In 2021, approximately 3.2 million or about 6.8 percent of people between the ages of 14 and 24 were living with a physical or mental disability. Although data on young people with disabilities are limited, recent evidence highlights the increased risk in this population for a host of health and other challenges, including higher rates of mental disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs). Even so, young people with disabilities are less likely than young people without disabilities to receive prevention and treatment services for substance use. Developing new prevention strategies and tailoring existing prevention education and tools to reduce potential substance use among young adults with disabilities can help support a healthy trajectory for this population during a period of transition.
This Advisory highlights the need for primary substance use prevention programs for young adults ages 18 to 25 with disabilities, and it provides guidance on designing and tailoring these programs to meet the needs of this population. It also describes factors that may affect the delivery of prevention services for young adults with disabilities. This Advisory does not aim to provide comprehensive information about how to address the needs of every type of disability. Rather, it aims to encourage substance use prevention staff to consider the unique needs and perspectives that young adults with disabilities may bring to their programs.
Understanding Disabilities and Substance Use Among Young Adults
Young adults 18 to 25 years of age are entering a developmental period that involves numerous social, emotional, and physical transitions and changes, which in combination with growing independence and self-focus, can increase their risk for initiating or increasing substance use and future substance misuse or SUDs.
Compared with rates of substance use among young adults who do not have disabilities, rates among those who do have disabilities are mixed, with some studies finding similar or lower rates and other studies reporting higher rates.
For example, higher rates of substance use have been observed in adults with sensory disabilities compared with adults without these disabilities. Adults ages 18 to 59 who are Deaf or hard of hearing are more likely to use cannabis regularly and drink alcohol more heavily than hearing individuals. For adults ages 18 to 59, rates of substance use were 36 percent greater among those with vision loss and 37 percent greater among those with hearing loss than among their peers without a disability; rates of substance use among those with both hearing and vision loss were 18 percent greater than rates among peers who had only one such type of sensory disability.30 Compared with adults ages 18 and older who have no disabilities, adults with cognitive disability are significantly more likely to use alcohol heavily; adults with cognitive and vision disabilities are both more likely to use cigarettes.