Hospitalization Rates Among Adults with Substance Use Disorders

Recent research indicates that approximately 10% of adults in the United States suffering from substance use disorder (SUD) experienced hospitalization within the past year. This finding was published in a research letter in the Annals of Internal Medicine on April 1, 2025.

The study, led by researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, aimed to assess the prevalence of hospitalizations among U.S. adults affected by SUD. Participants were categorized into overlapping groups based on their specific substance use issues, including overall SUD, individual types of SUD, and those with multiple substance disorders. The researchers estimated both the percentage and total number of adults requiring hospitalization within each group.

According to the findings, an estimated 60 million U.S. adults are living with SUD, and around 5.8 million of them, which represents 9.7%, reported hospital admissions in the previous year. The hospitalization rates varied significantly between different types of substance use disorders, ranging from 7.3% among those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) to 23.6% for individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD).

The analysis revealed that adults with a history of hospitalization were generally older and more likely to have multiple concurrent medical conditions. Additionally, those hospitalized for AUD, cannabis use disorder, and tobacco use disorder frequently exhibited signs of severe mental illness.

Interestingly, with the exception of individuals with AUD, those who were hospitalized tended to have a lower likelihood of being uninsured. Moreover, among those with OUD, hospitalized individuals were less frequently identified as non-Hispanic Black.

The authors emphasized the implications of their findings, advocating for the implementation of hospital-based screening and treatment programs for substance use disorders to address the needs of this vulnerable population. The research highlights the critical intersection of healthcare and substance use treatment, suggesting that hospitals could play a vital role in the management and support of individuals affected by SUD.

For further details, the original study can be accessed in the Annals of Internal Medicine under the title "Prevalence of Hospitalizations Among a National Sample of U.S. Adults With Substance Use Disorders."