PERSONS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN MENTAL-HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED-STATES IN 1988

Data from a 1988 enumeration of mental health organizations and separa te psychiatric services of non-Federal general hospitals in the United States were used to derive estimates of the number of person with alc ohol and/or drug abuse (substance use) disorders in these organization s. For all organizations combined, the percent of persons with substan ce use disorders were 8% each in inpatient, residential treatment, and outpatient care and only 3% in partial care program elements. However , within type of program element, there was variation according to typ e of organization. It should be noted that the percent of persons with substance use in mental health organizations would be even greater th an reported if: (1) the universe of mental health organizations survey ed was expanded; (2) the reporting period included persons receiving s ervices throughout the year rather than on a single day; and (3) provi sion was made for including persons with a secondary diagnosis of subs tance abuse.