Addiction and Recovery

In the U.S., tens of millions of people struggle with substance use disorders (SUDs). In 2023, nearly 54.2 million Americans aged 12 and older needed substance abuse treatment, yet only about 12.8 million received it . That means roughly 3 out of 4 people who need help don’t get it each year .

Globally, the gap is even wider. In many countries, fewer than 1% to no more than 35% of people with SUDs are in contact with treatment services, highlighting a massive unmet need worldwide .

Despite the grim numbers, there’s powerful good news: recovery is possible, and millions have achieved it. A major U.S. survey found that of the 30.5 million adults who felt they ever had a substance use problem, about 22.2 million (73.1%) now consider themselves in recovery or fully recovered .

Another 2021 survey reported that 72.2% of adults with a past substance use issue considered themselves in recovery, reinforcing that long-term recovery is not rare . Studies also show that many people with opioid or alcohol use disorders achieve years of stable recovery, often with the help of medication and support services .

The biggest barrier isn’t lack of hope—it’s lack of access. In the U.S., only about 23–24% of people who need substance use treatment actually receive it in a given year . For young adults and adolescents, the gap is especially wide, with only about 1 in 6 young adults and 2 in 5 teens who need care getting it .

To close this gap, federal and state efforts are expanding harm reduction, treatment in prisons, and recovery support services . At the same time, more treatment facilities now offer evidence-based options like medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and pharmacotherapy, which are proven to improve outcomes .

One of the most encouraging recent developments is a sharp drop in drug overdose deaths. Provisional CDC data shows a nearly 24% decline in U.S. overdose deaths from October 2023 to September 2024, the largest single-year drop in years . This suggests that public health efforts, better data, and community responses are starting to make a real difference .

Still, overdose deaths remain far too high, and some states still see rising numbers . Experts stress that to sustain this progress, we need to keep expanding access to treatment, harm reduction (like naloxone and fentanyl test strips), and long-term recovery support for all who need it .

Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all, but research points to what works best. For opioid use disorder, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is linked to higher abstinence rates and longer recovery . For alcohol and other substances, a mix of counseling, mutual-help groups (like AA or NA), and ongoing support services greatly improves long-term success .

Studies show that many people take years to reach stable recovery—often around 8–9 years from first treatment to last use for opioids, and even longer for alcohol . But with consistent support, a large majority of those who engage in treatment and recovery services can build healthy, fulfilling lives free from active addiction .