Since State estimates of substance use were first generated
using the combined 2002-2003 National Survey on
Drug Use and Health surveys (NSDUH) and continuing
until the most recent State estimates based on the combined
2005-2006 survey, Vermont has consistently ranked among
the highest 10 States for several measures of use and abuse of
alcohol and other substances (Table 1).
Table 1: Vermont Ranked among the Highest States on the Following
Substance Abuse Measures for All Survey Years:
| Measure | Age Groups |
| Past Month Illicit Drug Use | All |
| Past Year Marijuana Use | All |
| Past Month Marijuana Use | All |
| Least Perception of Risk Associated with Monthly Marijuana Use | All |
| Past Year Cocaine Use | 12+, 12-17, 18-25 |
| Past Month Alcohol Use | 12+, 18-25, 26+ |
| Past Month Binge Alcohol Use | 18-25 |
| Least Perception of Risk Associated with Alcohol Use Once or Twice a Month | 12-17, 18-25 |
| Past Month Tobacco Use | 18-25 |
| Past Month Cigarette Use | 18-25 |
| Past Year Illicit Drug Dependence or Abuse | 18-25 |
| Past Year Illicit Drug Dependence | 12+, 18-25 |
| Needing but not Receiving Treatment for Drug Use | 18-25 |
Abuse and Dependance
Across all survey years, Vermont has ranked among the highest states for the prevalence of illicit drug dependence among the total population age 12 and older and for individuals 18 to 25; however, there is no other consistent pattern for the abuse of or dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs in any age group.
Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities
According to the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS) annual surveys, the number of treatment facilities in Vermont increased from 37 to 40 between 2004 and 2006. The majority of these facilities are private nonprofit (34); four are private for-profit; and two are operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Half of these facilities provide only substance abuse treatment services, and another 16 provide a mix of mental health and substance abuse treatment services.
Treatment
State treatment data for substance use disorders State treatment data for substance use disorders are derived from two primary sources—an annual one-day census in N-SSATS and annual treatment admissions from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS)3. With all 40 Vermont facilities responding to the 2006 N SSATS survey, Vermont showed a one-day census on March 31, 2006 of 3,726 clients in treatment. A total of 549 of these (approximately 15%) were under the age of 18. The majority of clients (93%) were in outpatient treatment.Since 2002, there has been a steady increase in the annual number of admissions to treatment in Vermont from 7,641 in 2002 to 8,356 in 2005 (the most recent year for which data are available). Chart 1 shows the percentage of admissions mentioning particular drugs or alcohol at the time of admission. Across the last 13 years, there has been a steady decline in the number of admissions mentioning alcohol as a substance of abuse and concomitant increases in the mentions of marijuana, cocaine, and heroin.
Unmet Need For Treatment
The prevalence of individuals needing but not receiving treatment for drug or alcohol in Vermont has not changed significantly overtime (Charts 2 and 3).
