North Carolina Physicians Specializing in Mental Health and Substance Use Services Data 2024 Snapshot

May 6, 2026

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Physicians Specializing in Mental Health and Substance Use Services

Mental Health and Substance Use Services (MH/SU) Physicians are physicians who reported a primary practice area of psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction medicine, or addiction psychiatry. MH/SU Physicians provide comprehensive psychiatric care including both diagnosis and medication management. MH/SU Physicians are licensed and regulated by the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB). In 2024, there were 1,568 physicians across all four specialty types with 1,245 working as psychiatrists, 219 working as child and adolescent psychiatrists, 79 working in addiction medicine, and 25 in addiction psychiatry.

Suggested Citation: Lombardi BM, Headley J, Jimenez MP; Keesler R, Akue-ka AJB; Gregory R; Galloway E; Zerden LD; Fraher E. North Carolina Mental Health & Substance Use Services Workforce Data 2024 Snapshot: Physicians Specializing in Mental Health and Substance Use Services. Program on Health Workforce Research and Policy. Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. May 6, 2026.

Funding & Acknowledgements
This project was supported by the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services (DMHDDSUS). The information, content and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by DMHDDSUS.

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