Opioid-Related and Stimulant-Related Adult Inpatient Stays

Substance use continues to be a primary public health concern, with substance use disorders placing a considerable burden on individuals, families, the healthcare system, and the economy.

Opioid-Related and Stimulant-Related Adult Inpatient Stays, a statistical brief from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, presents statistics on inpatient stays involving dependence on, abuse of, and poisoning and adverse effects from opioids (e.g., prescription opioids, heroin) and stimulants (e.g., cocaine, psychostimulants, amphetamines). 

Highlights:

• From 2012 to 2018, there were more hospital stays related to opioids only (without stimulants) than there were related to stimulants only (without opioids).
• The population rate of stimulant-only stays was stable from 2012 to 2014, whereas the rate increased by 22 percent from 2016 to 2018.
• The rate of inpatient stays involving both opioids and stimulants increased by 13.2 percent from 2012 to 2014 and by 13.4 percent from 2016 to 2018.
• In 2018, individuals aged 18-45 and 46-64 years had the highest rates of stays involving stimulants (either alone or with opioids), whereas individuals aged 65-74 and 75 years and older had the highest rates of opioid-only stays.
• In 2012 and 2018, the population rate of stimulant-related stays (either alone or with opioids) was higher for Black populations than for White populations.
• In 2018, for stays with a primary expected payer of Medicaid, the number of stimulant-only stays surpassed the number of opioid-only stays. In contrast, for stays with a primary expected payer of Medicare or private insurance, there were more opioid-only stays than stimulant-only stays in 2018.
• In 2012, only two States had higher rates of stimulant-only stays than rates of opioid-only stays. However, by 2018, 10 States had higher rates of stimulant-only stays. 

Select to access Opioid-Related and Stimulant-Related Adult Inpatient Stays.