OLDER ADULTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFILES

REGION 10

WA

OR

ID

ALASKA

IDAHO

OREGON

WASHINGTON AK

A Behavioral Health Resource

SAMHSA’s State Technical Assistance Contract 

September 2016
OLDER ADULTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFILES

Developed under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s State Technical Assistance 

Task Order. Reference #HHSS283201200002I/Task Order No. HHSS28342002T.

OVERVIEW

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

recognizes the importance of behavioral health for older adults and 

the key role states and communities play in addressing the needs of this 

vital and growing population. Administrators need clear and concise 

information to plan, implement, and evaluate effective prevention and 

treatment efforts in their states. 

The Older Adults Behavioral Health Profiles help states and communities 

identify focus areas for behavioral health plans, select population-level 

goals, and coordinate and target services to address priority issues. The 

profiles compare state trends with those in the region and the nation. 

State and community administrators, planners, and providers can use 

the information in these profiles and their own data, knowledge, and 

experience to establish and implement policies that improve the 

health and future of our valued older citizens.

Disclaimer: Data were current at the time this document was prepared.
OLDER ADULTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFILE

Alaska
September 2016

OLDER ADULTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFILE

ALASKA’S POPULATION

Alaska Population by Age Group

Alaska is home to 736,732 people. 

Of these:

• 214,814 (29.2 percent) are over age 50.

• 111,461 (15.1 percent) are over age 60.

• 40,398 (5.5 percent) are over age 70.

• 12,492 (1.7 percent) are ages 80 and 

older.

The proportion of women rises fairly 

steadily in each age group, and women 

make up 59.3 percent of the 80+ group. 

The racial/ethnic composition of older 

Alaskans is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity of Alaskans 

Ages 50+

White AI/AN Black Asian NH/PI Other Hispanic

75.8% 12.1% 2.8% 5.9% 0.6% 2.8% 3.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015

AI/AN stands for American Indian and Alaska Native. 

NH/PI stands for Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.

Exhibit 1. Alaska Population by Age Group, 2014

55 52

70

54

47

54

37

14

5 

52

47

55

48

43

50

34

14

7 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

0 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 to 79 80+

Male Female

Population in 1,000s

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015

The Number of Older Alaskans Is Growing

The proportion of Alaska’s population 

that is 65 and older is growing while 

the proportion that is younger than 65 

is shrinking. The U.S. Census Bureau 

estimates that 14.7 percent of Alaska’s 

population will be 65 and older by the 

year 2030, an increase of 69.6 percent 

from 2015.

Projected Population in Alaska

Age Group 2015 2025 2030

Under 18 27.2% 28.8% 28.7%

18 to 44 38.2% 39.0% 38.7%

45 to 64 24.3% 18.2% 17.9%

65+ 10.2% 14.0% 14.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005

Exhibit 2. Alaska Population by Age Group, 2000–2030

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Under 18 18 to 44 45 to 64 65+

Population in 1,000s

Alaska
2

Alaska Alaska Profile 2016

SUICIDE AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN REGION 10

Region 10 Suicide Rate Compared With National Rates

Suicide data for Alaskans of various ages 

were unavailable for 2013. Therefore, 

the rates for Region 10 (including Idaho, 

Oregon, and Washington) are used 

instead.

The suicide rate among individuals ages 

50+ in Region 10 was higher than the 

rate among younger age groups. In 2013, 

the total suicide rate among all people 

ages 50+ was 22.8 per 100,000 people 

(10.7 for women and 36.2 for men). The 

rate among those ages 50–64 was higher 

than the rate in the United States.

States vary in their reporting of suicides. 

The suicide rate is influenced by these 

reporting practices.

Exhibit 3. Suicide Rates in Region 10 and the United 

States, 2013

16.6

13.5

23.4

22.0

13.0

10.6

19.0

16.1

0

5

10

15

20

25

All Under 50 50 to 64 65+

Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population 

Region 10 U.S.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center 

for Health Statistics (NCHS), Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2013 on CDC 

WONDER Online Database, released 2015

Trends in Suicide Rates in Region 10

Suicide data for Alaskans of various 

ages were unavailable. Therefore, the 

rates for Region 10 are used instead.

The suicide rate among individuals in 

Region 10 ages 50+ fluctuated from 

a low of 19.3 per 100,000 in 2006 to 

a high of 22.8 per 100,000 in 2013. 

From 2004 to 2013, the rate was 

generally highest among those in the 

50–64 age group.

How a state reports suicides can 

vary from year to year. The number 

of suicides is generally low, so even a 

small difference in reported numbers 

may make the rate fluctuate widely.

Exhibit 4. Trends in Suicide Rates in Region 10 by Age 

Group, 2004–2013

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

All ages Under 50 50+ 50 to 64 65+

Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population

Source: CDC, NCHS, Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2013 on CDC WONDER 

Online Database, released 2015
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Alaska Alaska Profile 2016

3

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER 

TREATMENT AMONG OLDER ALASKANS

30-Day Binge Drinking Among Older Alaskans

Binge drinking, defined as five or more 

drinks for men and four or more drinks for 

women on a single occasion, can lead to 

serious health problems. Such problems 

include neurological damage, cardiovascular 

disease, liver disease, stroke, and poor 

control of diabetes. Binge drinkers are 

more likely to take risks such as driving 

while intoxicated and to experience falls 

and other accidents. Older people have a 

lower tolerance for alcohol. Binge drinking 

decreases with age and occurs more 

frequently among men than it does among 

women. As Exhibit 5 shows, 17.3 percent 

of Alaska men ages 50–64 reported 

binge drinking in the past 30 days, while 

9.5 percent of those in the 65+ group 

reported similar behavior.

Exhibit 5. Binge Drinking Rates in Alaska by Age Group 

and Sex, 2013

29.6%

17.3%

9.5%

20.3%

9.5%

4.6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Male Female

Proportion of Population Engaging in Binge Drinking

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2013

Illicit Drug Use Among Older Americans

Nationally, the rate of illicit drug use 

among older adults ages 50–64 more 

than doubled from 2002 to 2013. 

This development partially reflects the 

entrance into this age group of the 

baby boom cohort, whose rates of 

illicit drug use have been higher than 

those of older cohorts. Although statespecific data are not available, the 

Alaska Behavioral Health Barometer

is available for download from the 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration (SAMHSA) 

website (www.samhsa.gov/data 

/population-data-nsduh 

/reports?tab=33).

Exhibit 6. Illicit Drug Use Among Older Americans, 

2002–2013

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 64

Proportion Using in Past Month

Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2013

Illicit drug use includes illegal drugs and prescription drugs used nonmedically. SAMHSA 

provides a list of drugs included in its survey in the NSDUH methodological summary.
4

Alaska Alaska Profile 2016

Admissions to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Among Older Alaskans

In 2012, there were 1,185 admissions 

of Alaskans ages 50 and older 

to substance use disorder (SUD) 

treatment in state-funded treatment 

programs, a rate of 551.6 per 100,000 

people ages 50+. This rate was higher 

than the regional rate and the national 

average. Men made up 72.9 percent 

of these admissions. Of all admissions, 

33.1 percent were White/Caucasian, 

2.0 percent were Black/African 

American, and 1.2 percent were 

Hispanic.

The principal sources of referral to 

treatment among those ages 50 and 

older were: 

Self-Referral Criminal Justice Other

42.0% 17.0% 41.1%

Exhibit 7. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ 

in Alaska, Region 10, and the United States by Sex, 2012

785.4

372.8 383.2

306.3

158.0

120.3

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Alaska Region 10 U.S.

Male Female

SUD Admission Rate per 100,000 Population

Source: Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 20121

1

 TEDS data are collected by states as a condition of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. Guidelines suggest that states report all clients 

admitted to publicly financed treatment; however, states are inconsistent in applying the guidelines. States may structure and implement different quality controls 

over the data. For example, states may collect different categories of information to answer TEDS questions. Information is then “walked over” to TEDS definitions.

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.

SUD Treatment Admissions Among Alaskans Ages 50+ by Insurance Type 

In Alaska, 61.3 percent of older adult 

admissions to SUD treatment were 

uninsured, 12.2 percent had Medicaid, 

20.5 percent had Medicare, and 

6.0 percent had private insurance.

SUD Treatment Admissions Among 

Alaskans Ages 50+ by Primary Sources 

of Payment

Self-Pay Medicaid Other

67.6% 14.2% 18.2%

Self-pay data include private insurance.

Exhibit 8 and the accompanying text reflect the type of 

health insurance (if any) clients had at admission; the table 

above represents primary sources of payment.

Exhibit 8. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ 

in Alaska, Region 10, and the United States by Insurance 

Type, 2012

6.0%

12.2%

20.5%

61.3%

14.2%

2.4%

28.1%

55.3%

14.9%

20.4%

10.8%

53.9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Private Medicaid Medicare None

Alaska Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ by Insurance Type

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Alaska Alaska Profile 2016

5

Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Admissions Among Alaskans Ages 50+

Alcohol was the most frequently cited 

substance used by older Alaskans in 

publicly financed SUD treatment in 

2012. It was mentioned as a substance 

of use in 91.7 percent of admissions 

among those ages 50+. This was 

higher than the regional and national 

rates.

Exhibit 9. Alcohol Use Treatment Admissions of Adults 

Ages 50+ in Alaska, Region 10, and the United States, 

2012

91.7%

68.4%

62.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Alaska Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Primary Alcohol Use Disorder

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.

SUD Treatment Admissions for Non-Alcohol Substance Use

Substances other than alcohol were 

cited as the primary substances of 

use for 8.3 percent of older adult 

admissions to publicly funded 

treatment in Alaska.

Exhibit 10. Non-Alcohol Substance Use Treatment 

Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ in Alaska, Region 10, 

and the United States, 2012

8.3%

31.6%

37.9%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Alaska Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Other Primary Substance Use Disorder

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
6

Alaska Alaska Profile 2016

Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits Involving Pharmaceutical Misuse 

and Abuse by Older Adults

SAMHSA periodically releases reports from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). DAWN, discontinued 

in 2011, consisted of a nationwide network of hospital emergency departments (EDs) primarily located in 

large metropolitan areas. DAWN data consist of professional reviews of ED records to determine the extent 

to which alcohol and other substance abuse was involved in ED visits. According to the November 25, 2010, 

DAWN Report:

• In 2004, there were an estimated 115,803 ED visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse by adults 

aged 50 or older; in 2008, there were 256,097 such visits, representing an increase of 121.1 percent 

• One fifth (19.7 percent) of ED visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse among older adults were 

made by persons aged 70 or older 

• Among ED visits made by older adults, pain relievers were the type of pharmaceutical most commonly 

involved (43.5 percent), followed by drugs used to treat anxiety or insomnia (31.8 percent) and 

antidepressants (8.6 percent) 

• Among patients aged 50 or older who visited the ED for pharmaceutical misuse or abuse, more than half 

(52.3 percent) were treated and released, and more than one third (37.5 percent) were admitted to the 

hospital 

Bulleted text in italics above is taken from SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2010, November 25). The DAWN Report: Drugrelated emergency department visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse by older adults. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA.

CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL DISORDERS

Older Alaskans in SUD Treatment With Co-Occurring Mental Disorders

The national literature shows a strong 

relationship between substance use 

and mental disorders. Studies show 

that 30–80 percent of individuals with a 

substance use or mental disorder also 

have a co-occurring disorder. 

Exhibit 11 shows the proportion of 

SUD treatment admissions of Alaskans 

ages 50+ with a co-occurring mental 

disorder. This rate is higher than the 

regional rate and the national average. 

However, state reporting practices are 

a factor in these results.

Exhibit 11. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ 

With a Co-Occurring Mental Disorder in Alaska, Region 10, 

and the United States, 2012

43.0%

39.2%

33.7%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Alaska Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Co-Occurring Disorders

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Alaska Alaska Profile 2016

7

MENTAL HEALTH

Older Alaskans Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

BRFSS, a household survey conducted 

in all 50 states and several territories, 

asks the following question: “Now 

thinking about your mental health, 

which includes stress, depression, 

and problems with emotions, for how 

many days during the past 30 days 

was your mental health not good?” 

Those individuals reporting 14 or more 

“Yes” days in response to this question 

experience frequent mental distress 

(FMD). Exhibit 12 shows that Alaskans in 

the 50–64 age group experience FMD 

at a rate that is lower than the regional 

and national rates, while those in the 

65+ age group experience it at a rate 

that is roughly similar to the regional 

and national rates.

Exhibit 12. Individuals Reporting Frequent Mental Distress 

in Alaska, Region 10, and the United States, 2013

9.9%

8.3%

7.2%

13.5%

12.0%

7.1%

12.3%

13.0%

7.2%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Alaska Region 10 U.S.

Proportion Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

Source: BRFSS, 2013

Older Alaskans Reporting Frequent Mental Distress by Age Group and Sex

Older men in Alaska were more likely 

to indulge in binge drinking, but older 

women were more likely to report that 

they had FMD (14 days or more per 

30-day period). As Exhibit 13 shows, 

10.3 percent of women in the 50–64 age 

group and 7.7 percent in the 65+ age 

group reported FMD, while 6.4 percent 

of men in the 50–64 age group and 6.6 

percent in the 65+ age group reported 

FMD.

Exhibit 13. Alaskans Reporting Frequent Mental Distress 

by Age Group and Sex, 2013

6.9%

13.1% 

6.4% 

10.3% 

6.6% 

7.7% 

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

Male Female

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Proportion Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

Source: BRFSS, 2013
8

Alaska Alaska Profile 2016

Other Measures of Mental Health

BRFSS collected other measures showing risk factors for mental and/or physical illness. These included:

• Social and Emotional Support (2010). BRFSS asked, “How often do you get the social and emotional 

support you need?” The possible responses were always, usually, sometimes, rarely, or never. 

• Life Satisfaction (2010). BRFSS asked, “In general, how satisfied are you with your life?” The possible 

responses were very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied.

Exhibit 14 presents the results of these surveys among older Alaskans.

Exhibit 14. BRFSS Measures, 2010

Indicator Ages 50+ Ages 50–64 Ages 65+

Rarely or never get social 

or emotional support 9.6% 8.0% 13.4%

Dissatisfied or very 

dissatisfied 4.9% 5.0% 4.7%

Source: BRFSS, 2010

Individuals With Frequent Mental Distress Report High Rates of Poor Physical 

Health

Older Americans who experienced FMD 

were more likely to report that their 

physical health was poor (14 days or 

more in the past 30-day period when 

physical health was “not good”). As 

shown in Exhibit 15, although nearly 

11 percent of older Americans with no 

mental distress reported poor physical 

health, more than 50 percent of those 

with FMD reported poor physical health.

Exhibit 15. Individuals Ages 50+ in the United States 

Reporting Poor Physical Health by Level of Mental 

Distress, 2013

10.8%

18.1%

52.4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

No mental distress Some mental distress Frequent mental distress

Proportion Reporting Poor Physical Health

Source: BRFSS, 2013
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Alaska Alaska Profile 2016

9

Relationship Among Mental Distress, Diabetes, Stroke, Heart Attack, 

High Blood Pressure, and Coronary Disease

Older Americans who experience FMD 

are more likely to report that they have 

health problems. People with FMD 

were more than twice as likely to report 

having a stroke than those with some 

or no mental distress. They experienced 

coronary disease and heart attack at 

more than 1.6 times, diabetes at more 

than 1.4 times, and high blood pressure 

at nearly 1.2 times the rate of those with 

some or no mental distress.

Exhibit 16. Individuals Ages 50+ in the United States 

With Mental Distress and Serious Health Problems, 2013

10.1%

13.3% 13.2%

25.9%

60.6%

4.7%

7.6% 7.8%

17.7%

51.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Stroke Coronary disease Heart attack Diabetes High blood pressure

Frequent mental distress Some or no mental distress

Proportion Reporting Health Problems by Mental Health Category

Source: BRFSS, 2013

Older Alaskans Admitted to State Mental Health Services

Approximately 2.9 percent of the people served by the Alaska mental health system were ages 65 and 

older. This represents more than 650 adults.

Source: Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Uniform Reporting System (URS) Output Tables, 2014
10 Alaska Alaska Profile 2016

DATA SOURCES

BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (www.cdc.gov/brfss). BRFSS, managed by CDC, 

is the largest ongoing telephone health survey system in the world, tracking health conditions and risk 

behaviors in the United States annually since 1984. Data are collected on a monthly basis in all 50 states, 

the District of Columbia, and participating territories. BRFSS data are collected by local jurisdictions and 

reported to CDC.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH 

STATISTICS, UNDERLYING CAUSE OF DEATH 1999-2013 ON CDC WONDER ONLINE DATABASE, 

RELEASED 2015 (http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html). The WONDER online database “contains 

mortality and population counts for all U.S. counties. Data are based on death certificates for U.S. 

residents. Each death certificate identifies a single underlying cause of death and demographic data. 

The number of deaths, crude death rates or age-adjusted death rates, and 95% confidence intervals 

and standard errors for death rates can be obtained by place of residence (total U.S., region, state and 

county), age group (single-year-of age, 5-year age groups, 10-year age groups and infant age groups), 

race, Hispanic ethnicity, gender, year, cause-of-death (4-digit ICD-10 code or group of codes), injury 

intent and injury mechanism, drug/alcohol induced causes and urbanization categories. Data are also 

available for place of death, month and week day of death, and whether an autopsy was performed.”

CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES UNIFORM REPORTING SYSTEM (www.samhsa.gov/data 

/us_map). States that receive CMHS Block Grants are required to report aggregate data to URS. URS 

reports include information about utilization of mental health services and client demographic and 

outcome information.

NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH (https://nsduhweb.rti.org). The NSDUH, managed 

by SAMHSA, is “an annual nationwide survey involving interviews with approximately 70,000 randomly 

selected individuals aged 12 and older.” NSDUH data are most frequently used by state planners 

to assess the need for SUD treatment. NSDUH data also include information about mental health 

conditions.

TREATMENT EPISODE DATA SET (www.samhsa.gov/data/client-level-data-teds/reports?tab=19). States 

that receive Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funds submit individual client data 

to TEDS. TEDS includes both admission and discharge data sets, and some 1.5 million admissions are 

reported annually. TEDS includes information about utilization of SUD treatment services and client 

demographic and outcome information. TEDS is an admission-based system, and TEDS admissions do 

not represent individuals. Thus, an individual admitted to treatment twice within a calendar year would 

be counted as two admissions.

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU (www.census.gov/people). Two main sources of Census Bureau data were used 

in this report: (1) population estimates and (2) population projections.
OLDER ADULTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFILE

Idaho
September 2016

OLDER ADULTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFILE

IDAHO’S POPULATION

Idaho Population by Age Group

Idaho is home to 1,634,464 people. 

Of these:

• 537,540 (32.9 percent) are over age 50.

• 328,788 (20.1 percent) are over age 60.

• 153,364 (9.4 percent) are over age 70.

• 54,697 (3.3 percent) are ages 80 and 

older.

The proportion of women rises fairly 

steadily in each age group, and women 

make up 59.1 percent of the 80+ group. 

The racial/ethnic composition of older 

Idahoans is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity of Idahoans 

Ages 50+

White AI/AN Black Asian NH/PI Other Hispanic

96.2% 1.2% 0.4% 1.1% 0.1% 1.0% 5.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015

AI/AN stands for American Indian and Alaska Native. 

NH/PI stands for Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.

Exhibit 1. Idaho Population by Age Group, 2014

121 121 113 107

97 103

87

48

22

116 116

107 104

96

106

89

51

32

0

50

100

150

200

250

0 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 to 79 80+

Male Female

Population in 1,000s

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015

The Number of Older Idahoans Is Growing

The proportion of Idaho’s population 

that is 65 and older is growing while 

the proportion that is younger than 65 

is shrinking. The U.S. Census Bureau 

estimates that 18.3 percent of Idaho’s 

population will be 65 and older by the 

year 2030, an increase of 64.0 percent 

from 2015.

Projected Population in Idaho

Age Group 2015 2025 2030

Under 18 26.2% 25.2% 24.7%

18 to 44 35.8% 34.0% 32.7%

45 to 64 24.5% 23.5% 24.3%

65+ 13.5% 17.3% 18.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005

Exhibit 2. Idaho Population by Age Group, 2000–2030

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Under 18 18 to 44 45 to 64 65+

Population in 1,000s

Idaho
2

Idaho Idaho Profile 2016

SUICIDE AMONG OLDER IDAHOANS

Idaho Suicide Rate Compared With Regional and National Rates

The suicide rate among Idahoans ages 

50 and older is higher than the rate 

among younger age groups. In 2013, the 

total suicide rate among all people ages 

50+ was 25.5 per 100,000 people (9.2 

for women and 43.0 for men). The rate 

among those ages 50–64 was higher than 

both the rate in the region (including 

Alaska, Oregon, and Washington) and the 

rate in the United States.

States vary in their reporting of suicides. 

The suicide rate is influenced by these 

reporting practices.

Exhibit 3. Suicide Rates in Idaho, Region 10, and the 

United States, 2013

19.1

16.0

25.5 25.5

16.6

13.5

23.4

22.0

13.0

10.6

19.0

16.1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

All Under 50 50 to 64 65+

Idaho Region 10 U.S.

Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center 

for Health Statistics (NCHS), Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2013 on CDC 

WONDER Online Database, released 2015

Trends in Suicide Rates in Idaho

The suicide rate among Idahoans 

ages 50+ fluctuated from a low of 

18.2 per 100,000 in 2006 to a high 

of 27.5 per 100,000 in 2010. From 

2004 to 2013, the rate was generally 

highest among those in the 50–64 

age group.

How a state reports suicides can 

vary from year to year. The number 

of suicides is generally low, so even a 

small difference in reported numbers 

may make the rate fluctuate widely.

Exhibit 4. Trends in Suicide Rates in Idaho by Age Group, 

2004–2013

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

All ages Under 50 50+ 50 to 64 65+

Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population

Source: CDC, NCHS, Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2013 on CDC WONDER 

Online Database, released 2015
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Idaho Idaho Profile 2016

3

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER 

TREATMENT AMONG OLDER IDAHOANS

30-Day Binge Drinking Among Older Idahoans

Binge drinking, defined as five or more 

drinks for men and four or more drinks for 

women on a single occasion, can lead to 

serious health problems. Such problems 

include neurological damage, cardiovascular 

disease, liver disease, stroke, and poor 

control of diabetes. Binge drinkers are 

more likely to take risks such as driving 

while intoxicated and to experience 

falls and other accidents. Older people 

have a lower tolerance for alcohol. Binge 

drinking decreases with age and occurs 

more frequently among men than it does 

among women. As Exhibit 5 shows, 11.2 

percent of Idaho men ages 50–64 reported 

binge drinking in the past 30 days, while 

7.3 percent of those in the 65+ group 

reported similar behavior. 

Exhibit 5. Binge Drinking Rates in Idaho by Age Group 

and Sex, 2013

25.8%

11.2% 

7.3%

15.6%

8.0%

2.3%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Male Female

Proportion of Population Engaging in Binge Drinking

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2013

Illicit Drug Use Among Older Americans

Nationally, the rate of illicit drug use 

among older adults ages 50–64 more 

than doubled from 2002 to 2013. 

This development partially reflects 

the entrance into this age group of 

the baby boom cohort, whose rates 

of illicit drug use have been higher 

than those of older cohorts. Although 

state-specific data are not available, 

the Idaho Behavioral Health Barometer

is available for download from the 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration (SAMHSA) 

website (www.samhsa.gov/data 

/population-data-nsduh 

/reports?tab=33).

Exhibit 6. Illicit Drug Use Among Older Americans, 

2002–2013

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 64

Proportion Using in Past Month

Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2013

Illicit drug use includes illegal drugs and prescription drugs used nonmedically. SAMHSA 

provides a list of drugs included in its survey in the NSDUH methodological summary.
4

Idaho Idaho Profile 2016

Admissions to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Among Older Idahoans

In 2012, there were 512 admissions 

of Idahoans ages 50 and older 

to substance use disorder (SUD) 

treatment in state-funded treatment 

programs, a rate of 95.2 per 100,000 

people ages 50+. This rate was lower 

than both the regional rate and the 

national average. Men made up 

72.7 percent of these admissions. Of all 

admissions, 90.2 percent were White/

Caucasian, 1.0 percent were Black/

African American, and 6.7 percent were 

Hispanic.

The principal sources of referral to 

treatment among those ages 50 and 

older were: 

Self-Referral Criminal Justice Other

6.4% 74.6% 18.9%

Exhibit 7. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ 

in Idaho, Region 10, and the United States by Sex, 2012

143.3

372.8 383.2

50.4

158.0

120.3

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Idaho Region 10 U.S.

Male Female

SUD Admission Rate per 100,000 Population

Source: Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 20121

1

 TEDS data are collected by states as a condition of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. Guidelines suggest that states report all clients 

admitted to publicly financed treatment; however, states are inconsistent in applying the guidelines. States may structure and implement different quality controls 

over the data. For example, states may collect different categories of information to answer TEDS questions. Information is then “walked over” to TEDS definitions.

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.

SUD Treatment Admissions Among Individuals in Region 10 Ages 50+ by 

Insurance Type

States may choose not to report some of 

the fields to TEDS, including information 

on treatment admission insurance types. 

These data were not reported by Idaho in 

2012. Therefore, the rates for Region 10 

are used instead.

In Region 10, 55.3 percent of older adult 

admissions to SUD treatment were 

uninsured, 2.4 percent had Medicaid, 

28.1 percent had Medicare, and 

14.2 percent had private insurance.

SUD Treatment Admissions Among 

Idahoans Ages 50+ by Primary Sources 

of Payment

Self-Pay Medicaid Other

1.4% 0.2% 98.4%

Self-pay data include private insurance.

Exhibit 8 and the accompanying text reflect the type of 

health insurance (if any) clients had at admission; the table 

above represents primary sources of payment.

Exhibit 8. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ 

in Region 10 and the United States by Insurance Type, 2012

14.2%

2.4%

28.1%

55.3%

14.9%

20.4%

10.8%

53.9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Private Medicaid Medicare None

Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ by Insurance Type

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Idaho Idaho Profile 2016

5

Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Admissions Among Idahoans Ages 50+

Alcohol was the most frequently cited 

substance used by older Idahoans in 

publicly financed SUD treatment in 

2012. It was mentioned as a substance 

of use in 64.1 percent of admissions 

among those ages 50+. This was lower 

than the regional rate and higher than 

the national rate.

Exhibit 9. Alcohol Use Treatment Admissions of Adults 

Ages 50+ in Idaho, Region 10, and the United States, 2012

64.1%

68.4%

62.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Idaho Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Primary Alcohol Use Disorder

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.

SUD Treatment Admissions for Non-Alcohol Substance Use

Substances other than alcohol were 

cited as the primary substances of 

use for 35.9 percent of older adult 

admissions to publicly funded 

treatment in Idaho.

Exhibit 10. Non-Alcohol Substance Use Treatment 

Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ in Idaho, Region 10, and 

the United States, 2012

35.9%

31.6%

37.9%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Idaho Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Other Primary Substance Use Disorder

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
6

Idaho Idaho Profile 2016

Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits Involving Pharmaceutical Misuse 

and Abuse by Older Adults

SAMHSA periodically releases reports from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). DAWN, discontinued 

in 2011, consisted of a nationwide network of hospital emergency departments (EDs) primarily located in 

large metropolitan areas. DAWN data consist of professional reviews of ED records to determine the extent 

to which alcohol and other substance abuse was involved in ED visits. According to the November 25, 2010, 

DAWN Report:

• In 2004, there were an estimated 115,803 ED visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse by adults 

aged 50 or older; in 2008, there were 256,097 such visits, representing an increase of 121.1 percent 

• One fifth (19.7 percent) of ED visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse among older adults were 

made by persons aged 70 or older 

• Among ED visits made by older adults, pain relievers were the type of pharmaceutical most commonly 

involved (43.5 percent), followed by drugs used to treat anxiety or insomnia (31.8 percent) and 

antidepressants (8.6 percent) 

• Among patients aged 50 or older who visited the ED for pharmaceutical misuse or abuse, more than half 

(52.3 percent) were treated and released, and more than one third (37.5 percent) were admitted to the 

hospital 

Bulleted text in italics above is taken from SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2010, November 25). The DAWN Report: Drugrelated emergency department visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse by older adults. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA.

CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL DISORDERS

Older Idahoans in SUD Treatment With Co-Occurring Mental Disorders

The national literature shows a strong 

relationship between substance use 

and mental disorders. Studies show 

that 30–80 percent of individuals with a 

substance use or mental disorder also 

have a co-occurring disorder. 

Exhibit 11 shows the proportion 

of SUD treatment admissions of 

Idahoans ages 50+ with a co-occurring 

mental disorder. This rate is higher 

than the regional rate and the national 

average. However, state reporting 

practices are a factor in these results.

Exhibit 11. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ 

With a Co-Occurring Mental Disorder in Idaho, Region 10, 

and the United States, 2012

40.5% 39.2%

33.7%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Idaho Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Co-Occurring Disorders

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Idaho Idaho Profile 2016

7

MENTAL HEALTH

Older Idahoans Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

BRFSS, a household survey conducted 

in all 50 states and several territories, 

asks the following question: “Now 

thinking about your mental health, 

which includes stress, depression, 

and problems with emotions, for how 

many days during the past 30 days 

was your mental health not good?” 

Those individuals reporting 14 or more 

“Yes” days in response to this question 

experience frequent mental distress 

(FMD). Exhibit 12 shows that Idahoans 

in the 50–64 age group experience FMD 

at a rate that is lower than the regional 

and national rates, while those in the 

65+ age group experience it at a rate 

that is higher than the regional and 

national rates.

Exhibit 12. Individuals Reporting Frequent Mental Distress 

in Idaho, Region 10, and the United States, 2013

12.4%

11.8%

7.6%

13.5%

12.0%

7.1%

12.3%

13.0%

7.2%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Idaho Region 10 U.S.

Proportion Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

Source: BRFSS, 2013

Older Idahoans Reporting Frequent Mental Distress by Age Group and Sex

Older men in Idaho were more likely 

to indulge in binge drinking, but older 

women were more likely to report that 

they had FMD (14 days or more per 

30-day period). As Exhibit 13 shows, 

16.1 percent of women in the 50–64 age 

group and 8.6 percent in the 65+ age 

group reported FMD, while 7.4 percent 

of men in the 50–64 age group and 

6.3 percent in the 65+ age group 

reported FMD.

Exhibit 13. Idahoans Reporting Frequent Mental 

Distress by Age Group and Sex, 2013

10.6%

14.2%

7.4%

16.1%

6.3%

8.6%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

Male Female

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Proportion Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

Source: BRFSS, 2013
8

Idaho Idaho Profile 2016

Other Measures of Mental Health

BRFSS collected other measures showing risk factors for mental and/or physical illness. These included:

• Social and Emotional Support (2010). BRFSS asked, “How often do you get the social and emotional 

support you need?” The possible responses were always, usually, sometimes, rarely, or never.

• Life Satisfaction (2010). BRFSS asked, “In general, how satisfied are you with your life?” The possible 

responses were very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied.

Exhibit 14 presents the results of these surveys among older Idahoans.

Exhibit 14. BRFSS Measures, 2010

Indicator Ages 50+ Ages 50–64 Ages 65+

Rarely or never get social 

or emotional support 7.2% 5.2% 10.2%

Dissatisfied or very 

dissatisfied 4.5% 5.4% 3.1%

Source: BRFSS, 2010

Individuals With Frequent Mental Distress Report High Rates of Poor Physical 

Health

Older Americans who experienced FMD 

were more likely to report that their 

physical health was poor (14 days or 

more in the past 30-day period when 

physical health was “not good”). As 

shown in Exhibit 15, although nearly 

11 percent of older Americans with no 

mental distress reported poor physical 

health, more than 50 percent of those 

with FMD reported poor physical health.

Exhibit 15. Individuals Ages 50+ in the United States 

Reporting Poor Physical Health by Level of Mental 

Distress, 2013

10.8%

18.1%

52.4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

No mental distress Some mental distress Frequent mental distress

Proportion Reporting Poor Physical Health

Source: BRFSS, 2013
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Idaho Idaho Profile 2016

9

Relationship Among Mental Distress, Diabetes, Stroke, Heart Attack, 

High Blood Pressure, and Coronary Disease

Older Americans who experience FMD 

are more likely to report that they have 

health problems. People with FMD 

were more than twice as likely to report 

having a stroke than those with some 

or no mental distress. They experienced 

coronary disease and heart attack at 

more than 1.6 times, diabetes at more 

than 1.4 times, and high blood pressure 

at nearly 1.2 times the rate of those with 

some or no mental distress.

Exhibit 16. Individuals Ages 50+ in the United States 

With Mental Distress and Serious Health Problems, 2013

10.1%

13.3% 13.2%

25.9%

60.6%

4.7%

7.6% 7.8%

17.7%

51.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Stroke Coronary disease Heart attack Diabetes High blood pressure

Frequent mental distress Some or no mental distress

Proportion Reporting Health Problems by Mental Health Category

Source: BRFSS, 2013

Older Idahoans Admitted to State Mental Health Services

Approximately 2.9 percent of the people served by the Idaho mental health system were ages 65 and older. 

This represents more than 400 adults.

Source: Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Uniform Reporting System (URS) Output Tables, 2014
10 Idaho Idaho Profile 2016

DATA SOURCES

BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (www.cdc.gov/brfss). BRFSS, managed by CDC, 

is the largest ongoing telephone health survey system in the world, tracking health conditions and risk 

behaviors in the United States annually since 1984. Data are collected on a monthly basis in all 50 states, 

the District of Columbia, and participating territories. BRFSS data are collected by local jurisdictions and 

reported to CDC.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH 

STATISTICS, UNDERLYING CAUSE OF DEATH 1999-2013 ON CDC WONDER ONLINE DATABASE, 

RELEASED 2015 (http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html). The WONDER online database “contains 

mortality and population counts for all U.S. counties. Data are based on death certificates for U.S. 

residents. Each death certificate identifies a single underlying cause of death and demographic data. 

The number of deaths, crude death rates or age-adjusted death rates, and 95% confidence intervals 

and standard errors for death rates can be obtained by place of residence (total U.S., region, state and 

county), age group (single-year-of age, 5-year age groups, 10-year age groups and infant age groups), 

race, Hispanic ethnicity, gender, year, cause-of-death (4-digit ICD-10 code or group of codes), injury 

intent and injury mechanism, drug/alcohol induced causes and urbanization categories. Data are also 

available for place of death, month and week day of death, and whether an autopsy was performed.”

CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES UNIFORM REPORTING SYSTEM (www.samhsa.gov/data 

/us_map). States that receive CMHS Block Grants are required to report aggregate data to URS. URS 

reports include information about utilization of mental health services and client demographic and 

outcome information.

NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH (https://nsduhweb.rti.org). The NSDUH, managed 

by SAMHSA, is “an annual nationwide survey involving interviews with approximately 70,000 randomly 

selected individuals aged 12 and older.” NSDUH data are most frequently used by state planners 

to assess the need for SUD treatment. NSDUH data also include information about mental health 

conditions.

TREATMENT EPISODE DATA SET (www.samhsa.gov/data/client-level-data-teds/reports?tab=19). States 

that receive Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funds submit individual client data 

to TEDS. TEDS includes both admission and discharge data sets, and some 1.5 million admissions are 

reported annually. TEDS includes information about utilization of SUD treatment services and client 

demographic and outcome information. TEDS is an admission-based system, and TEDS admissions do 

not represent individuals. Thus, an individual admitted to treatment twice within a calendar year would 

be counted as two admissions.

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU (www.census.gov/people). Two main sources of Census Bureau data were used 

in this report: (1) population estimates and (2) population projections.
OLDER ADULTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFILE

Oregon
September 2016

OLDER ADULTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFILE

OREGON’S POPULATION

Oregon Population by Age Group

Oregon is home to 3,970,239 people. 

Of these:

• 1,440,764 (36.3 percent) are over age 50.

• 899,941 (22.7 percent) are over age 60.

• 413,683 (10.4 percent) are over age 70.

• 156,467 (3.9 percent) are ages 80 and 

older.

The proportion of women rises fairly 

steadily in each age group, and women 

make up 60.8 percent of the 80+ group. 

The racial/ethnic composition of older 

Oregonians is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity of Oregonians 

Ages 50+

White AI/AN Black Asian NH/PI Other Hispanic

92.6% 1.2% 1.3% 3.1% 0.2% 1.5% 4.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015

AI/AN stands for American Indian and Alaska Native. 

NH/PI stands for Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.

Exhibit 1. Oregon Population by Age Group, 2014

241 248 271 271 254 264

234

121

61

230 237

264 267

248

277

252

136

95

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 to 79 80+

Male Female

Population in 1,000s

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015

The Number of Older Oregonians Is Growing

The proportion of Oregon’s population 

that is 65 and older is growing while 

the proportion that is younger than 65 

is shrinking. The U.S. Census Bureau 

estimates that 18.2 percent of Oregon’s 

population will be 65 and older by the 

year 2030, an increase of 49.3 percent 

from 2015.

Projected Population in Oregon

Age Group 2015 2025 2030

Under 18 22.8% 23.2% 23.1%

18 to 44 36.6% 35.5% 34.9%

45 to 64 25.8% 23.6% 23.7%

65+ 14.7% 17.8% 18.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005

Exhibit 2. Oregon Population by Age Group, 2000–2030

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Under 18 18 to 44 45 to 64 65+

Population in 1,000s

Oregon
2

Oregon Oregon Profile 2016

SUICIDE AMONG OLDER OREGONIANS

Oregon Suicide Rate Compared With Regional and National Rates

The suicide rate among Oregonians 

ages 50 and older is higher than the rate 

among younger age groups. In 2013, the 

total suicide rate among all people ages 

50+ was 24.9 per 100,000 people (11.5 

for women and 39.9 for men). The rate 

among those ages 50–64 was higher than 

both the rate in the region (including 

Alaska, Idaho, and Washington) and the 

rate in the United States.

States vary in their reporting of suicides. 

The suicide rate is influenced by these 

reporting practices.

Exhibit 3. Suicide Rates in Oregon, Region 10, and the 

United States, 2013

17.8

13.7

26.4

22.9

16.6

13.5

23.4

22.0

13.0

10.6

19.0

16.1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

All Under 50 50 to 64 65+

Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population 

Oregon Region 10 U.S.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center 

for Health Statistics (NCHS), Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2013 on CDC 

WONDER Online Database, released 2015

Trends in Suicide Rates in Oregon

The suicide rate among Oregonians 

ages 50+ fluctuated from a low of 

19.8 per 100,000 in 2008 to a high 

of 25.9 per 100,000 in 2012. From 

2004 to 2013, the rate was generally 

highest among those in the 50–64 

and 65+ age groups.

How a state reports suicides can 

vary from year to year. The number 

of suicides is generally low, so even a 

small difference in reported numbers 

may make the rate fluctuate widely.

Exhibit 4. Trends in Suicide Rates in Oregon by Age Group, 

2004–2013

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

All ages Under 50 50+ 50 to 64 65+

Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population

Source: CDC, NCHS, Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2013 on CDC WONDER 

Online Database, released 2015
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Oregon Profile 2016

3

Oregon

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER 

TREATMENT AMONG OLDER OREGONIANS

30-Day Binge Drinking Among Older Oregonians

Binge drinking, defined as five or more 

drinks for men and four or more drinks for 

women on a single occasion, can lead to 

serious health problems. Such problems 

include neurological damage, cardiovascular 

disease, liver disease, stroke, and poor 

control of diabetes. Binge drinkers are 

more likely to take risks such as driving 

while intoxicated and to experience falls 

and other accidents. Older people have a 

lower tolerance for alcohol. Binge drinking 

decreases with age and occurs more 

frequently among men than it does among 

women. As Exhibit 5 shows, 14.7 percent 

of Oregon men ages 50–64 reported 

binge drinking in the past 30 days, while 

7.6 percent of those in the 65+ group 

reported similar behavior.

Exhibit 5. Binge Drinking Rates in Oregon by Age Group 

and Sex, 2013

28.6%

14.7% 

7.6%

18.6%

8.3%

3.3%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Male Female

Proportion of Population Engaging in Binge Drinking

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2013

Illicit Drug Use Among Older Americans

Nationally, the rate of illicit drug use 

among older adults ages 50–64 more 

than doubled from 2002 to 2013. 

This development partially reflects the 

entrance into this age group of the 

baby boom cohort, whose rates of 

illicit drug use have been higher than 

those of older cohorts. Although statespecific data are not available, the 

Oregon Behavioral Health Barometer

is available for download from the 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration (SAMHSA) 

website (www.samhsa.gov/data 

/population-data-nsduh 

/reports?tab=33).

Exhibit 6. Illicit Drug Use Among Older Americans, 

2002–2013

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 64

Proportion Using in Past Month

Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2013

Illicit drug use includes illegal drugs and prescription drugs used nonmedically. SAMHSA 

provides a list of drugs included in its survey in the NSDUH methodological summary.
4

Oregon Oregon Profile 2016

Admissions to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Among Older Oregonians

In 2012, there were 5,762 admissions 

of Oregonians ages 50 and older 

to substance use disorder (SUD) 

treatment in state-funded treatment 

programs, a rate of 399.9 per 100,000 

people ages 50+. This rate was higher 

than the regional rate and the national 

average. Men made up 69.1 percent 

of these admissions. Of all admissions, 

87.9 percent were White/Caucasian, 

5.8 percent were Black/African 

American, and 4.2 percent were 

Hispanic.

The principal sources of referral to 

treatment among those ages 50 and 

older were: 

Self-Referral Criminal Justice Other

33.0% 59.0% 8.1%

Exhibit 7. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ 

in Oregon, Region 10, and the United States by Sex, 2012

585.7

372.8 383.2

233.8

158.0

120.3

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Oregon Region 10 U.S.

Male Female

SUD Admission Rate per 100,000 Population

Source: Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 20121

1

 TEDS data are collected by states as a condition of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. Guidelines suggest that states report all clients 

admitted to publicly financed treatment; however, states are inconsistent in applying the guidelines. States may structure and implement different quality controls 

over the data. For example, states may collect different categories of information to answer TEDS questions. Information is then “walked over” to TEDS definitions.

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.

SUD Treatment Admissions Among Oregonians Ages 50+ by Insurance Type 

In Oregon, 54.2 percent of older adult 

admissions to SUD treatment were 

uninsured, 0.6 percent had Medicaid, 

29.5 percent had Medicare, and 

15.7 percent had private insurance.

SUD Treatment Admissions Among 

Oregonians Ages 50+ by Primary 

Sources of Payment

Self-Pay Medicaid Other

Data not 

available

Data not 

available

Data not 

available

Exhibit 8 and the accompanying text reflect the type of 

health insurance (if any) clients had at admission; the table 

above represents primary sources of payment.

Exhibit 8. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ 

in Oregon, Region 10, and the United States by Insurance 

Type, 2012

15.7%

29.5%

54.2%

14.2%

2.4%

28.1%

55.3%

14.9%

20.4%

10.8%

53.9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Private Medicaid Medicare None

Oregon Region 10 U.S.

0.6%

Proportion of SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ by Insurance Type

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Oregon Profile 2016

5

Oregon

Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Admissions Among Oregonians Ages 50+

Alcohol was the most frequently cited 

substance used by older Oregonians 

in publicly financed SUD treatment in 

2012. It was mentioned as a substance 

of use in 70.3 percent of admissions 

among those ages 50+. This was 

higher than the regional and national 

rates.

Exhibit 9. Alcohol Use Treatment Admissions of Adults 

Ages 50+ in Oregon, Region 10, and the United States, 

2012

70.3% 68.4%

62.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Oregon Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Primary Alcohol Use Disorder

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.

SUD Treatment Admissions for Non-Alcohol Substance Use

Substances other than alcohol were 

cited as the primary substances of 

use for 29.7 percent of older adult 

admissions to publicly funded 

treatment in Oregon.

Exhibit 10. Non-Alcohol Substance Use Treatment 

Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ in Oregon, Region 10, 

and the United States, 2012

29.7%

31.6%

37.9%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Oregon Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Other Primary Substance Use Disorder

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
6

Oregon Oregon Profile 2016

Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits Involving Pharmaceutical Misuse 

and Abuse by Older Adults

SAMHSA periodically releases reports from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). DAWN, discontinued 

in 2011, consisted of a nationwide network of hospital emergency departments (EDs) primarily located in 

large metropolitan areas. DAWN data consist of professional reviews of ED records to determine the extent 

to which alcohol and other substance abuse was involved in ED visits. According to the November 25, 2010, 

DAWN Report:

• In 2004, there were an estimated 115,803 ED visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse by adults 

aged 50 or older; in 2008, there were 256,097 such visits, representing an increase of 121.1 percent 

• One fifth (19.7 percent) of ED visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse among older adults were 

made by persons aged 70 or older 

• Among ED visits made by older adults, pain relievers were the type of pharmaceutical most commonly 

involved (43.5 percent), followed by drugs used to treat anxiety or insomnia (31.8 percent) and 

antidepressants (8.6 percent) 

• Among patients aged 50 or older who visited the ED for pharmaceutical misuse or abuse, more than half 

(52.3 percent) were treated and released, and more than one third (37.5 percent) were admitted to the 

hospital 

Bulleted text in italics above is taken from SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2010, November 25). The DAWN Report: Drugrelated emergency department visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse by older adults. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA.

CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL DISORDERS

Older Adults in Region 10 in SUD Treatment With Co-Occurring Mental Disorders

The national literature shows a strong 

relationship between substance use 

and mental disorders. Studies show 

that 30–80 percent of individuals with a 

substance use or mental disorder also 

have a co-occurring disorder. 

States may choose not to report 

some of the fields to TEDS, including 

information on SUD treatment 

admissions with a co-occurring 

disorder. These data were not 

reported by Oregon in 2012. 

Therefore, Exhibit 11 shows regional 

and national figures only.

Exhibit 11. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ 

With a Co-Occurring Mental Disorder in Region 10 and the 

United States, 2012

39.2%

33.7%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Co-Occurring Disorders

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Oregon Profile 2016

7

Oregon

MENTAL HEALTH

Older Oregonians Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

BRFSS, a household survey conducted 

in all 50 states and several territories, 

asks the following question: “Now 

thinking about your mental health, 

which includes stress, depression, 

and problems with emotions, for how 

many days during the past 30 days 

was your mental health not good?” 

Those individuals reporting 14 or more 

“Yes” days in response to this question 

experience frequent mental distress 

(FMD). Exhibit 12 shows that older 

Oregonians experience FMD at a rate 

that is higher than the regional and 

national rates.

Exhibit 12. Individuals Reporting Frequent Mental Distress 

in Oregon, Region 10, and the United States, 2013

14.8%

14.0%

7.9%

13.5%

12.0%

7.1%

12.3%

13.0%

7.2%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Oregon Region 10 U.S.

Proportion Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

Source: BRFSS, 2013

Older Oregonians Reporting Frequent Mental Distress by Age Group and Sex

Older men in Oregon were more likely 

to indulge in binge drinking, but older 

women were more likely to report that 

they had FMD (14 days or more per 

30-day period). As Exhibit 13 shows, 

17.2 percent of women in the 50–64 age 

group and 9.5 percent in the 65+ age 

group reported FMD, while 10.8 percent 

of men in the 50–64 age group and 

6.0 percent in the 65+ age group 

reported FMD.

Exhibit 13. Oregonians Reporting Frequent Mental 

Distress by Age Group and Sex, 2013

13.0%

16.6%

10.8%

17.2%

6.0%

9.5%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%

Male Female

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Proportion Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

Source: BRFSS, 2013
8

Oregon Oregon Profile 2016

Other Measures of Mental Health

BRFSS collected other measures showing risk factors for mental and/or physical illness. These included:

• Social and Emotional Support (2010). BRFSS asked, “How often do you get the social and emotional 

support you need?” The possible responses were always, usually, sometimes, rarely, or never. 

• Life Satisfaction (2010). BRFSS asked, “In general, how satisfied are you with your life?” The possible 

responses were very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied.

Exhibit 14 presents the results of these surveys among older Oregonians.

Exhibit 14. BRFSS Measures, 2010

Indicator Ages 50+ Ages 50–64 Ages 65+

Rarely or never get social 

or emotional support 6.5% 6.3% 6.8%

Dissatisfied or very 

dissatisfied 5.6% 6.7% 4.0%

Source: BRFSS, 2010

Individuals With Frequent Mental Distress Report High Rates of Poor Physical 

Health

Older Americans who experienced FMD 

were more likely to report that their 

physical health was poor (14 days or 

more in the past 30-day period when 

physical health was “not good”). As 

shown in Exhibit 15, although nearly 

11 percent of older Americans with no 

mental distress reported poor physical 

health, more than 50 percent of those 

with FMD reported poor physical health.

Exhibit 15. Individuals Ages 50+ in the United States 

Reporting Poor Physical Health by Level of Mental 

Distress, 2013

10.8%

18.1%

52.4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

No mental distress Some mental distress Frequent mental distress

Proportion Reporting Poor Physical Health

Source: BRFSS, 2013
Alabama ALABAMA Profile 2015 Oregon Profile 2016

9

Oregon

Relationship Among Mental Distress, Diabetes, Stroke, Heart Attack, 

High Blood Pressure, and Coronary Disease

Older Americans who experience FMD 

are more likely to report that they have 

health problems. People with FMD 

were more than twice as likely to report 

having a stroke than those with some 

or no mental distress. They experienced 

coronary disease and heart attack at 

more than 1.6 times, diabetes at more 

than 1.4 times, and high blood pressure 

at nearly 1.2 times the rate of those with 

some or no mental distress.

Exhibit 16. Individuals Ages 50+ in the United States 

With Mental Distress and Serious Health Problems, 2013

10.1%

13.3% 13.2%

25.9%

60.6%

4.7%

7.6% 7.8%

17.7%

51.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Stroke Coronary disease Heart attack Diabetes High blood pressure

Frequent mental distress Some or no mental distress

Proportion Reporting Health Problems by Mental Health Category

Source: BRFSS, 2013

Older Oregonians Admitted to State Mental Health Services

Approximately 4.2 percent of the people served by the Oregon mental health system were ages 65 and 

older. This represents more than 5,080 adults.

Source: Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Uniform Reporting System (URS) Output Tables, 2014
10 Oregon Oregon Profile 2016

DATA SOURCES

BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (www.cdc.gov/brfss). BRFSS, managed by CDC, 

is the largest ongoing telephone health survey system in the world, tracking health conditions and risk 

behaviors in the United States annually since 1984. Data are collected on a monthly basis in all 50 states, 

the District of Columbia, and participating territories. BRFSS data are collected by local jurisdictions and 

reported to CDC.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH 

STATISTICS, UNDERLYING CAUSE OF DEATH 1999-2013 ON CDC WONDER ONLINE DATABASE, 

RELEASED 2015 (http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html). The WONDER online database “contains 

mortality and population counts for all U.S. counties. Data are based on death certificates for U.S. 

residents. Each death certificate identifies a single underlying cause of death and demographic data. 

The number of deaths, crude death rates or age-adjusted death rates, and 95% confidence intervals 

and standard errors for death rates can be obtained by place of residence (total U.S., region, state and 

county), age group (single-year-of age, 5-year age groups, 10-year age groups and infant age groups), 

race, Hispanic ethnicity, gender, year, cause-of-death (4-digit ICD-10 code or group of codes), injury 

intent and injury mechanism, drug/alcohol induced causes and urbanization categories. Data are also 

available for place of death, month and week day of death, and whether an autopsy was performed.”

CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES UNIFORM REPORTING SYSTEM (www.samhsa.gov/data 

/us_map). States that receive CMHS Block Grants are required to report aggregate data to URS. URS 

reports include information about utilization of mental health services and client demographic and 

outcome information.

NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH (https://nsduhweb.rti.org). The NSDUH, managed 

by SAMHSA, is “an annual nationwide survey involving interviews with approximately 70,000 randomly 

selected individuals aged 12 and older.” NSDUH data are most frequently used by state planners 

to assess the need for SUD treatment. NSDUH data also include information about mental health 

conditions.

TREATMENT EPISODE DATA SET (www.samhsa.gov/data/client-level-data-teds/reports?tab=19). States 

that receive Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funds submit individual client data 

to TEDS. TEDS includes both admission and discharge data sets, and some 1.5 million admissions are 

reported annually. TEDS includes information about utilization of SUD treatment services and client 

demographic and outcome information. TEDS is an admission-based system, and TEDS admissions do 

not represent individuals. Thus, an individual admitted to treatment twice within a calendar year would 

be counted as two admissions.

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU (www.census.gov/people). Two main sources of Census Bureau data were used 

in this report: (1) population estimates and (2) population projections.
OLDER ADULTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFILE

Washington
September 2016

OLDER ADULTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFILE

WASHINGTON’S POPULATION

Washington Population by Age Group

Washington is home to 7,061,530 people. 

Of these:

• 2,396,923 (33.9 percent) are over age 50.

• 1,422,309 (20.1 percent) are over age 60.

• 642,968 (9.1 percent) are over age 70.

• 242,195 (3.4 percent) are ages 80 and 

older.

The proportion of women rises fairly 

steadily in each age group, and women 

make up 61.1 percent of the 80+ group. 

The racial/ethnic composition of older 

Washingtonians is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity of Washingtonians 

Ages 50+

White AI/AN Black Asian NH/PI Other Hispanic

87.2% 1.3% 2.8% 6.7% 0.4% 1.6% 4.6%

Exhibit 1. Washington Population by Age Group, 2014

458 450

527 493 461 483

376

189

94

438 428

484 474

452

492

404

212

148

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

0 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 to 79 80+

Male Female

Population in 1,000s

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2015

AI/AN stands for American Indian and Alaska Native. 

NH/PI stands for Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.

The Number of Older Washingtonians Is Growing

The proportion of Washington’s 

population that is 65 and older is 

growing while the proportion that is 

younger than 65 is shrinking. The U.S. 

Census Bureau estimates that 18.1 

percent of Washington’s population will 

be 65 and older by the year 2030, an 

increase of 62.0 percent from 2015.

Projected Population in Washington

Age Group 2015 2025 2030

Under 18 22.5% 22.9% 22.8%

18 to 44 37.3% 36.9% 36.7%

45 to 64 26.4% 22.9% 22.4%

65+ 13.9% 17.3% 18.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005

Exhibit 2. Washington Population by Age Group, 

2000–2030

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Under 18 18 to 44 45 to 64 65+

Population in 1,000s

Washington
2

Washington Washington Profile 2016

SUICIDE AMONG OLDER WASHINGTONIANS

Washington Suicide Rate Compared With Regional and National Rates

Exhibit 3. Suicide Rates in Washington, Region 10, and 

the United States, 2013

14.7

11.4

22.0

20.4

16.6

13.5

23.4

22.0

13.0

10.6

19.0

16.1

0

5

10

15

20

25

All Under 50 50 to 64 65+

Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population 

Washington Region 10 U.S.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center 

for Health Statistics (NCHS), Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2013 on CDC 

WONDER Online Database, released 2015

Trends in Suicide Rates in Washington

The suicide rate among 

Washingtonians ages 50+ fluctuated 

from a low of 18.2 per 100,000 in 

2006 to a high of 21.3 per 100,000 in 

2011 and 2013. From 2004 to 2013, 

the rate was generally highest among 

those in the 50–64 age group.

How a state reports suicides can 

vary from year to year. The number 

of suicides is generally low, so even a 

small difference in reported numbers 

may make the rate fluctuate widely.

The suicide rate among Washingtonians 

ages 50 and older is higher than the rate 

among younger age groups. In 2013, the 

total suicide rate among all people ages 

50+ was 21.3 per 100,000 people (10.5 

for women and 33.3 for men). The rate 

among those ages 50–64 was lower than 

the rate in the region (including Alaska, 

Idaho, and Oregon) and higher than the 

rate in the United States.

States vary in their reporting of suicides. 

The suicide rate is influenced by these 

reporting practices.

Exhibit 4. Trends in Suicide Rates in Washington by Age 

Group, 2004–2013

0

5

10

15

20

25

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

All ages Under 50 50+ 50 to 64 65+

Suicide Rate per 100,000 Population

Source: CDC, NCHS, Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2013 on CDC WONDER 

Online Database, released 2015
Alabama Washington Profile 2016 ALABAMA Profile 2015

3

Washington

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER 

TREATMENT AMONG OLDER WASHINGTONIANS

30-Day Binge Drinking Among Older Washingtonians

Binge drinking, defined as five or more 

drinks for men and four or more drinks for 

women on a single occasion, can lead to 

serious health problems. Such problems 

include neurological damage, cardiovascular 

disease, liver disease, stroke, and poor 

control of diabetes. Binge drinkers are 

more likely to take risks such as driving 

while intoxicated and to experience falls 

and other accidents. Older people have a 

lower tolerance for alcohol. Binge drinking 

decreases with age and occurs more 

frequently among men than it does among 

women. As Exhibit 5 shows, 16.2 percent 

of Washington men ages 50–64 reported 

binge drinking in the past 30 days, while 

6.7 percent of those in the 65+ group 

reported similar behavior.

Exhibit 5. Binge Drinking Rates in Washington by Age 

Group and Sex, 2013

28.3%

16.2% 

6.7%

17.4%

9.7%

3.2%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Male Female

Proportion of Population Engaging in Binge Drinking

Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2013

Illicit Drug Use Among Older Americans

Nationally, the rate of illicit drug use 

among older adults ages 50–64 more 

than doubled from 2002 to 2013. 

This development partially reflects 

the entrance into this age group of 

the baby boom cohort, whose rates 

of illicit drug use have been higher 

than those of older cohorts. Although 

state-specific data are not available, 

the Washington Behavioral Health 

Barometer is available for download 

from the Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration 

(SAMHSA) website (www.samhsa.gov 

/data/population-data-nsduh 

/reports?tab=33).

Exhibit 6. Illicit Drug Use Among Older Americans, 

2002–2013

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 64

Proportion Using in Past Month

Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2013

Illicit drug use includes illegal drugs and prescription drugs used nonmedically. SAMHSA 

provides a list of drugs included in its survey in the NSDUH methodological summary.
4

Washington Washington Profile 2016

Admissions to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Among Older Washingtonians

In 2012, there were 3,983 admissions 

of Washingtonians ages 50 and older 

to substance use disorder (SUD) 

treatment in state-funded treatment 

programs, a rate of 166.2 per 100,000 

people ages 50+. This rate was 

lower than the regional rate and the 

national average. Men made up 

65.5 percent of these admissions. Of all 

admissions, 70.1 percent were White/

Caucasian, 12.5 percent were Black/

African American, and 5.9 percent were 

Hispanic.

The principal sources of referral to 

treatment among those ages 50 and 

older were: 

Self-Referral Criminal Justice Other

18.0% 39.5% 42.5%

Exhibit 7. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ in 

Washington, Region 10, and the United States by Sex, 2012

228.6

372.8 383.2

109.5

158.0

120.3

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Washington Region 10 U.S.

Male Female

SUD Admission Rate per 100,000 Population

Source: Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 20121

1

 TEDS data are collected by states as a condition of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. Guidelines suggest that states report all clients 

admitted to publicly financed treatment; however, states are inconsistent in applying the guidelines. States may structure and implement different quality controls 

over the data. For example, states may collect different categories of information to answer TEDS questions. Information is then “walked over” to TEDS definitions.

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.

SUD Treatment Admissions Among Individuals in Region 10 Ages 50+ by 

Insurance Type

States may choose not to report some of 

the fields to TEDS, including information 

on treatment admission insurance 

types. These data were not reported by 

Washington in 2012. Therefore, the rates 

for Region 10 are used instead.

In Region 10, 55.3 percent of older adult 

admissions to SUD treatment were 

uninsured, 2.4 percent had Medicaid, 

28.1 percent had Medicare, and 

14.2 percent had private insurance.

SUD Treatment Admissions Among 

Washingtonians Ages 50+ by Primary 

Sources of Payment

Self-Pay Medicaid Other

Data not 

available

Data not 

available

Data not 

available

Exhibit 8 and the accompanying text reflect the type of health 

insurance (if any) clients had at admission; the table above 

represents primary sources of payment.

Exhibit 8. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ 

in Region 10 and the United States by Insurance Type, 2012

14.2%

2.4%

28.1%

55.3%

14.9%

20.4%

10.8%

53.9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Private Medicaid Medicare None

Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ by Insurance Type

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
Alabama Washington Profile 2016 ALABAMA Profile 2015

5

Washington

Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Admissions Among Washingtonians Ages 50+

Alcohol was the most frequently 

cited substance used by older 

Washingtonians in publicly financed 

SUD treatment in 2012. It was 

mentioned as a substance of use in 

59.3 percent of admissions among 

those ages 50+. This was lower than 

the regional and national rates.

Exhibit 9. Alcohol Use Treatment Admissions of Adults 

Ages 50+ in Washington, Region 10, and the United 

States, 2012

59.3%

68.4%

62.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Washington Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Primary Alcohol Use Disorder

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.

SUD Treatment Admissions for Non-Alcohol Substance Use

Substances other than alcohol were 

cited as the primary substances of 

use for 40.7 percent of older adult 

admissions to publicly funded 

treatment in Washington.

Exhibit 10. Non-Alcohol Substance Use Treatment 

Admissions of Adults Ages 50+ in Washington, Region 10, 

and the United States, 2012

40.7%

31.6%

37.9%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Washington Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Other Primary Substance Use Disorder

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
6

Washington Washington Profile 2016

Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits Involving Pharmaceutical Misuse 

and Abuse by Older Adults

SAMHSA periodically releases reports from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). DAWN, discontinued 

in 2011, consisted of a nationwide network of hospital emergency departments (EDs) primarily located in 

large metropolitan areas. DAWN data consist of professional reviews of ED records to determine the extent 

to which alcohol and other substance abuse was involved in ED visits. According to the November 25, 2010, 

DAWN Report:

• In 2004, there were an estimated 115,803 ED visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse by adults 

aged 50 or older; in 2008, there were 256,097 such visits, representing an increase of 121.1 percent 

• One fifth (19.7 percent) of ED visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse among older adults were 

made by persons aged 70 or older 

• Among ED visits made by older adults, pain relievers were the type of pharmaceutical most commonly 

involved (43.5 percent), followed by drugs used to treat anxiety or insomnia (31.8 percent) and 

antidepressants (8.6 percent) 

• Among patients aged 50 or older who visited the ED for pharmaceutical misuse or abuse, more than half 

(52.3 percent) were treated and released, and more than one third (37.5 percent) were admitted to the 

hospital 

Bulleted text in italics above is taken from SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2010, November 25). The DAWN Report: Drugrelated emergency department visits involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse by older adults. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA.

CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL DISORDERS

Older Washingtonians in SUD Treatment With Co-Occurring Mental Disorders

The national literature shows a strong 

relationship between substance use 

and mental disorders. Studies show 

that 30–80 percent of individuals with a 

substance use or mental disorder also 

have a co-occurring disorder. 

Exhibit 11 shows the proportion 

of SUD treatment admissions of 

Washingtonians ages 50+ with a cooccurring mental disorder. This rate is 

lower than the regional rate and higher 

than the national average. However, 

state reporting practices are a factor in 

these results.

Exhibit 11. SUD Treatment Admissions of Adults Ages 

50+ With a Co-Occurring Mental Disorder in Washington, 

Region 10, and the United States, 2012

38.0% 39.2%

33.7%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Washington Region 10 U.S.

Proportion of Treatment Admissions 50+ With Co-Occurring Disorders

Source: TEDS, 2012

Data include only those clients reported to SAMHSA.
Alabama Washington Profile 2016 ALABAMA Profile 2015

7

Washington

MENTAL HEALTH

Older Washingtonians Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

BRFSS, a household survey conducted 

in all 50 states and several territories, 

asks the following question: “Now 

thinking about your mental health, 

which includes stress, depression, 

and problems with emotions, for how 

many days during the past 30 days 

was your mental health not good?” 

Those individuals reporting 14 or more 

“Yes” days in response to this question 

experience frequent mental distress 

(FMD). Exhibit 12 shows that older 

Washingtonians experience FMD at a 

rate that is lower than the regional and 

national rates.

Exhibit 12. Individuals Reporting Frequent Mental Distress 

in Washington, Region 10, and the United States, 2013

13.4%

11.3%

6.5%

13.5%

12.0%

7.1%

12.3%

13.0%

7.2%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Washington Region 10 U.S.

Proportion Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

Source: BRFSS, 2013

Older Washingtonians Reporting Frequent Mental Distress by Age Group 

and Sex

Older men in Washington were more 

likely to indulge in binge drinking, but 

older women were more likely to report 

that they had FMD (14 days or more 

per 30-day period). As Exhibit 13 shows, 

12.4 percent of women in the 50–64 age 

group and 6.7 percent in the 65+ age 

group reported FMD, while 10.3 percent 

of men in the 50–64 age group and 6.3 

percent in the 65+ age group reported 

FMD.

Exhibit 13. Washingtonians Reporting Frequent Mental 

Distress by Age Group and Sex, 2013

9.3%

17.7%

10.3%

12.4%

6.3% 6.7%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%

Male Female

18 to 49 50 to 64 65+

Proportion Reporting Frequent Mental Distress

Source: BRFSS, 2013
8

Washington Washington Profile 2016

Other Measures of Mental Health

BRFSS collected other measures showing risk factors for mental and/or physical illness. These included:

• Social and Emotional Support (2010). BRFSS asked, “How often do you get the social and emotional 

support you need?” The possible responses were always, usually, sometimes, rarely, or never. 

• Life Satisfaction (2010). BRFSS asked, “In general, how satisfied are you with your life?” The possible 

responses were very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied.

Exhibit 14 presents the results of these surveys among older Washingtonians.

Exhibit 14. BRFSS Measures, 2010

Indicator Ages 50+ Ages 50–64 Ages 65+

Rarely or never get social 

or emotional support 6.1% 5.2% 7.7%

Dissatisfied or very 

dissatisfied 4.8% 6.0% 3.0%

Source: BRFSS, 2010

Individuals With Frequent Mental Distress Report High Rates of Poor Physical 

Health

Older Americans who experienced FMD 

were more likely to report that their 

physical health was poor (14 days or 

more in the past 30-day period when 

physical health was “not good”). As 

shown in Exhibit 15, although nearly 

11 percent of older Americans with no 

mental distress reported poor physical 

health, more than 50 percent of those 

with FMD reported poor physical health.

Exhibit 15. Individuals Ages 50+ in the United States 

Reporting Poor Physical Health by Level of Mental 

Distress, 2013

10.8%

18.1%

52.4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

No mental distress Some mental distress Frequent mental distress

Proportion Reporting Poor Physical Health

Source: BRFSS, 2013
Alabama Washington Profile 2016 ALABAMA Profile 2015

9

Washington

Relationship Among Mental Distress, Diabetes, Stroke, Heart Attack, 

High Blood Pressure, and Coronary Disease

Older Americans who experience FMD 

are more likely to report that they have 

health problems. People with FMD 

were more than twice as likely to report 

having a stroke than those with some 

or no mental distress. They experienced 

coronary disease and heart attack at 

more than 1.6 times, diabetes at more 

than 1.4 times, and high blood pressure 

at nearly 1.2 times the rate of those with 

some or no mental distress.

Exhibit 16. Individuals Ages 50+ in the United States 

With Mental Distress and Serious Health Problems, 2013

10.1%

13.3% 13.2%

25.9%

60.6%

4.7%

7.6% 7.8%

17.7%

51.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Stroke Coronary disease Heart attack Diabetes High blood pressure

Frequent mental distress Some or no mental distress

Proportion Reporting Health Problems by Mental Health Category

Source: BRFSS, 2013

Older Washingtonians Admitted to State Mental Health Services

Approximately 5.9 percent of the people served by the Washington mental health system were ages 65 and 

older. This represents more than 8,960 adults.

Source: Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Uniform Reporting System (URS) Output Tables, 2014
10 Washington Washington Profile 2016

DATA SOURCES

BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (www.cdc.gov/brfss). BRFSS, managed by CDC, 

is the largest ongoing telephone health survey system in the world, tracking health conditions and risk 

behaviors in the United States annually since 1984. Data are collected on a monthly basis in all 50 states, 

the District of Columbia, and participating territories. BRFSS data are collected by local jurisdictions and 

reported to CDC.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH 

STATISTICS, UNDERLYING CAUSE OF DEATH 1999-2013 ON CDC WONDER ONLINE DATABASE, 

RELEASED 2015 (http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html). The WONDER online database “contains 

mortality and population counts for all U.S. counties. Data are based on death certificates for U.S. 

residents. Each death certificate identifies a single underlying cause of death and demographic data. 

The number of deaths, crude death rates or age-adjusted death rates, and 95% confidence intervals 

and standard errors for death rates can be obtained by place of residence (total U.S., region, state and 

county), age group (single-year-of age, 5-year age groups, 10-year age groups and infant age groups), 

race, Hispanic ethnicity, gender, year, cause-of-death (4-digit ICD-10 code or group of codes), injury 

intent and injury mechanism, drug/alcohol induced causes and urbanization categories. Data are also 

available for place of death, month and week day of death, and whether an autopsy was performed.”

CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES UNIFORM REPORTING SYSTEM (www.samhsa.gov/data 

/us_map). States that receive CMHS Block Grants are required to report aggregate data to URS. URS 

reports include information about utilization of mental health services and client demographic and 

outcome information.

NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH (https://nsduhweb.rti.org). The NSDUH, managed 

by SAMHSA, is “an annual nationwide survey involving interviews with approximately 70,000 randomly 

selected individuals aged 12 and older.” NSDUH data are most frequently used by state planners 

to assess the need for SUD treatment. NSDUH data also include information about mental health 

conditions.

TREATMENT EPISODE DATA SET (www.samhsa.gov/data/client-level-data-teds/reports?tab=19). States 

that receive Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funds submit individual client data 

to TEDS. TEDS includes both admission and discharge data sets, and some 1.5 million admissions are 

reported annually. TEDS includes information about utilization of SUD treatment services and client 

demographic and outcome information. TEDS is an admission-based system, and TEDS admissions do 

not represent individuals. Thus, an individual admitted to treatment twice within a calendar year would 

be counted as two admissions.

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU (www.census.gov/people). Two main sources of Census Bureau data were used 

in this report: (1) population estimates and (2) population projections.