Despite the marked difference in the level of perceived unmet need between the individuals with AUD with and without mood or anxiety comorbidity, and the differences in the number of barriers, the types of barriers reported by the two groups were for the most part similar, with the exception of financial barriers which were more commonly reported by the comorbid group. This difference is likely at least partly attributable to the larger percentage of participants without insurance in the comorbid group. In total, 30.9% of individuals with AUD and comorbid mood or anxiety disorders who reported a perceived unmet need for substance disorder treatment indicated that they did not have health insurance, compared to 15.9% of those without such comorbidity (Table 1). Improved financial access to AUD treatments through expansion of Medicaid insurance as envisioned in the Affordable Care Act and expansion of coverage to substance disorder treatments through the Mental Health Parity Act would likely reduce the level of unmet need for treatment due to financial barriers among participants with AUD and comorbid mood or anxiety disorders.
