Utah is well known for its religious communities and its strong family values, and it is tireless in its efforts to prevent and treat drug abuse. As a result of this, Utah is well below the national average for drug use and addiction, as well as all alcohol related issues. However, over fifty five thousand of Utah’s people are struggling with substance abuse issues. Almost 18,000 of these people were admitted to Utah’s drug and alcohol rehab facilities in 2008, and these facilities are seeing some things that they’re really concerned about. Meth is the biggest drug threat in Utah, surpassing even marijuana. Meth is a toxic but highly addictive drug, and the addiction is hard to treat.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues At-A-Glance, Utah

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), December 2008

Methamphetamine isn’t the only problem in Utah. Heroin is there also, but prescription drugs are being abused more and more. According to the over one hundred drug and alcohol rehab facilities in Utah, the prescription drug problem of Vicodin and Oxycontin, along with cocaine as well as opiates and benzodiazepines like Xanax is contributing to the growing number of treatment admissions. Many people get hooked after taking the medicines for a legitimate reason, but many get addicted after taking them just to get high. These drugs deliver an almost instant rush when they’re crushed and snorted or injected, and the rush is what’s addictive and can cause people to end up in Utah’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers.

Because of the growing substance abuse problem, the number of alcohol and drug treatment centers in Utah has gone up from 118 in the year 2003, to over one hundred thirty in 2006. Of all these, one is tribally owned, 108 are private and non-profit or for-profit, and the rest are owned by the state or other government entities. Most receive public funding, so those in need of treatment for a drug problem in Utah will probably be sent to one of these privately owned facilities. Many Utah rehabilitation centers also are contracted with hospitals and other organizations.

For those with opiate problems in the state of Utah will find their options scarce. Only ten of the one hundred-plus treatment facilities in the state offer these programs, and only sixty seven doctors were allowed to give buprenorphine, which has many of the same uses as methadone. Primarily, it’s used to block cravings and minimize withdrawal symptoms. Also, most of Utah’s drug rehab facilities operate on an outpatient basis, and different centers offer different programs. There are forty five residential treatment centers in Utah, for those with deeply entrenched addictions or who want to recover in peace and quiet.

For those with drug and alcohol problems in Utah, it may be a bit harder to find help, but don’t let the scarcity of treatment facilities keep you from your goal.

Adamsville-Beaver-Greenville-Manderfield-Milford-Minersville-Sulphurdale-Bear River City-Blue Creek-Bothwell-Brigham City-Corinne-Deweyville-Elwood-Etna-Fielding-Garland-Grouse Creek-Honeyville-Howell-Lakeside-Lucin-Lynn-Mantua-Park Valley-Penrose-Perry-Plymouth-Portage-Promontory Point-Rosette-Snowville-Standrod-Tremonton-Willard-Amalga-Clarkston-Cornish-Hyde Park-Hyrum-Lewiston-Logan-Mendon-Millville-Newton-Nibley-North Logan-Paradise-Providence-Richmond-River Heights-Smithfield-Trenton-Wellsville-Castle Gate-Clear Creek-Columbia-East Carbon-Helper-Hiawatha-Price-Scofield-Spring Glen-Sunnyside-Wattis-Wellington-Manila-Bountiful-Centerville-Clearfield-Clinton-Farmington-Fruit Heights-Kaysville-Layton-North Salt Lake-South Weber-Sunset-Syracuse-Val Verda-West Bountiful-West Point-Woods Cross-Altamont-Bluebell-Bridgeland-Duchesne-Fruitland-Hanna-Mountain Home-Myton-Neola-Roosevelt-Tabiona-Talmage-Upalco-Castle Dale-Cedar-Clawson-Cleveland-Elmo-Emery-Ferron-Green River-Huntington-Moore-Mounds-Orangeville-Woodside-Antimony-Boulder Town-Bryce Canyon-Cannonville-Escalante-Hatch-Henrieville-Panguitch-Rubys Inn-Spry-Tropic-Castle Valley-Cisco-Moab-Thompson Springs-Westwater-Beryl-Brian Head-Cedar City-Enoch-Hamiltons Fort-Iron Springs-Kanarraville-Latimer-Lund-Modena-Newcastle-Paragonah-Parowan-Summit-Uvada-Zane-Callao-Eureka-Goshute-Jericho-Levan-Mills-Mona-Nephi-Silver City-Trout Creek-Alton-Big Water-Glendale-Kanab-Mount Carmel-Orderville-Abraham-Black Rock-Clear Lake-Cove Fort-Delta-Deseret-Fillmore-Flowell-Gandy-Garrison-Hatton-Hinckley-Holden-Kanosh-Leamington-Lynndyl-Meadow-Oak City-Oasis-Scipio-Sugarville-Devils Slide-Morgan-Porterville-Angle-Circleville-Greenwich-Junction-Kingston-Marysvale-Garden CityLaketown-Randolph-Woodruff-Alta-Bennion-Bluffdale-Canyon Rim-Cottonwood-Cottonwood Heights-Draper-East Millcreek-Granite-Herriman-Holladay-Kearns-Little Cottonwood Creek Valley-Magna-Midvale-Millcreek-Mount Olympus-Murray-Oquirrh-Riverton-Salt Lake City-Saltair-Sandy-South Jordan-South Salt Lake-Taylorsville-Union-West Jordan-West Valley City-White City-Aneth-Blanding-Bluff-La Sal-Mexican Hat-Montezuma Creek-Monticello-Ucolo-White Canyon-Axtell-Centerfield-Ephraim-Fairview-Fayette-Fountain Green-Gunnison-Indianola-Manti-Mayfield-Milburn-Moroni-Mount Pleasant-Spring City-Sterling-Wales-Annabella-Aurora-Burrville-Elsinore-Glenwood-Joseph-Koosharem-Monroe-Redmond-Richfield-Salina-Sevier-Sigurd-Coalville-Echo-Emory-Francis-Henefer-Kamas-Oakley-Park City-Peoa-Wahsatch-Wanship-Arinosa-Burmester-Clive-Erda-Faust-Gold Hill-Grantsville-Ibapah-Knolls-Lofgreen-Low-Ophir-Rush Valley-Saint John-Salduro-Stansbury Park-Stockton-Timpie-Tooele-Vernon-Wendover-Ballard-Bonanza-Fort Duchesne-Jensen-Lapoint-Maeser-Naples-Ouray-Randlett-Vernal-Whiterocks-Alpine-American Fork-Birdseye-Cedar Fort-Cedar Hills-Colton-Eagle Mountain-Elberta-Elk Ridge-Fairfield-Genola-Gilluly-Goshen-Highland-Lehi-Lindon-Mapleton-Orem-Payson-Pleasant Grove-Provo-Salem-Santaquin-Saratoga Springs-Soldier Summit-Spanish Fork-Springville-Thistle-Vineyard-Woodland Hills-Charleston-Heber-Midway-Wallsburg-Central-Enterprise-Gunlock-Hildale-Hurricane-Ivins-La Verkin-Leeds-New Harmony-Pine Valley-Pintura-Rockville-Saint George-Santa Clara-Shivwits-Springdale-Toquerville-Veyo-Virgin-Washington-Bicknell-Caineville-Fremont-Fruita-Grover-Hanksville-Loa-Lyman-Teasdale-Torrey-Farr West-Harrisville-Hooper-Huntsville-Marriott-Slaterville-North Ogden-Ogden-Plain City-Pleasant View-Riverdale-Roy-South Ogden-Uintah-Washington Terrace-West Haven