Uninsured need substance abuse help.

• Position: Your Life - Brief article

An estimated 3,000,000 full-time workers without health insurance (16.3% of those employed sans coverage) needed substance abuse treatment in the past year, according to a national survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Washington, D.C. Levels of need particularly were high among those in the 18- to 25-year-old category (24.4%), as well as males overall (19.2%).

Among these uninsured workers at risk, 12.6% received treatment at a specialty facility. More than 80% did not perceive the necessity for treatment, while the remaining 6.6% did perceive the need but still did not receive it. "This tremendous and growing unmet need for substance use disorder treatment among this workforce has a devastating public...