Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs in Idaho
Idaho is like any other state in the sense that its residents have not escaped addiction and substance abuse. Today, in fact, many locals continue using drugs and alcohol because they are unable to stop. This is despite the fact that the state has a wide variety of tried and tested treatment and rehabilitation centers dedicated to helping people overcome their addictions.
Even though you might not immediately think of Idaho when you get into a discussion about drug and alcohol abuse and addiction, you can be sure that this state also has its own substance use problems.
As such, many local residents need help to recover fully from their addiction in this state. In particular, most people continue struggling with substances like hallucinogens, methamphetamines, opioids, marijuana, and alcohol.
Statistics about Addiction in Idaho
To better understand the full extent of the drug and alcohol problem in this state, consider the following statistics:
In 2009, more than 6568 people sought drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Idaho; of this number 35.8 percent were female and 64.1 percent male. The rates of past year dependence on and abuse of alcohol in the state have also been varying considerably across 4 different age groups and over different survey years.
Even so, the rates of alcohol abuse/dependence among people between the ages of 12 and 17 have been consistently ranked among the very highest in the entire United States.
Further the N-SSATS - or the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services - for 2006 shows that the state had 57 facilities dedicated to ongoing substance abuse treatment. In the same period, 8 percent of local residents reported that they had used illicit drugs in the past month - a figure that was equal to the national average.
Commonly Abused Substances in Idaho
Some of the intoxicating and mind altering substances that are commonly abused in this state include:
1. Alcohol
In 2009, a total of 1640 people sought alcohol abuse and dependence treatment. An additional 951 people reported that they checked into a rehab center to deal with their alcohol use disorder co-occurring with another secondary substance use disorder.
2. Marijuana
As of 2009, marijuana accounted for the greatest number of admissions to rehabs in Idaho. The same year, for instance, 1804 people went for addiction treatment because they were dependent on cannabis. Of this number, 25.9 percent were female while 74 percent were male. The highest population of individuals admitted for this form of substance use disorder were between the ages of 12 and 17 - and the age group accounted for 42.5 percent of the total number of people who received such treatment.
3. Amphetamines
In 2009, 1496 people checked into a rehab center citing an amphetamine addiction. Of this number, 49.7 percent were female while 50.3 percent were male. Most of these people were between the ages of 26 and 30.
Statistics on Drug Courts, Injuries, and Fatalities in Idaho
a) Alcohol Abuse
- In 2016, law enforcement officials in Idaho made 6493 arrests involving people who were driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol
- Similarly, expenses linked to drunken driving in the state cost Idaho over $846 million the same year
- Further, the blood alcohol content of drivers who were involved in 1 out of every 5 car accident in the state was higher than 0.15
- b) Illicit Substance Abuse
- From 2008 to 2016, arrests linked to methamphetamines increased by a total of 200 percent across the state
- Heroin arrests from 2011 to 2016 in this state increased by over 900 percent
- In 2010, more than 9 percent of local residents of Idaho reported that they had used illicit drugs within the month before the survey was conducted; this number was higher than the total national average in the United States, which is set at 8.82 percent
- In 2012, 39% of local residents of Idaho seeking addiction treatment and rehabilitation services said that their primary substance of abuse was a stimulant, such as methamphetamine
- In 2016, more than 63 percent of drug related legal arrests involved marijuana
c) Drug Overdose Fatalities in Idaho
- From 2015 to 2016, deaths arising from benzodiazepine abuse - including drugs like Xanax and Valium - shot up by 32 percent
- During the same time frame, fatalities linked to heroin abuse increased by 53 percent
- Deaths arising from synthetic opioids - excluding methadone - went up by 69 percent
Addiction Prevention in Idaho
Even though substance use disorders have been growing all across the United States, many individual states have their own unique programs designed to prevent or deter drug and alcohol abuse. Idaho, for instance, has a wide variety of services and programs designed to help people who have a chemical dependency to these mind altering and intoxicating substances - as well as those who are at high risk of developing a substance use disorder.
These programs and services include:
1. Teen and Adolescent Addiction Prevention Initiatives
There are many prevention programs and services targeting young adults and teenagers in Idaho. Most of these programs are designed in such a way that they can empower the youth of the state. They also educate members of local communities on drugs and alcohol, as well as the many dangers and adverse effects and consequences that arise from abusing these substances.
Additionally, some of these programs have been tailored in such a way that they can target young adults and children before they are exposed to alcohol and drugs, and before they go down the spiraling route to full addiction.
These programs include:
- Above the Influence
- Idaho Drug Free Youth
- Mothers against Prescription Drug Abuse
2. Naloxone Distribution
In 2015, Idaho enacted a law that mandates all relevant healthcare professionals and emergency first responders to always have naloxone (in the form of Evzio or Narcan) at hand while reporting for duty.
This is because Naloxone is one of the most effective medications used in blocking the adverse effects of an opioid overdose. Although it works temporarily, it has been known to save many lives because it buys enough time to ensure that the overdose victim seeks emergency medical care before they succumb to opioids.
Today, first responders and many other healthcare professionals who deal with opioid addicted clients administer Naloxone through a nasal spray or an injection - depending on the urgency of the overdose and the best form of treatment recommended.
Addiction Treatment in Idaho
If you are struggling with a substance use disorder or an addiction in this state, you should know that there are many treatment and rehabilitation options available to you.
Even so, you need to remember that there is no universal form of therapy that can work for everyone who is addicted. As such, the treatment plan that will be prepared for you may be highly individualized and customized to meet your unique needs and requirements. Some of them also incorporate a wide variety of forms of care to ensure that you achieve long lasting sobriety, abstinence, and recovery.
These forms of care may include:
a) Intervention Services
Idaho has a wide variety of intervention services available to the families and friends of people who refuse to confront their substance use disorders. These services involve the use of professionally led interventions designed to convince those who are struggling with addiction to seek ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.
b) Alcohol and Drug Detox
Some of the detox programs in this state last anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks. In many cases, however, all the programs involve a process that will vary from one patient to the next. This process will be largely dependent on your health and wellness, how long you have been abusing drugs/alcohol, and the nature of your substance use disorder.
c) Inpatient Drug Rehab Programs
An inpatient drug rehab is a residential form of addiction treatment. Although all forms of ongoing care can prove successful, inpatient rehabilitation services have proven to be more effective. This is because it allows you to focus on ongoing recovery through therapy, group meetings, and other forms of treatment away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at home, school, or work.
d) Outpatient Drug Rehab Programs
Idaho also has many outpatient drug rehabs that are focused on patients who need to recover from their addiction but who might not be able to check into an inpatient treatment center due to their obligations at work, home, or school - or some other responsibility.
e) Others
Other addiction treatment options in Idaho include:
- Aftercare services
- Alumni programs
- Behavioral therapies
- Complementary therapies
- Dual-diagnosis treatment
- Family involvement
- Gender-specific treatment
- Group meetings
- Individual counseling
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Sober living programs
- Trauma-informed care
If you are struggling with a substance use disorder in Idaho, there is no reason why you should not seek ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. Get started today and watch as your life transforms from chemical dependence to a more fulfilling, productive, and happy existence.
