North Carolina Mental Health & Substance Use Statistics (Annual Report)

Did you know that across the United States, 1 in 4 older adults has a mental health or substance use disorder ¹. Substance use statistics show trends in drug and alcohol misuse, overdose deaths, treatment access, and mental health conditions across populations. Such disorders affect the way individuals think, feel, behave, and live. Millions of people suffer from mental health and substance use illnesses in the US. To address these issues, we provided national Substance Use Statistics with clarity and statewide data from North Carolina.

Do you live in Wilmington, NC, and need a behavioral health clinic near you? At EHG of NC, we address substance use addiction and mental health conditions. For fast admissions, call us at 910-335-9102. We offer Inpatient, IOP, and PHP.

Overview of Mental Health & Substance Use in North Carolina

Mental health and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) affect children, teens, adults, and elders in North Carolina.

1. Serious Mental Illness (SMI)

SMI includes conditions that affect a person’s day-to-day life, work, school, or relationships.

• As of July 2023, 1 in 18 adults in North Carolina has a serious mental illness. That is defined as a cognitive, behavioral, or emotional disorder. Often leads to severe impairment and affects life activities ^{2 3}.
• 70% of children who have a mental health diagnosis in North Carolina are not receiving proper treatment ⁴.
• 9.4% of adults in North Carolina aged 65 or older reported poor mental health for 14 or more days in the past 30 days ¹.
• 160,000 children (12-17 year olds) have been diagnosed with depression in NC ⁵

2. Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

Substance use disorder includes uncontrolled alcohol or drug usage.

3. Co-Occurring Disorders

A co-occurring disorder means that the individual has a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and a mental health disorder at the same time.

Regarding the substance use and abuse facts, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that approximately 21.2 million adults had a co–occurring disorder ⁷.

North Carolina Mental Health Statistics

In 2023, 1 in 4 people who died from a drug overdose also had a mental health disorder. The majority of these people were not receiving any treatment ⁸.

1. Causes of Mental Health Illness in NC

The main causes of mental health disorders include:

• Genetics can predispose one to mental health issues.
• Stressful environments, including poverty or abuse.
• Traumatic events, such as losing a loved one.
• Childhood trauma often leaves lasting scars.
• Negative self-talk can trap you in cycles of anxiety and depression.
• Unhealthy habits, like poor sleep and diet.
• Substance abuse complicates addiction recovery statistics.
• Chemical imbalances in the brain are often the root cause.

2. North Carolina Mental Health Rankings (2024)

Here, 51 is the maximum, which means poor health, and starting from 1 means good health ranking: ⁹

Substance Use Statistics in North Carolina

North Carolina ranks 12th in the rate of excessive drinking ¹⁰. 4.1 million adults in North Carolina drink alcohol, which means about 1 in 2 adults. Of those who drink, 1 in 4 adults binge drink, and 1 in 10 adults drink heavily ¹¹.

Causes of Substance Use in NC

In North Carolina, substance use is caused by ¹²:

• Genetics increases susceptibility to addiction.
• Environmental influences can expose individuals to substances.
• Mental health issues, like depression and anxiety.
• Peer pressure and societal norms.
• Economic disparities lead to substance use as a coping mechanism.  

Most Commonly Misused Drug Addiction Statistics

North Carolina has the following population using substances: ¹³

How Many North Carolinians are Affected By Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders?

North Carolina ranks 21st in illicit substance use and 16th in mental health conditions and access to health care ^{14 15}.

• Almost 25% of adults in North Carolina reported symptoms of anxiety and depression related disorders ¹⁶.
• Opioid overdose emergency department (ED) visits across the state increased by up to 43% ¹⁷. 
• April 2024 report showed that rural communities and adults using opioids between the ages of 25-44 had more ED visit rates in the last 12 months.

What are the Drug Overdose Statistics in North Carolina?

Over 12 individuals lost their lives daily due to drug overdoses in North Carolina. The fentanyl related death toll was ¹⁸:

Drug-Involved Overdose Death and Highest Drug Use by State Rates (2023)

The counties with the highest drug overdose death rates per 100,000 residents were ²⁰:

Suicide Rate Statistics in North Carolina

Nationwide, adults living in rural areas are among those at the highest risk for suicide ²¹. Meanwhile, children in rural areas are more likely to die by suicide than their urban counterparts ²². Groups that are most affected by suicide include ⁸:

• Men
• White Individuals
• Native American
• Adults between the ages of 45 and 64
• Veterans (especially those aged 18 to 34)
• Residents of rural areas

Suicide Rates Due To Mental Health Illness

Depression increases the risk of social isolation, hospitalization, and suicide ²³. Poor mental health poses a higher risk of suicide in individuals. In past years:

Behavioral Health Workforce in North Carolina

Despite measures by authorities, there is a huge mental health workforce shortage in NC:

• There were only 347.1 behavioral health providers for every 100,000 population in North Carolina ²⁷.
• 94 out of 100 counties in NC are classified as mental health professional shortage areas ²⁸.

Access to Mental Health & Addiction Treatment in NC

The behavioral health care system deals with the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and mental illnesses.

Availability of Services

Mental health services in NC are struggling due to a shortage of healthcare professionals and facilities.

• 1 out of 5 adults in North Carolina has a mental illness ²⁹.
• 1 in 6 youth ages 6-17 also suffer the same.
• But, only 13% of mental health needs are met.

In emergency rooms: ³

• The median waiting time is 5.25 hours, before leaving without receiving treatment.
• The lack of inpatient beds, outpatient services, and qualified staff causes delays.

In North Carolina, outpatient and residential inpatient treatment are effective in addressing behavioral health conditions: ¹³

Barriers to Behavioral Health Care

In North Carolina, rural areas have fewer mental health resources, and there is a psychologist and psychiatrist shortage compared to their urban counterparts ³⁰.

• 30 counties have no active licensed psychologist ²².
• 25 counties have no active licensed psychologist associate.
• The rural population has lower health insurance coverage.

State Behavioral Health Initiatives of North Carolina

North Carolina has initiated several initiatives to enhance substance use and mental health treatment. These include ³¹:

Comparison of North Carolina Vs Other US States Offering SU and MH Treatment

According to the National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (NSUMHSS), the table compares North Carolina with 19 other U.S. states regarding facilities offering substance use and mental health treatment ³².

Find Mental Health & Substance Use Treatment That Works for You

You are not alone in suffering. Thousands of North Carolinians suffer from substance use and mental health disorders every year. To cope with this, consider a suitable treatment at the Empower Health Group of the North Carolina Behavioral Health Clinic:

Call us at 910-335-9102 to get treatment for addiction and mental illness. Verify your insurance online.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Mental Health & Substance Abuse in NC

Regarding Mental Health & Substance Use Statistics, people commonly ask:

What Substance Has The Highest Rate Of Relapse?

Nicotine, heroin, and alcohol have a higher risk of relapse over 1 year, in the range of 80-95% ³³.

Which Therapy Is Successful In Treating Addiction?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps individuals address the underlying causes of mental illness that contribute to their substance use disorder. CBT helps the individual to identify, avoid, and handle situations where they are likely to relapse and use drugs or alcohol ³⁴.

At What Age Do Most Drug Addictions Start?

As per PubMed research, the median age for drug consumption is 16 years. ³⁵

What Is The Success Rate Of Mental Therapy?

In a classic study, 75% patients improved after receiving mental health therapy for six months ³⁶.

What is The North Carolina Controlled Substances Act?

As per the act, only DEA-registered individuals may order controlled substances. Experts who want to order Schedule I and II substances need to use the US DEA order form 222 ³⁷.

What Is The Most Used Drug In The US?

In the US, alcohol is the most used substance. In 2024, approximately 57.9 million people ages 12 and older reported binge drinking ³⁸.

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