Every year the US Dept. of Human Services puts out a report on the various treatment options for substance abuse in this country. The most current report available, from 2007, tells us that the most admissions to drug rehab were because of opiates like Xanax and Valium. Next came marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamines. Altogether, these drugs make up sixty percent of all admissions to drug rehabilitation centers. There are over twenty million drug abusers in the US, so there is a real need for more effective ways to treat addictions and keep people from relapsing. Here is a breakdown of the various ways people sought treatment:

More and more drug rehabilitation centers are becoming privatized these days, and they are about equal parts for-profit and non-profit entities. A good number of these centers have contracts with their state and local authorities, as well as hospitals. Up to 90% of these centers get some public funding, which makes it a lot easier for the poorest among us to seek treatment. As of 2007, there were almost 14,000 drug rehabilitation centers in the US, offering a multitude of programs and services.

There are a lot of options for the addict seeking treatment, from counseling, to detox, to residential treatment facilities. There were almost two million people treated for substance abuse in 2007, and of those, over 60% went to outpatient treatment, 20% got into a residential detox program, and 18% got other forms of residential treatment.

Residential drug rehabilitation is used in situations where the addiction presents medical issues that can’t be dealt with on an outpatient basis. This treatment is made up not only of detoxification, there is group and behavior modification therapy, as well as mental health counseling. Many residential programs have a faith-based or spiritual component as well. A good program takes care of an addict’s wounded mind and body, and seeks to reintroduce them to society clean and sober.

Inpatient drug rehabilitation programs have many advantages over outpatient treatment. Almost 90% of substance addicts are treated as outpatients because they have milder addictions, or because cost or insurance coverage is an issue. Unfortunately, those that aren’t under the strict supervision of a residential program are more likely to relapse, and outpatient treatment programs have high drop-out rates.

Drug rehabilitation isn’t just for junkies and street people. Since 1999, the abuse of tranquilizers and other prescription drugs has risen drastically, and almost twenty percent of seniors abused their prescription medication.Teenagers abuse drugs like Xanax and Vicodin to get the “rush”, or to fit in with their friends- and of the almost two million Americans admitted to drug rehab in 2007, over a quarter million were under 17.

If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, you should seek help immediately. No matter where you live or what your financial situation is, there is a program that can help you. First, you or the addict should get evaluated by a doctor, who will be able to determine what kind of program you need.

Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/