The problem of drug addiction plagues the entire United States. So, Alabama is no different. The state had 204 meth lab seizures in 2007 whereas the number shot up by 299% to 610 seizures in 2007. The national average of illicit drug use is 8% and 7% of Alabama citizens report to using the same. The following are some things you must know about Alabama and drug use/addiction.

Alabama Drug Use Trends

NSDUH is responsible for providing data on state and national level illicit drug use, alcohol use, tobacco and mental health in the US. In their recent survey, apart from 7% of Alabama residents reporting illicit drug use, 3.81% of the residents reported that they had used an illicit drug other than Marijuana in the last month itself. The nation’s average in the same category was 3.58%.

Main drug-related admissions in Alabama are because of Marijuana use, abuse and addiction.

Specific Alabama Drug Related Issues

Because of drug use, 2007’s reported deaths were 557. Almost 12 per 100,000 people in Alabama suffered drug-induced deaths while the national average for the same was 12.7 per 100,000. These figures are comparable to death by firearms and motorcycle accidents.

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• Primary Treatment Admissions – As per the figures of 2010, the primary admissions can be contributed to Marijuana, Cocaine, Other Opiates, Stimulants, Tranquilizers and Heroin, in that order.
• Methamphetamine Seizures – In 2005, CMEA and other state laws worked to control the sale of PSE (Pseudoephedrine) but the number showed a recent rise because of smurfing of PSE. Smurfing involves buying PSE in bulk for reasons that are non-therapeutic. Nationwide figures for meth lab seizures between 2007 and 2009 showed a rise of 76% as compared to Alabama’s 299%.

How To Combat Drug Addiction

• Inpatient Treatment – There are multiple ways of beating drug addiction and abuse issues. However, the most effective in all those methods is inpatient treatment. There are a lot of myths that surround this system. It should, thus, be known that inpatient treatments have the best success rate and that is all because of their holistic approach towards treating addiction. The following are some benefits of inpatient treatment –
• Structure of Treatment – The structure that is offered by inpatient treatment does not allow the patient to have any time to think about their craving. They have other, more healthy activities to pursue which takes their mind off their drug use.
• 24×7 Support – Patients who get admitted to inpatient care have professional help available to them for 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, to help them with any issues they might have related to addiction and withdrawal.
• No Drug Access – Since the patient has to stay inside the facility until the program continues, they will have no access to their substance of abuse. This reduces the chances of giving in to temptation and constant supervision also ensures safety.
• Preventing Life-Threatening Situations – Withdrawal symptoms can be pretty dangerous and there are often times when the patient becomes a danger to themselves and to others. At such times, inpatient treatment is the best option to ensure their safety.
• No Bad Influences From Outside – Visitors and phone calls, if any, are closely monitored. Because the patient needs to rethink their life in a quiet atmosphere, external influences are avoided and thus, bad influences can be combated by the patient.
• No Distraction – Recovery and rehab is a place where a lot of self-analysis goes before the patient can feel completely well. With other treatments, there are always distractions related to friends, family and the environment. This does not happen in inpatient treatment.
• New Social Circles – At hard times like this, the patient gets to meet other people who are going through the same thing as the patient. This makes them feel a little less alone and also gives them strength and confidence to move on.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – This therapy targets those dysfunctional emotions and anxieties that act as roadblocks to the patient’s full recovery. A lot of research has gone in CBT and this psychotherapeutic approach is offered as part of inpatient treatment.
• Balanced Diet – It is possible that in other treatment forms, because of the sheer pressure and stress of rehab and detox, the patient might not eat and drink properly. Inpatient treatment takes care of that and ensures that the patient follows a healthy diet.
• Post-Treatment Help – Even after leaving the facility, help is always available to the patient and it is provided through various tools to ensure that relapse doesn’t occur.

Relapse is a part and parcel of therapy but many people who have relapsed in the past are now leading an addiction-free life. To kick the habit of drug use and addiction completely, inpatient treatment can be pretty helpful.

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Treatment Centers in Alabama