Worcester is a city in central Massachusetts in a county of the same name. As a northeastern city, it’s in an area of the country that’s been significantly affected by the opioid crisis of the past several years. Though opioids have caused a spike in overdose deaths in the past few years, alcohol has been a serious problem for Massachusetts for decades.
Alcohol use disorders can represent a serious public health problem for Worcester and require access to alcohol rehab and other treatment options. Learn more about the need for alcohol services in Worcester.
Worcester Alcohol Rehab Statistics
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used recreational substances in the United States. The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that more than 86 percent of adults had tried alcohol before, which is more than most other psychoactive substances besides caffeine.
However, problematic drinking usually comes after a pattern of binging. Binge drinking is defined as drinking four to five drinks in one sitting. Massachusetts has had a problem with binge drinking in recent years. One study found that the state had the eighth highest rate of alcoholism in the country. The study also found that 22 percent of adults in Boston report binge drinking.
In the United States as a whole, alcohol contributes to an estimated 88,000 deaths per year.
Substances Commonly Mixed with Alcohol
Alcohol can be dangerous on its own, but it may be even more deadly when it’s mixed with other substances. Mixing alcohol with other substances can increase your risk of experiencing side effects. Even over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen can put a strain on your liver when taken with too much alcohol. However, alcohol is sometimes mixed with other substances intentionally to increase pleasurable effects.
Stimulants are often mixed with alcohol and other depressants because they counteract some of the unpleasant effects of each drug. However, mixing can also cause you to feel like you can take higher doses, which can lead to an overdose.
Alcohol may also be mixed with other depressants like benzodiazepines or opioids, which can have a potentiating effect. Alcohol is a depressant and can slow down the nervous system in similar ways to other depressants. Together, they can lead to an overdose with relatively low doses of each individual drug.
Alcohol Rehab History in Massachusetts
Though the Northeast has had a recent problem with opioids, Massachusetts has a history of alcohol-related substance issues. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11.9 per million people die in alcohol overdoses in the state. However, the recent opioid epidemic has raised public awareness of the need for drug and alcohol rehab and treatment options.
Quick Treatment Facts
Alcoholism is a form of addiction, and it’s officially diagnosed as an alcohol use disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Addiction is identified by compulsive drinking, often despite the consequences.
Addiction, a disease that affects the brain’s reward center, may worsen over time if left untreated. It may also take over multiple areas of your life, including your health, relationships, and finances.
Severe alcohol use disorders often need treatment to effectively address the disease. Addiction treatment is a personalized process that addresses medical, psychological, and social needs that are unique to each person.
