In West Virginia, as far as substance abuse is concerned, the scales are tipping to the side of drug abuse. The state is almost at the bottom of the rankings for alcoholism, but well above national averages when it comes to the use and abuse of illegal drugs- especially by the youth in the state.

The drug trend in West Virginia is on the rise, thanks in large part to cocaine, meth, and the misuse of prescription medicines such as opiates. These heroin alternatives like Vicodin, Oxycontin and Percocet got their foothold in the Appalachian region of the state.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues At-A-Glance, West Virginia

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

In the year 2006, a nationwide study estimated that over forty two thousand people needed drug or alcohol treatment in West Virginia, but did not get it. Many refused to get help, but of those who did get it, almost eight thousand were admitted to West Virginia drug and alcohol treatment facilities. The majority of the admissions were related to alcohol, but the “opiates other than heroin” category is seeing a sharp rise. The use of marijuana is also a problem for the state, because it is easy to get. In 2006, marijuana addiction counted for almost twelve percent of all rehab center treatment in West Virginia.

Drug and alcohol abuse in West Virginia isn’t just a city problem, and it will take effort by the whole state to come up with an effective solution. West Virginia’s rehab centers are located statewide, getting help to the people that need it most. Most people are seeking help for meth and prescription drug addiction, as well as problems with club drugs and heroin. As of 2006, there were 83 drug treatment centers in West Virginia, and fifty nine of them were privately owned and nonprofit. 18 were private/for profit, and the rest were state run. Most of West Virginia’s rehab centers are publicly funded and under contract with doctors and hospitals, making treatment attainable for all of the state’s residents.

Most of West Virginia’s rehab centers work on an outpatient basis. Those who need treatment for a severe addiction will need to go to one of twenty five residential centers in the state. Not all programs are offered by all centers. Most of the state’s drug treatment centers are focused on detox, behavioral therapy, and support groups, but eight facilities offer opiate addiction treatment. There are 18 programs and 51 doctors in West Virginia that are licensed to dispense buprenorphine, a drug that’s used in much the same way as methadone.

Those that are seeking help for a drug or alcohol problem in West Virginia have options, but of course, those options should be discussed with a doctor before treatment is begun. If you think that you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, seek help from a qualified rehab center.

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