Given the recent drug war that’s been going on in Mexico, and given that Mexico’s drug cartels are responsible for a good deal of the drugs that get smuggled into the US, it’s not surprising that the border state of Arizona’s drug problem is getting worse. Especially at risk are the youth of the state. Arizona is in the top ten of illicit drug-using states. The state’s problem with illegal drug use by teens ages 12-17, and its alcohol issues, are almost always above the national average as seen here.

Arizona’s prescription drug abuse problem is a growing concern as well. Recreational use of opiates like Vicodin and Oxycontin is on the rise. Arizona’s drug and alcohol treatment centers report that over half of admissions for treatment are for problems with prescription medications. The use of prescription medications for nonmedical purposes is especially risky for young people. Teenagers end up using prescription drugs to get high because they are readily available.

In 2006, the last year for which data is available, over twenty four thousand people were admitted to Arizona’s drug and alcohol rehab centers. Of those admissions, almost fifteen percent were for meth addiction. There are over two hundred drug or alcohol treatment centers in the state of Arizona. Twenty of those are tribally operated, sixty-two were privately run for profit, and the rest were private, for-profit centers. This offers the drug addicts of Arizona a lot of choices when they decide to seek help.

If you or a family member is struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction in Arizona, you should consider all of your options. Not all facilities offer all services and not all approach treatment the same way. Of all the rehab centers in Arizona, only a select few are licensed to administer certain medications . Only twenty nine of Arizona’s treatment facilities have opiate programs, and only forty centers are certified in the administration of buprenorphine. Decisions should be made according to the services offered and the patient’s needs. Of course, any good program will have each of these components: detoxification, behavioral therapy, counseling, and continuing support.

Because drugs are so common in Arizona’s schools, the odds that your child may someday need to be treated for a drug problem are high. A survey done in 2006 says that children are being targeted by dealers at lower ages, and they have access to many more drugs than previous generations did. The younger a person is when they begin to use drugs and alcohol, the more likely they are to become addicted.

If you or someone you know has a problem with drugs and alcohol, don’t be afraid to ask for help. The wide availability of drug and alcohol treatment in Arizona means that anyone can find a treatment program that will suit them. You should be evaluated by your doctor, who will be able to recommend a specific treatment plan.

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