Drug rehab is one of the most effective ways to treat severe substance use disorders. Access to addiction treatment is essential for addressing public health issues related to drug use issues. New England is an area of the United States that has a significant need for access to drug rehab and addiction treatment services, especially in light of the opioid epidemic.
For more than a decade, access to illegal sources of opioids has increased, and with it, opioid addiction and overdose have increased, too. Meanwhile, other substances like cocaine and alcohol continue to pose a public health threat to New England.
Learn more about drug abuse and the need for drug rehab in the New England area.
New England Drug Rehab Statistics
New England has been one of the most heavily impacted areas of the country in the opioid crisis of the past decade. The six states that make up New England all had opioid-overdose rates that were close to double the overdose rates of the rest of the country. New Hampshire had the highest overdose rates in 2018, with 35.8 per 100,000 people dying in opioid-related overdoses. The national average is around 13.3.
In Massachusetts, there have been 112 confirmed opioid-overdose deaths and more than 300 additional estimated deaths in the first quarter of 2020. However, this is more than a 5 percent decrease from the first quarter of 2019. Still, opioid-related deaths are high in New England, and access to treatment options, among other steps taken to fight the opioid crisis, may continue to bring that number down.
Most Commonly Abused Substances in New England
Opioids receive a lot of the focus in light of the recent addiction and overdose crisis. In New England, opioids are a common cause of overdose death, and fentanyl is among the most common opioids that are involved in fatalities. Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid that’s used by dealers to increase the perceived quality of other drugs. However, even a tiny dose can be deadly.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2019 National Drug Threat Assessment, New England has a high availability of many of the most common drugs of abuse, including fentanyl, heroin, illicitly used prescription drugs, methamphetamine, and cocaine. High drug availability is a significant risk factor in community substance use problems.
Quick Treatment Facts
Addiction is a chronic disease that usually needs to be addressed as soon as possible. As it is a progressive disease, it may start to take over different parts of your life if ignored. Addiction often requires professional treatment to facilitate long-term sobriety.
Addiction is a complex illness that can come with co-occurring issues, including mental and physical health problems. For that reason, treatment is designed to address the physical, mental, emotional, and social issues people in active addiction face.
Addiction treatment may involve several therapies, including medications and psychotherapies. As you go through treatment, you may go receive several therapies depending on your specific needs. Each week, you will sit down with your therapist to assess the effectiveness of your personalized treatment plan and adjust it as needed.
