Chapter 2
Characteristics of Admissions by Primary Substance: 2009
All Admissions Aged 12 and Older
Alcohol Only
Alcohol with Secondary Drug Abuse
Heroin
Opiates Other than Heroin
Smoked Cocaine (Crack)
Non-Smoked Cocaine
Marijuana/Hashish
Methamphetamine/Amphetamine
Tranquilizers
Sedatives
Hallucinogens
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Inhalants
This chapter highlights important findings in the 2009 TEDS data. The tables include all items in the TEDS Minimum and Supplemental Data Sets for 2009. (See Appendix B for a complete data dictionary.) Data are tabulated as percentage distributions of treatment admissions according to primary substance of abuse.
The Minimum Data Set consists of 19 items that include:
- Demographic information
- Primary, secondary, and tertiary substances and their route of administration, frequency of use, and age at first use
- Source of referral to treatment
- Number of prior treatment episodes
- Service type, including medication-assisted opioid therapy
The Supplemental Data Set consists of 15 items that include psychiatric, social, and economic
measures.
Not all States report all data items in the Minimum and Supplemental Data Sets. Most States report the Minimum Data Set for all or nearly all TEDS admissions. However, the items reported from the Supplemental Data Set vary greatly across States.
The figures in this chapter represent counts of admissions for each primary substance of abuse by gender, age, and race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic of Mexican
origin, Hispanic of Puerto Rican origin,1 American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific
Islander).
1
All Admissions Aged 12 and Older
- The average age at admission was 34 years; 8 percent of admissions were aged 12 to 17 years [Table 2.1a].
- Non-Hispanic Whites made up 60 percent of all treatment admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 (39 percent males and 21 percent females). Non-Hispanic Blacks made up 21 percent of all admissions (15 percent males and 6 percent females) [Table 2.3a].
- Forty-three percent of treatment admissions had not been in treatment before the current episode, while 12 percent had been in treatment five or more times previously [Table 2.5].
- Most admissions (63 percent) were to ambulatory treatment, 1 in 5 (20 percent) were to detoxification, and 17 percent were to rehabilitation/residential treatment [Table 2.7].
- The criminal justice system and self- or individual referrals were responsible for 38 percent and 33 percent, respectively, of referrals to treatment [Table 2.6].
- Less than one-quarter (24 percent) of admissions aged 16 and older were employed [Table 2.8].
- Thirty-three percent of admissions aged 18 and older had not completed high school or a GED [Table 2.9].
Figure 5. All admissions, by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Alcohol Only
- Admissions for abuse of alcohol alone, with no secondary drug abuse, represented 23 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b].
- The average age at admission was 40 years [Table 2.1a]. Abuse of alcohol alone was the problem most likely to be reported by admissions aged 30 and older [Table 2.1b].
- Non-Hispanic Whites made up 68 percent of all alcohol-only admissions (48 percent males and 20 percent females) [Table 2.3a].
- Eighty-eight percent of alcohol-only admissions reported that they first became intoxicated before age 21, the legal drinking age. Almost one-third (31 percent) first became intoxicated by age 14 [Table 2.5].
- Among admissions referred to treatment by the criminal justice system, alcohol-only admissions were more likely than admissions for alcohol with secondary drug abuse to have been referred as a result of a DUI/DWI offense (26 percent vs. 13 percent) [Table 2.6].
- Some 36 percent of alcohol-only admissions aged 16 and older were employed compared with 24 percent of all admissions [Table 2.8].
Figure 6. Alcohol-only admissions, by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Alcohol with Secondary Drug Abuse
- Admissions for primary abuse of alcohol with secondary abuse of drugs represented 18 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b].
- The average age at admission for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse was lower, at 36 years, than for abuse of alcohol alone (40 years) [Table 2.1a].
- Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 60 percent of admissions for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse (43 percent males and 17 percent females). Non-Hispanic Blacks made up 23 percent of admissions (18 percent males and 5 percent females) [Table 2.3a].
- Almost half (47 percent) of admissions for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse first became intoxicated by age 14, and 94 percent first became intoxicated before age 21 (the legal drinking age) [Table 2.5].
- Admissions for primary alcohol with secondary drug abuse were less likely to be in treatment for the first time than alcohol-only admissions (38 percent vs. 49 percent) [Table 2.5].
- Among admissions referred to treatment by the criminal justice system, admissions for alcohol with secondary drug abuse were more likely than alcohol-only admissions to have been referred to treatment as a condition of probation/parole (36 percent vs. 22 percent) [Table 2.6].
- Among admissions for alcohol with secondary drug abuse, marijuana and smoked cocaine were the most frequently reported secondary substances (25 percent and 9 percent, respectively) [Table 3.8].
Figure 7. Alcohol admissions with secondary drug abuse,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Heroin
- Heroin was reported as the primary substance of abuse for 14 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b].
- Fifty-nine percent of primary heroin admissions were non-Hispanic White (38 percent males and 21 percent females). Non-Hispanic Blacks made up 20 percent (13 percent males and 7 percent females) [Table 2.3a]. Among admissions of Puerto Rican origin, 41 percent were for primary heroin abuse [Table 2.2]. See Chapter 3 for additional data on heroin admissions.
- Injection was reported as the usual route of administration by 67 percent of primary heroin
admissions; inhalation was reported by 29 percent. Daily heroin use was reported by 70 percent of primary heroin admissions [Table 2.4].
- Most primary heroin admissions (77 percent) had been in treatment prior to the current episode, and 27 percent had been in treatment five or more times [Table 2.5].
- Primary heroin admissions were less likely than all admissions combined to be referred to treatment by the criminal justice system (15 percent vs. 38 percent) and more likely to be self-referred (55 percent vs. 33 percent) [Table 2.6].
- Medication-assisted opioid therapy was planned for 28 percent of heroin admissions [Table 2.7].
- Only 12 percent of primary heroin admissions aged 16 and older were employed (vs. 24 percent of all admissions); 43 percent were unemployed (vs. 39 percent of all admissions) [Table 2.8].
Figure 8. Heroin admissions, by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Opiates Other than Heroin
- Opiates other than heroin were reported as the primary substance of abuse for 7 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b]. These drugs include methadone, codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, morphine, opium, oxycodone, pentazocine,
propoxyphene, tramadol, and any other drug with morphine-like effects.
- Forty-eight percent of admissions for opiates other than heroin were aged 20 to 29 compared to 30 percent of all admissions [Table 2.1a]. The peak age at admission for both males and females was about 25 years [Figure 9].
- Non-Hispanic Whites made up approximately 88 percent of admissions for primary opiates other than heroin (48 percent males and 41 percent females2) [Table 2.3a].
- Primary opiates other than heroin were most frequently used orally (66 percent), followed by inhalation (18 percent) and injection (13 percent) [Table 2.4].
- Use was initiated relatively late in life. Seventy-eight percent of admissions for opiates other than heroin reported first use after age 17 compared with 48 percent for all substances combined [Table 2.5].
- Medication-assisted opioid therapy was planned for 19 percent of admissions for primary
opiates other than heroin [Table 2.7].
- Sixty-two percent of admissions for primary opiates other than heroin reported abuse of other substances. The most commonly reported secondary substances of abuse were marijuana (25 percent), alcohol (22 percent), and tranquilizers (12 percent) [Table 3.8].
2
Figure 9. Non-heroin opiate admissions,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Smoked Cocaine (Crack)
- Smoked cocaine (crack) was reported as the primary substance of abuse by 7 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b].
- Seventy-three percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions were aged 35 or older compared with 46 percent of all admissions, and the average age at admission was 40 years [Table 2.1a]. Admissions among non-Hispanic Black males peaked at 45 years; admissions among non-Hispanic White males peaked at 44 years of age but had a secondary peak at 38 years of age [Figure 10].
- Non-Hispanic Blacks accounted for 53 percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions
(32 percent males and 21 percent females), and non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 36 percent
(18 percent males and 18 percent females) [Table 2.3a].
- Primary smoked cocaine admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to receive rehabilitation/residential treatment (30 percent vs. 17 percent) [Table 2.7].
- Only 13 percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions aged 16 and older were employed compared with 24 percent of all admissions [Table 2.8].
- Sixty-eight percent of primary smoked cocaine admissions reported abuse of other substances. The most commonly reported secondary substances of abuse were alcohol (47 percent) and marijuana (30 percent) [Table 3.8].
Figure 10. Smoked cocaine (crack) admissions,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Non-Smoked Cocaine
- Non-smoked cocaine was reported as the primary substance of abuse by 3 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b].
- The average age at admission for primary non-smoked cocaine admissions was 36 years [Table 2.1a]. However, the peak age among non-Hispanic White male admissions was 16 years younger than the peak age among non-Hispanic Black male admissions (28 vs. 44 years of age). Admissions among both Non-Hispanic White females and non-Hispanic Black females peaked in their mid-20s [Figure 11].
- Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 49 percent of primary non-smoked cocaine admissions
(30 percent males and 19 percent females), and non-Hispanic Black males accounted for 20 percent. [Table 2.3a].
- Four-fifths (80 percent) of admissions for primary non-smoked cocaine reported inhalation as the route of administration, followed by injection (11 percent) [Table 2.4].
- Non-smoked cocaine admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to be referred to treatment by a community source other than school or employer (15 percent vs. 12 percent) [Table 2.6].
- Seventy percent of admissions for primary non-smoked cocaine reported abuse of additional substances. Alcohol was most common, reported by 42 percent, followed by marijuana (31 percent) [Table 3.8].
Figure 11. Non-smoked cocaine admissions,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Marijuana/Hashish
- Marijuana was reported as the primary substance of abuse by 18 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b].
- The average age at admission for primary marijuana admissions was 24 years, although the peak age at admission for both sexes in all race/ethnicities was 15 to 17 years [Figure 12]. Forty percent of marijuana admissions were under age 20 (vs. 12 percent of all admissions), and
primary marijuana abuse accounted for 70 percent of all admissions aged 12 to 14 years and 72 percent of admissions aged 15 to 17 years [Tables 2.1a-b].
- Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 48 percent of primary marijuana admissions (34 percent males and 14 percent females), and non-Hispanic Black males accounted for 23 percent [Table 2.3a].
- Twenty-five percent of marijuana admissions had first used marijuana by age 12 and another 31 percent by age 14 [Table 2.5].
- Primary marijuana admissions were less likely than all admissions combined to be self-or individually referred to treatment (15 percent vs. 33 percent) [Table 2.6].
- More than 4 in 5 marijuana admissions (84 percent) received ambulatory treatment compared with about 3 in 5 of all admissions combined (63 percent) [Table 2.7].
- Fifty-eight percent of primary marijuana admissions reported abuse of additional substances. Alcohol was reported by 44 percent [Table 3.8].
Figure 12. Marijuana/hashish admissions,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Methamphetamine/Amphetamines
- Methamphetamine/amphetamines were reported as the primary substance of abuse by 6 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b]. Methamphetamine admissions represented 93 percent of this group.
- Primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions averaged 33 years old at admission [Table 2.1a]. Admissions for both sexes in all race/ethnicities peaked in the late 20s; non-Hispanic White male admissions had a secondary peak in their late 30s [Figure 13].
- Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 67 percent of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions (35 percent males and 31 percent females3) [Table 2.3a]. Fourteen percent of all primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions were of Mexican origin [Table 2.2].
- The main routes of administration for primary methamphetamine/amphetamines were smoking (64 percent), injection (21 percent), and inhalation (8 percent) [Table 2.4].
- Primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to be referred to treatment by the criminal justice system (54 percent vs. 38 percent) [Table 2.6].
- Primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to receive long-term rehabilitation/residential treatment (16 percent vs. 8 percent) [Table 2.7].
- Sixty-five percent of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions reported secondary use of other substances, primarily marijuana (35 percent) and alcohol (31 percent) [Table 3.8].
3
Figure 13. Methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Tranquilizers
- Tranquilizers were reported as the primary substance of abuse by less than 1 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b].
- The average age at admission for primary tranquilizers was 33 years [Table 2.1a].
- Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 84 percent of admissions for primary abuse of tranquilizers (42 percent males and 43 percent females4) [Table 2.3a].
- Twenty-two percent of primary tranquilizer admissions first used tranquilizers after age 30 [Table 2.5].
- Primary tranquilizer admissions were the least likely of all admissions to receive ambulatory treatment (44 percent vs. 50 percent or above). They were the most likely of all admissions to receive hospital inpatient detoxification (11 percent vs. 8 percent or below) [Table 2.7].
- Secondary abuse of another substance was reported by 71 percent of primary tranquilizer
admissions. Secondary abuse of alcohol was reported by 27 percent, opiates other than heroin by 26 percent, and marijuana by 23 percent [Table 3.8].
4
Figure 14. Tranquilizer admissions,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Sedatives
- Admissions for primary sedative abuse were responsible for less than one-half of 1 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b].
- Three percent of primary sedative admissions were aged 65 and older compared to less than
1 percent of total admissions [Table 2.1a].
- Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 82 percent of primary sedative admissions (48 percent females and 33 percent males5) [Table 2.3a].
- Twenty-two percent of primary sedative admissions first used sedatives after age 30 [Table 2.5].
- Primary sedative admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to receive short-term
rehabilitation/residential treatment (15 percent vs. 9 percent) [Table 2.7].
- Almost one-third (32 percent) of primary sedative admissions aged 18 and older had more than 12 years of education (vs. 24 percent of all admissions) [Table 2.9].
- Sixty-two percent of primary sedative admissions reported abuse of other substances as well, primarily alcohol (23 percent), marijuana (22 percent), and opiates other than heroin (17 percent) [Table 3.8].
5
Figure 15. Sedative admissions,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Hallucinogens
- Hallucinogens were reported as the primary substance of abuse by one-tenth of 1 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b]. Hallucinogens include LSD, DMT, STP, mescaline, psilocybin, peyote, etc.
- More than one-third (35 percent) of hallucinogen admissions were under age 20 compared to about one-eighth (12 percent) of all admissions combined. Only 25 percent were 30 years of age or older compared to 58 percent of all admissions [Table 2.1a].
- More than two-thirds (70 percent) of admissions for primary hallucinogen abuse were non-Hispanic Whites (49 percent males and 20 percent females6), and non-Hispanic Black males accounted for 13 percent [Table 2.3a].
- Forty-seven percent of primary hallucinogen admissions reported not using the drug in the past month [Table 2.4].
- Primary hallucinogen admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to receive residential treatment (27 percent vs. 17 percent) [Table 2.7].
- Seventy-four percent of primary hallucinogen admissions reported abuse of drugs in addition to hallucinogens, mainly marijuana (43 percent), alcohol (31 percent), and non-smoked cocaine (10 percent) [Table 3.8].
6
Figure 16. Hallucinogen admissions,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Phencyclidine (PCP) was reported as a primary substance of abuse by less than one-half of
1 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b].
- More than one-half (51 percent) of PCP admissions were aged 25 to 34 compared to about one- quarter (27 percent) of all admissions combined [Table 2.1a].
- Non-Hispanic Blacks accounted for 61 percent of primary PCP admissions (38 percent males and 24 percent females7) [Table 2.3a].
- Among admissions referred to treatment through the criminal justice system, primary PCP admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to be referred as a condition of probation/parole (54 percent vs. 38 percent) [Table 2.6].
- Primary PCP admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to receive rehabilitation/residential treatment (31 percent vs. 17 percent), particularly long-term rehabilitation/residential treatment (16 percent vs. 8 percent) [Table 2.7].
- Only 11 percent of PCP admissions aged 18 and older had more than a high school education (vs. 24 percent of all admissions combined) [Table 2.9].
- Seventy-two percent of primary PCP admissions reported abuse of other substances. Marijuana was reported as a secondary substance by 42 percent and alcohol by 35 percent [Table 3.8].
7
Figure 17. Phencyclidine (PCP) admissions,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

Inhalants
- Inhalants were reported as the primary substance of abuse by one-tenth of 1 percent of TEDS admissions aged 12 and older in 2009 [Table 1.1b]. Inhalants include ether, glue, chloroform, nitrous oxide, gasoline, paint thinner, etc.
- Thirteen percent of primary inhalant admissions were aged 12 to 14 years, and another 20
percent were aged 15 to 17 years [Table 2.1a].
- Two-thirds (69 percent) of primary inhalant admissions were non-Hispanic White (42 percent males and 26 percent females8) [Table 2.3a]. Nine percent of all primary inhalant admissions were of Mexican origin [Table 2.2].
- Primary inhalant admissions were more likely than all admissions combined to be referred to treatment by a health care provider other than a substance abuse counselor (11 percent vs. 6 percent) or through the schools (5 percent vs. 1 percent) [Table 2.6].
- Fifty-four percent of primary inhalant admissions reported abuse of other substances, principally alcohol (29 percent) and marijuana (27 percent) [Table 3.8].
- Reflecting their overall youth, inhalant admissions were more likely than all admissions
combined to have a dependent living arrangement (39 percent vs. 22 percent) or Medicaid as the expected source of payment (24 percent vs. 15 percent) [Tables 2.10 and 2.13].
8
Figure 18. Inhalant admissions,
by gender, age, and race/ethnicity: 2009

TO TABLES