The people of Alaska have struggled with alcoholism for a long time. In 2007, Alaska ranked 8th out of all states in terms of heavy drinking, and they were sixth in binge drinking. Fast forward a few years, and Alaska is now dealing with drug abuse and addiction as well. Just because Alaska is isolated from the other states doesn’t mean that drugs aren’t transported through, and used in the state. In fact, almost all of the drugs that come into Alaska are used there.
Many people in Alaska think of marijuana as a safe and harmless substance. This is a good part of the reason behind the sudden rush of admissions to drug and alcohol treatment centers, and it also shows up in the attitudes of Alaska’s youth. Almost half of 12th graders in Alaska have tried marijuana, and more than eight percent have tried cocaine. Drug pushers are setting their sights on young children in order to sell more, and all illicit drugs can be bought somewhere (or everywhere) in Alaska.
The state of Alaska is working hard to get its people the drug and alcohol rehab that they so desperately need. Federaly- and state-funded programs give help to over twenty thousand people a year. As of 2006, the last year for which data is available, there were seventy drug or alcohol rehab centers in the state. Of those, forty four were privately run, and the rest were run by other agencies of the state. Alaska even offers rehab services to those that speak the Native American languages.
Despite the best efforts of the entities running the rehabilitation centers, not everyone who got treatment was satisfied with the help they got. This may be due in part to the fact that there are only two centers and twenty doctors in Alaska that were allowed to administer buprenorphine, an important tool in the fight against an Oxycontin, Vicodin, or heroin. Most drug and alcohol treatment centers in Alaska are located in major metropolitan areas, but people shouldn’t stop looking for a program that can help them. If an Alaskan needs specialized treatment, they should go to one of the 26 facilities that offer that kind of care.
As drugs become a bigger and bigger problem for the state of Alaska, more families that previously thought it
couldn’t happen to them are dealing with drug and alcohol addiction. Choosing the right program can be confusing for Alaska’s people, but the choice is made a little bit easier because almost eighty percent of Alaska’s drug and alcohol recovery facilities receive at least some public funding. Of course, to ensure a positive result from drug or alcohol treatment, the addict needs to find a center that will approach the problem from every possible angle.
If you are in Alaska and you need drug or alcohol treatment, there are programs available to help. First, get evaluated by your doctor because only they can determine which one of Alaska’s drug or alcohol rehab facilities will be able to help you.
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