Live Session: Epidemiology of Substance Use Disorders & Alcohol—The Most Destructive Drug in America (July 2026)-Epidemiology Presentation

Epidemiology Presentation

Pdf Summary

This presentation on the epidemiology of substance use disorder (SUD) reviewed core epidemiologic concepts and major U.S. surveillance systems used to measure substance use trends. It defined epidemiology as the study of disease distribution and determinants, emphasizing incidence, prevalence, and the epidemiologic triangle (host, agent, environment). The lecture also covered study designs used in epidemiology: case series, case-control studies, and cohort studies, including key measures such as odds ratio and relative risk. It highlighted common biases, especially in clinical settings, including recall, selection, nonresponse, and social desirability bias.<br /><br />The presentation then focused on U.S. SUD surveillance efforts led by NIDA, NIAAA, and SAMHSA. Major datasets included NESARC, NSDUH, and Monitoring the Future (MTF). NESARC Wave 3 found 12-month drug use disorder prevalence of 3.9% and lifetime prevalence of 9.9%, with higher rates in men, younger adults, and certain racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups; treatment rates were low. NSDUH 2024 reported that 58.3% of people age 12+ used tobacco, nicotine, alcohol, or an illicit drug in the past month; 46% used alcohol, 16.7% used tobacco, 9.6% vaped nicotine, 15.4% used cannabis, and 16.7% used an illicit drug. NSDUH also reported 17.1% past-year SUD in 2023. <br /><br />Monitoring the Future showed declining adolescent alcohol and nicotine vaping use and relatively steady cannabis use, with increasing abstinence among middle and high school students. The lecture concluded that epidemiology informs public health and policy, helps target at-risk populations, and that alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis remain the most commonly used substances in the U.S.

Keywords

substance use disorder

epidemiology

incidence

prevalence

NESARC

NSDUH

Monitoring the Future

alcohol use

cannabis use

tobacco vaping