U.S. spending on mental health and substance use treatment increased from $40.9 billion in 2000 to $139.6 billion in 2021, outpacing overall medical spending growth. The study finds that most of this increase was associated with growth in the number of treated cases — driven by expanded access, reduced stigma and more low-barrier treatments like medications — rather than higher spending per case. Even with that rise, mental health and substance use treatment remained a relatively small share of total health spending.

Read more: US National Spending On Mental Health And Substance Use Disorder Treatment Driven By Case Growth, 2000–21