Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs in Alabama
Like many other states, Alabama has not escaped the adverse effects of the opioid crisis plaguing the United States. In fact, the rates of ongoing substance abuse in this state continue showing that there is an urgent need for addiction rehabilitation and treatment. Today, it has a number of quality programs providing both outpatient and inpatient treatment to help local residents achieve sobriety and abstinence from mind altering and intoxicating substances.
Understanding Substance Abuse In Alabama
In Alabama as elsewhere in the United States, substance abuse and addiction are lonely experiences for those who are affected by these conditions. If you find yourself in the throes of a substance use disorder and/or a co-occurring mental health disorder, it is highly likely that you will feel anxious, depressed, and isolated.
At the same time, the frustration and fear of what you would do or have done among your family members and friends will continue growing. Further, your performance at work and/or school might deteriorate to such a level that you are either fired from your job or you lose your place in school.
Luckily, you don't need to continue fighting your addiction on your own. Alabama has many effective options that you can turn to for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation to help you achieve recovery in the long term.
Addiction In Alabama By The Numbers
According to the Department of Public Health in Alabama, it is estimated that close to 2.45% of the entire population of the state over 17 years old has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction within the past year.
Prescription pain relief medications, in particular, present a seemingly insurmountable problem for the state. It is now estimated that over 175,000 local residents abused these intoxicating and mind altering substances within the past year - substance abuse that was related to opioid pain relief medications that people used for non-medical reasons.
It is also estimated that more than 300,000 residents of the state above the age of 17 continue struggling with an addiction to heroin and these prescription pain relief drugs.
In terms of treatment:
The State Profile of Behavioral Health (2010) reported that 75% of addicts on the Alabama Health Insurance Exchange were either Black or White (non-Hispanic) males between the ages of 18 and 34.
In 2011, more than 15,000 people were enrolled in local substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation facilities
The Alabama National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services for 2011 reported that the state had 147 facilities and centers providing substance abuse treatment of one form or another
Of these facilities, only 103 focused on actual addiction rehabilitation while some 33 more centers provided dual diagnosis treatment - by focusing on both substance abuse and mental health treatment
The same survey (2011) reported that more than 4,700 people in the state received treatment for ongoing drug and alcohol abuse while 9,810 more people received treatment for drug abuse (only) and 1,359 people were treated for ongoing alcohol abuse
Alabama Alcohol Addiction
The Behavioral Health Barometers survey run by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) for this state for the years running from 2009 through to 2013 found that over 225,000 people above the age of 12 were dependent on alcohol every year.
In the same period, more than 267,000 adults above the age of 21 years reported using alcohol heavily on any chosen month every year. Among those who struggled with drinking, admissions for alcohol combined with another drug and primary alcohol abuse made this the 2nd most abused substance in the state.
Commonly Abused Substances In Alabama
According to the prescription drug awareness poster released by the Department of Public Health in Alabama, the state continues struggling with the following prescription drugs that are most commonly abused by local citizens:
- Depressants
- Opioids
- Stimulants
Of these drugs, Alabama residents struggled most with Adderall or Ritalin, Xanax, and Vicodin. Read on to learn more about the other commonly abused drugs in this state:
1. Cocaine Abuse
One of the greatest drug threats in Alabama is cocaine. This drug is widely available throughout the state and it ranks 2nd in terms of the total number of admissions into addiction treatment centers.
In 2010, for instance, rehab centers in the state admitted more than 2100 people for treatment as a result of smoking this drug. An additional number of 842 people also received treatment for abusing cocaine through other modes of ingestion - other than smoking.
2. Heroin Abuse
In the past few years, Alabama has also experienced a surge in the rates of heroin abuse. One of the reasons given for this trend is due to the ongoing crackdown on opioids and the ease of procuring heroin - which is relatively inexpensive from Mexico.
In 2015, Alabama police departments expressed concern over the escalating number of overdose deaths linked to this drug across all the counties in the state. In Jefferson County, AL for instance, more than 138 people lost their lives to a drug overdose related to heroin while Birmingham lost 56 people to the same condition.
3. Marijuana Abuse
The primary drug of abuse in Alabama in 2010 was marijuana. It was the main drug for which many people were admitted into rehab centers in the state. An additional 6,945 people were also admitted for ongoing rehabilitation services the same year as a result of abusing marijuana.
Today, the state continues struggling with marijuana - the most widely abused and available drug in Alabama. In particular, the drug is quite popular among young adults and high school students.
4. Methamphetamine Abuse
Alabama identifies methamphetamine as its up and coming drug threat. In the state, the drug is primarily produced in meth labs - or mom and pop labs - and in large scale illicit laboratories that produce a pure form of this drug, commonly known as ice.
5. Ecstasy
The abuse of ecstasy in Alabama has been rising steady over the years. Alongside other similar and related drugs - such as ketamine, GHB, and LSD - this substance is mostly misused and abused in the nightlife and nightclub scene. As such, it is classified among other club drugs in this state.
The rising number of emergency room visits, cases of overdose, and arrests for these club drugs in Alabama continue mirroring the increase in their use. Today, however, ecstasy is the leading club drug in the state - followed closely by GHB.
6. Prescription Drugs
The Alabama Prescription Drug overview by the Center for Disease Control reports that the rate of overdoses in the state were 11.8 to 100,000 people. At the same time, there has been a sharp increase in the number of admissions made for individuals who abuse pain relief medications that are supposed to be used through a legal and valid prescription.
In 2011, for instance, the number of people who abused prescription painkillers in Alabama was around 5% for locals above the age of 12.
Legal Statistics/Injuries/Fatalities Linked To Addiction In Alabama
The Department of Corrections in Alabama released a report in 2014 showing that more than 2733 inmates in the state has completed ongoing treatment for substance abuse. An additional 2059 were enrolled in aftercare programs.
In 2009, the Drug Court map in Alabama showed that there were more than 41 specialty courts in the state - including 6 drug courts for juveniles, 3 courts for domestic violence, and one adult drug court.
The Department of Transportation in the state also released a Crash Fact sheet showing that more than 10,083 local residents were apprehended for driving under the influence or while intoxicated on drugs and alcohol. Of this number, 2911 were female, 6630 were male and more than 542 people did not report their gender.
Opioid Abuse In Alabama
On average, Alabama physicians prescribed more opioids than in any other state in the United States. In 2015, for instance, local doctors wrote more than 6.8 million opioid painkiller prescriptions - more than the total number of people in this state at the time. This number came up from 5.8 million prescriptions from 2013.
The Annual Surveillance Report of Drug Related Risks and Outcomes provided by the CDC (or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) also showed that Alabama physicians continue prescribing more opioids than similar medical experts in other states.
In particular, doctors wrote over 121 prescription per 100 residents in this state. This is in stark contrast to the reported national average in the United States - which covers 66.5 prescriptions written for 100 residents.
Combating the Substance Abuse Problem in Alabama
To deal with its drug and alcohol problem, Alabama has been working in compliance with SAMSHA, such as:
- By addressing the opioid death epidemic in the country through recovery, treatment, and prevention programs
- By increasing access to local treatment centers
- By reducing the unmet needs of patients who are receiving treatment
If you live in Alabama and have been struggling with a substance use disorder, you should check local resources to find the right addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers that can help you recover in the long term.
