model focuses on addressing the underlying core issues that drive maladaptive coping mechanisms, treating each individual independently and wholistically. Contact us today to find out how we can help you begin your journey to healing.

---