Washington state’s ports, highways and its long border with Canada makes it an ideal place to smuggle drugs. Meth from Mexico and marijuana from Canada both come through the state as they are headed all across the country. The state of Washington spent over one hundred fifty million dollars in 2008 on drug abuse prevention and treatment, but it is still one of the biggest sources of illegal drugs in the whole country.

It seems that Washington is losing the battle against drugs and alcohol, if you look at the chart below. The state’s perception of the risks of marijuana abuse is lower than the national average, and the rates of admission to Washington’s drug and alcohol rehab facilities are much higher than the average.

National Outcome Measures, Washington 2008

U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

According to the state of Washington’s rehab facilities, the use rates for all illegal drugs are among the highest in the country. Meth only made up one percent of admissions to rehab centers in Washington in 1992, but it made up thirty percent of the total in 2005. The spread of methamphetamine across the US got its start in the Pacific Northwest area, because of its being smuggled in by Mexican drug rings.

This means that everyone is at risk, even those who thought that it could never happen to them. Addictions to alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, meth and prescription drugs are plaguing the state. Washington’s drug and alcohol rehab centers treated over thirty seven thousand people in the year 2005.

To meet the demand, more drug treatment centers are being built in Washington. The number has gone from 310 in 2002, to over 430 in 2006. They are spread statewide, and are usually either private/for profit or nonprofit. Over half of the state’s rehab centers get public funding and many work with local doctors and hospitals, so there’s a good chance that you’ll be sent to a private center if you seek help for a drug addiction in Washington.

Of all rehab centers in Washington, almost ninety percent offer care on an outpatient basis. That may not be enough for the most severely addicted individuals, so they will need to go to one of the sixty residential drug treatment programs in-state. Those that have opiate problems can attend one of seventeen drug treatment centers in Washington that offer opiate programs, or get help from one of the one hundred doctors that are certified to give buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opiate addictions. Those seeking drug treatment help in Washington have a lot of options, but they should be discussed with a doctor prior to starting treatment.

If you think you have a drug or alcohol addiction, you should seek help immediately. The earlier it’s caught, the easier it is to treat. The best addiction treatment is prevention, though.

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