Why do we focus on the exception and not the rule? Examining the prevalence of mono- versus polysubstance use in the general population

Of those who used substance(s) in the past year, 64% reported a mono-use pattern. Importantly, only 26% of those who had at least two symptoms of an SUD and 22% of those who received treatment for substance use reported a mono-use pattern. Although mono-use of drugs is common in the United States at the public health level, it is a much less common presentation than polysubstance use (PSU) among individuals of even mild substance use disorder severity.