Substance-Related Inpatient Stays Across States in the United States

Substance use disorders contribute to the burden of disease at a higher rate in the United States than in other developed countries. Individuals with a substance use disorder are at greater risk of major medical conditions and adverse outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, mortality, and mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Geographic Variation in Substance-Related Inpatient Stays Across States and Counties in the United States examines State- and county-level rates of inpatient stays involving the four most common types of substances (alcohol, opioids, cannabis, and stimulants).

Highlights

• From 2013-2015, there was an average of 1 substance-related inpatient stay annually for every 100 people in the United States. Alcohol, opioids, cannabis, and stimulants were the most common substances.
• Of counties in the 31 States in this statistical brief, Maryland had the highest rates of opioid (1,592 per 100,000 population), cannabis (843), and stimulant (931) stays and the third highest rate of alcohol-related stays (1,955).
• Counties in Texas had the lowest rates of opioid (Starr, 15 per 100,000) and cannabis (Val Verde, 19) stays, and the second lowest rate of alcohol-related stays (Kendall, 139).
• High rates of substance-related stays contributed to costs:
  • Alcohol-related stays in Rhode Island and Massachusetts (80 and 71 percent of counties in the top quintile) cost an average of $98 and $95 per resident annually, respectively.
  • Opioid-related stays in West Virginia and Massachusetts (66 and 64 percent of counties in the top quintile) cost $33 and $39 per resident annually, respectively.
• Stimulant-related stays in California and North Carolina (63 and 56 percent of counties in the top quintile) cost $32 and $15 per resident annually, respectively.

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