37 Percent of Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Involve Both Drugs and Alcohol

A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) finds 37.2 percent of treatment admissions for substance abuse involve both drugs and alcohol.

The report shows 730,228 substance abuse treatment admissions in 2009, or 37.2 percent, were for people who reported abuse of alcohol and at least one other drug; 23.1 percent of all people admitted reported abusing alcohol and one other drug, and 14.1 percent said they abused alcohol and two other drugs.

Newswise reports that when people combine alcohol with other drugs, they tend to drink more heavily than if they use alcohol alone. Combining alcohol with other drugs can be dangerous, according to SAMHSA. For instance, taking benzodiazepines with alcohol increased the risk of serious injury or death.

“Even by themselves, alcohol and drug abuse can be devastating to one’s health and well-being, but a combination of drug and alcohol abuse increases one’s risk of serious, life-threatening consequences even more,” SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde said in a news release.