Texas, being such a large state with over 23 million residents and growing experiences a wide range of drug abuse and addiction issues. Being close to the Mexican border doesn’t help. This close proximity, with over land drug trafficking routes and shipping ports make Texas a haven for smugglers and dealers alike. Marijuana being the most trafficked and abused illicit drug in Texas.
Texas drug rehab centers experienced 11,598 addicts entering Texas drug treatment facilities in 2009 according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s Treatment Episode Data Set (SAMHSA TEDS) which is almost double that of alcohol and heroin addiction treatment admissions. Many substance abuse preventions specialists feel the broad promotion in the media and movies along with relaxed marijuana laws contribute significantly to the marijuana abuse problem. Marijuana abuse and treatment admissions are surpassing alcohol treatment in many states, Texas being the most profound.
Texas alcohol abuse treatment admissions have long been a major problem with 6,732 alcoholics seeking treatment during 2009, again as reported by SAMHSA’s Treatment Episode Data Set. With the National Survey on Drug Use and Health Survey (NSDUH)statistics for that same year this pales in comparison to the over 1.3 million people who needed but did receive treatment for alcohol addiction in Texas. That’s 6.76% of the population in Texas.
Although methamphetamine grabs the media spotlight in most cases, drug rehab centers in Texas show 17.1 % of addicts entering treatment were admitted for either powder or crack cocaine addictions, coming to just under 8,000 cocaine addicts able to receive addiction help. If all opiates treatment admissions were combined these would account for over 20% of all treatment admissions, heroin being the primary drug of abuse with prescription pain pills contributing significantly.
Methamphetamine and amphetamine treatment admissions brought 3,805 addicts to treatment in 2009 per the same SAMHSA report. Methamphetamine is seen as a bigger threat the society which results from the longer lasting high and subsequent psychosis that ensues along with the toxic chemicals left behind.
Regardless the drug of abuse, treatment admissions in Texas are insufficient to deal with seemingly insurmountable odds imposed. More educational efforts needs to be put forth, decreasing the demand by enlightening the public is our only hope. If you or someone you know needs drug rehab in Texas, or have questions about addiction and treatment, please fill out our form or call our hotline, Texas drug rehab counselors will be glad to assist you anyway we can.
