Trends and disparities in unmet treatment needs for co-occurring depression and alcohol use disorders among young adults in the U.S.

Abstract

Major depressive episode (MDE) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) often co-occur and the presence of one doubles the risk for the other, which brings disabling social and health consequences. Increasing evidence supports integrated treatment of co-occurring MDE and AUD, including combined medications for both conditions as well as behavioral therapies. While young adults suffer disproportionately from these co-occurring conditions, little is known about their treatment utilization. Using nationally representative data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2011-2019, this study examined temporal trends and disparities in the prevalence and treatment use for co-occurring MDE and AUD among young adults aged 18-25 in the U.S. Across the survey time, an increasing trend of MDE was revealed, whereas the prevalence of AUD decreased significantly. Meanwhile, the prevalence of co-occurring MDE and AUD remained steady. Among young adults with co-occurring MDE and AUD, while treatment use for MDE increased from 2011 to 2019, treatment use for AUD and co-occurring conditions remained stable. Observed widening disparities in co-occurring treatments utilized among young adults ages 18-25 are further perpetuated by gender, emerging adulthood, and socioeconomic status, warranting immediate action. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).