Drug Use Disorders

Above Median Funding/DALY

Category: Mental Health

Drug use disorders, including the opioid epidemic, represent 5.5% of all U.S. DALYs and have surged 288% since 1990. The U.S. accounts for 42% of the global burden despite having 4% of the world population.

DALYs / year

6,484,690

GBD 2021

Share of US Burden

5.5%

of all DALYs

NIH Funding

$1.6B

FY 2019

Funding per DALY

$250

Median: $218

Key Facts

~6.5 million DALYs in 2021, up 288% since 1990
U.S. age-standardized DALY rate is 10× the global average
Projected to rise another 33% by 2035
NIH funding was $1.62 billion in 2019 (~$250 per DALY)

How Does This Compare?

COPD

$22

Stroke

$91

Lung Cancer

$100

Ischemic Heart Disease

$161

Depressive Disorders

$218

Diabetes

$246

→ Drug Use Disorders

$250

Chronic Kidney Disease

$284

Alzheimer's & Dementias

$1,183

Funding per DALY = NIH FY 2019 spending ÷ GBD 2019 DALYs. Lower = more underfunded relative to burden.

Sources

Advocate for Drug Use Disorders Research

Use our tool to find your representatives and send them a letter about increasing research funding for drug use disorders.

Contact Your Representative