Young Adults Face the Largest Gap in Substance Use Treatment
Substance use treatment remains out of reach for many people who need it, but young adults experience the greatest barriers. In 2024, only about one in nine young adults ages 18 to 25 who needed substance use treatment actually received care. Nearly ninety percent went without treatment, making this age group the most affected by unmet need.
This gap does not exist because treatment is ineffective. Evidence based substance use treatment works. Counseling, behavioral therapies, and medication assisted treatment reduce overdose risk, improve physical and mental health, and support long term stability. When treatment is accessible and timely, outcomes improve. The issue is not whether treatment works. The issue is whether people are able to access it when they need it.
Young adulthood is a critical window for intervention. It is often when substance use escalates and when early treatment can prevent long term harm. At the same time, young adults face unique challenges that delay or prevent care. These include gaps in health insurance, limited knowledge of available services, fear of stigma, concerns about confidentiality, and difficulty navigating complex health systems independently. For many, the first attempt to seek help becomes a barrier instead of a bridge to treatment.
Delays in treatment can have serious consequences. Without support, substance use can worsen, mental health can decline, and the risk of overdose increases. Missed opportunities for early intervention often lead to more intensive needs later. Closing the treatment gap for young adults is not only a public health priority. It is a matter of preventing avoidable harm.
In Rhode Island, resources exist to help connect young adults to care. BH Link provides twenty four hour access to behavioral health services by phone, text, or walk in. Rhode Island Safe Stations offer immediate connections to treatment through participating fire stations. These access points are designed to reduce delays and help people enter treatment as quickly as possible.
Ensuring that young adults can access substance use treatment requires continued attention to awareness, access, and timely connection to care. Treatment saves lives, but only when it is available and reachable. Addressing the treatment gap for young adults is essential to improving outcomes for individuals, families, and communities across Rhode Island.
References
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2024 Annual National Report. Published 2025.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Evidence based substance use treatment and medication assisted treatment guidance.
BH Link Rhode Island and RI Safe Stations access information.