Cities of Wisconsin

The substance abuse crisis arches over the whole country for the past several decades. Wyoming is one of the many states that suffer from the effects of this epidemic. There has been an increase in alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit drug abuse for the past years. What’s alarming about all of these is that the people who need more attention can’t avail the rehabilitative solutions. Hospitals, treatment facilities, and communities offer band-aid solutions to this problem.

As Wyoming is one the least populated states in the USA, it still hits rock bottom when it comes to substance abuse epidemic. The binge drinking rate in this state soars high among all the states. Its rate is, in fact, higher than the national average rate.

Drugs and Alcohol Abuse in Wyoming

The illicit drug use in this sparsely populated state is now on par with national averages. In 2010, the rate of illicit drug abuse in this place remained flat. This is good news, but it’s notable that heroin use and abuse often springs from the abuse of strong prescription painkillers. Like the other states with the same problem, lots of post-surgical and chronic pain patients turn into addicts after medications. Drugs like hydrocodone and oxycodone are the most common addictive drugs they abuse.

As they run out of prescriptions, they turn to illicit drugs to fill the void of their addiction process. They also turn to these drugs to manage the symptoms brought by their addiction. Since heroin is readily available in the state, addicts can quickly fill their desires for drugs with it. This drug is one of their best bet since it’s also relatively inexpensive compared to other alternatives. With this drug, they can finally have the chance to curb or possibly stop the effects of withdrawals.

With the surge of prescription drug abuse in Wyoming, the officials of this state assembled the Rx Abuse Stakeholders (RAS) group. This group is composed of many officials and experts from multidisciplinary fields. They aim to adequately track and control the high rate of drug abuse in this place.

This group identified that one of the main reasons for the influx of illicit drugs into the state is the prescription drugs. They have noticed that doctor shopping help the problem develop. Pharmacies are also pointed out as one of the front liners in curbing the number of prescription medications given to patients.

In the state’s third most populous city, Laramie, heroin has been infamous for reasons. Since this place is sparsely populated compared to the other cities, it was relatively easy to trace the progression of the drug epidemic there. After a series of studies, it was found out that Heroin became a go-to drug only after local addicts had exhausted their use of methamphetamine. The drug use incidents in Laramie has been a template for the state. As more and more residents become addicted to illicit substances, the state wishes to develop further their ways on how to track and limit the access to prescription drugs.

Since Wyoming’s population is small, the local government have the chance to focus more on the entirety of its people. As the problem is widespread and far-flung, the journey to eliminating drug problem in the state is still a mystery. Many addicts don’t live near treatment facilities.

The three largest cities in Wyoming (Cheyenne, Casper, and Laramie) all offer rehabilitation services. Delivering quality, comprehensive recovery care to addicts is a challenge in rural areas. Just like other states in the country, the number of beds available in treatment centers in this state doesn’t suffice the demands of the current times. Getting them the help that they need is relatively tricky.

Cities of Wyoming

On WalletHub’s recent ranking of all the states in America with the most drug problem for 2018, West Virginia came in the 5th spot after the first four states which are District of Columbia, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Michigan. WalletHub’s ranking is based on several key metrics including arrests, overdose rates, and meth lab incidents.

On specifics, West Virginia topped as the state with most drug-related overdose deaths per capita. They also have the most drug arrests on college campuses per 1,000 students.

One of the factors why West Virginia’s drug problem has worsened throughout the years is its location. The state is on busy interstate highways, with easy passenger train accessibility. It placed the country at the crossroads for domestic drug distribution.

Opioid Crisis and Overdose Deaths

The opioid crisis all over America is heavy in West Virginia. Way back in 2016, the state topped as the highest rate of opioid-related overdose deaths across the country. They recorded an average of 43.4 deaths in every 100,000 people on that year. The cases of overdose deaths peaked in 2016 with 887 deaths with the majority of deaths attributed to synthetic opioids and heroin.

In 2017, the state’s Health Statistics Center released a data that showed that there are 909 people in West Virginia dying from drug overdose cases. It’s a big leap from the state’s 2012 record which only reached 558 overdose death cases.

West Virginia also had a history when there are 27 heroin overdoses in just 4 hours. All affected abusers came from the same community and one bad batch of the drug. Fortunately, the officers who responded to the situation were equipped with Naxolone. Naxolone is a drug that can stop an overdose that results in a fatality.

There are also pregnant women who are involved in opioid and other illicit drugs in West Virginia. Between 2014 and 2016 the rate of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in West Virginia rose further to 37 cases per 1,000 live births.

Fighting the Crisis

This 2018, US District Judge Dan Polster, ordered the federal government to share the pain-pill data to the public. He ordered initially requested for the top 5 states with most drug problems and then later ordered it for all the states. Polster hopes that this move will help stem the tide of overdose deaths in this time of US history with the worst drug crisis.

Another person willing to do everything to fight not just the opioid crisis in West Virginia but also the state’s whole drug problem is Dr. Rahul Gupta. After seeing how the number of overdose deaths rose recently, Dr. Gupta took charge of the health crises in the state like how he did in the rest of America.

In the next weeks, Gupta and his team will comb through public databases, medical examiner reports, Medicaid rolls, birth certificates, death certificates, and criminal records. They aim to figure out who was at the highest risk of an overdose in the state. The idea was to give lawmakers a data-filled roadmap of how to reduce the death rate, who to focus resources on, as well as what programs and policies might help them achieve it.

Government officials and other people willing to address the current drug problem in West Virginia is willing to try every method to lessen the worsening drug situation in the state.

Cities of West Virginia

Drug abuse and addiction rates have reached an alarming peak in the United States. No economic or social group has seen safe from this epidemic. Lots of drug abusers can come from all walks of life. It proves how drugs can be cunning if not given proper action. Many people find themselves on this downward spiral, and it seems to never stop with all the prescribed legal drugs for legitimate medical conditions. Virginia is also known for its lower yet alarming rate of drug-related issues over the past few years.

Virginia also faces the problems related to prescription and illicit opioid addiction. As drug-related issues are a significant concern in this state, the most abused substance in the country is alcohol. Binge drinking is seen to be a substantial problem here. People consuming more than five drinks on one occasion have alarming rates. The percentage is slightly lower in Virginia compared with the national average at 22.92 percent.

When it comes to drugs, the most popular illicit drugs in the state are marijuana, psychotherapeutic medications and prescription medicines. The percentage of those dependent on drugs has grown over the past decades.

Virginians that age from 12 through 25 are more likely to abuse drugs compared to alcohol. About 30% of residents in this age group tend to abuse illicit drugs.

There were 1,130 opioid-related overdose deaths­­­ in this state in 2016. This death rate 13.5 per 100,000 persons is slightly above the national average. This alarming data has seen its share of increase since 2010. Since that year, the number of heroin-related overdose deaths has increased from 45 to 450 deaths. This tenfold increase is also mirrored to the deaths attributed to synthetic opioids. Its percentage have grown even more dramatically from 87 to 648 deaths.

Virginia prescription providers wrote 70 opioid prescriptions per 100 persons in 2015. Lots of post-surgical patients or people with chronic pain often have legal prescriptions for opioids. Oxycodone is one of the most common prescription drugs that turn patients into addicts. The illicit opioid Heroin also produces the same feelings like legal drugs. They are much cheaper and are more easily accessible.

As more and more people become addicts due to various explainable reasons, the local government of Virginia urges its residents to be more vigilant. As prescription drugs can be tracked by the police, heroin and other illicit drugs become more of a problem than the other accessible drug options. Practicing self-censorship and presence of mind is seen to be a useful wake-up call when the influence of drugs seems to call. If you have a family or close friends that need recovery assistance, seek immediate help before the irreversible consequences happen. The way to lasting sobriety is a hard-fought battle, but it sure is worth it more than anything else.

Cities of Virginia

The drug abuse rates in Washington State have been increasing over the years. Statistics have shown that 15 out of 100,000 individuals die because of drug-related causes. 8 of these deaths can be attributed to opiates alone. These alarming numbers have caught the attention of the government.

There are a total of 1,033 deaths attributed to medication in 2011. The rates have been going steady since 2005. This terrific trend escalates and shows no sign of going down. Some of the counties in Washington that have alarming mortality rates include the following:

Cowlitz	25 deaths per 1,000 people
Grays Harbor	23 deaths per 100,000 people
Clallam	21 deaths per 100,000 people
Snohomish	18 deaths per 100,000 people
Spokane	17 deaths per 100,000 people

The nationwide statistics show that Washington state belongs on the top of the national average of 14 having six deaths attributed to drug use. In 2013, a total of 46,471 people nationwide died of drug-related causes.

Washington state is following in the country’s footsteps with its drug and substance abuse trend. As the statistics concerning drug and substance abuse go up every year, the demand for an answer continues to rise. It’s a challenge to find a solution for such a wide variety of cases. What people can do is to speak together with the loved ones who might be vulnerable to the effects of drug abuse.

Lots of government and private facilities are available for people who suffer from the current drug problems in Washington. Detoxes, patient rehabilitation, sober livings, patient programs, and 12-step programs offer viable solutions for those combating drug problems.

Cities of Washington

Cities of Utah

Vermont joins in the drug problem wagon of all the states in America. Being in the 23rd spot in the rank of states with most drug problems, Vermont has a drug problem credit score of 45.77. It means that Vermont is highly fighting the current drug problem with includes abuse of opioids, marijuana, and alcohol.

Opioid Abuse

In the 2016 record, there were 101 opioid-related overdose deaths in Vermont. This information showed a rate of 18.4 deaths per 100,000 people in Vermont. That’s more than the national average of 13.3 deaths per 100,000 people.

One of the commonly abused opioids in Vermont is Fentanyl. This opioid was initially manufactured as a pharmaceutical painkiller to treat pain from conditions like cancer. It’s popular among drug abusers because of its potency and stealth quality.

Recently, the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that Vermont has the highest rate of opioid abuse among pregnant women. This data is according to their study in delivery hospitalizations in 28 states in America. If this trend goes on, more babies will be born in Vermont with serious and sometimes fatal health problems as well as the mother.

It’s noted that in 2015, the cases of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) has increased to 50.6 compared to 2014’s rate which is 49.4. This rate is higher compared to the national average.

Another prevalent drug in Vermont is heroin even if it remains well below 1%. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that they found almost 80% of new heroin users in any given year in America and that includes Vermont. Way back in 2014, Vermont was known as ‘America’s Heroin Capital.’ It’s a good thing that the government has gradually addressed the problem and the heroin rate reduced over the next years.

Other Drugs

Aside from opioids, there are also other drugs abused in Vermont. There are a significant number of abusers of cocaine, hallucinogens, and inhalants.

Treatment

Some facilities in Vermont offer treatment programs to abusers. Depending on the type of treatment, teams can be made up of social workers, counselors, doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists or other professionals.

Daniel Franklin, a local of Vermont, opened the new Phoenix Diagnostics Lab in Chittenden County. This facility offers to test drugs and alcohol. It’s a tool for change in the state of Vermont. Vermont leads many terms in coming up with solutions to the opioid epidemic.

Vermont has been assigned a few pilot programs by the federal government. The state is also a leader in resources to fight the opioid crisis. Chittenden County has reduced its waiting times, provided more patient beds, and increased Narcan access. But, these resources seem to only be accessible in more metropolitan areas.

One of the pilot programs Franklin is involved with the new ways to detect fentanyl before people take drugs.

Cities of Vermont

In a recent study published by WalletHub that ranked all the states in the USA with most drug problems, the state of Oklahoma came in the 35th spot. Its total drug problem score is 39.35 when their cases of overdose death rates, meth lab incidents, and arrests are combined.

Over the years, there’s an unfortunate and dramatic increase in the trend of drug problems and overdose deaths in Oklahoma and the whole of America. Oklahoma is consistently at the top of the states with the most number of painkiller abuse and overdose deaths in the country.

Opioid Abuse

The opioids are by far the most common drugs used by abusers all around the country, having an opioid epidemic across all the states. This kind of prescription drugs causes more death through overdose than motor vehicle crashes in Oklahoma.

In 2016, the state has recorded 444 opioid-related overdose deaths.

That data shows a rate of 11.6 deaths in every 100,000 people in Oklahoma. The national number for opioid-related overdose death is 13.3 deaths in every 100,000 people. The number of deaths has doubled if you look at 2012’s rate. In 2015, the recorded number of opioid prescriptions written was 101.7 per 100 people.

Recently, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation reported that Oklahoma’s reported death of 813 from drug-related overdoses, 55% were opioid-related. Oklahoma has been nearing over-prescribing. The city is about the fourth-highest for prescribing opioids for one year.

Prescription painkillers (opioids) are the most common type of illegal drugs involved in overdose deaths in Oklahoma (more than 80% of prescription drug-related overdose deaths). More overdose deaths involve prescription painkillers like opioid than alcohol and all illicit drugs combined.

Drug-exposed Infants

What’s even worse is that recently healthcare professionals recorded that there are 517 cases of newborn infants who tested positive for illegal drugs. It’s a 62% increase from the data recorded last 2013. This unfortunate trend was attributable to pregnant women who use drugs.

It’s a heartbreaking sight. Hundreds of babies who should’ve been healthy come out into a struggling world often undersized, crying, and wincing from mere exposure to light in a neonatal intensive care unit.

There are also 232 cases of child neglect and child abuse in Oklahoma. Officials are recommending to remove the babies from their families in 90 of the total cases.

How is Oklahoma Keeping Up with the Crisis?

Through the years that Oklahoma is struggling with the state’s drug problem, the officials are working hard to provide a safer environment for all the locals in Oklahoma. It’s no secret that one of the keys to providing a safe environment for everyone is by offering mental health treatment services to rehabilitate drug abusers. Mental health treatment is essential for opioid abusers since addiction is a mental illness. Without the proper treatment, those who are addicted are not going to get better.

The big obstacle in this solution is that Oklahoma is presently struggling with a huge budget crisis for mental health treatment. But the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is doing the best they can to come up with a permanent solution to eradicating the current drug problem in Oklahoma.

Cities of Oklahoma

Rhode Island is one small state that faces big problems with drugs. It sits in the middle of ground zero of the county’s hideous opioid epidemic. Lots of residents of this state fall into the terrifying trap of drug and alcohol abuse. As substance abuse can be a slippery slope to conquer, many people spiral out of control from the supposed one-time try of drugs. As the addiction sets in, many people need help from family and friends to kick the substance abuse problem for good.

In the early part of this decade, lots of physicians began to ease their standards when it comes to prescribing drugs.

Cultural acceptance is also seen as one of the reasons for falling into alcohol dependence in many residents from all walks of life. Some of the people who suffer from the effects of drug abuse started with the best of intentions. Things went spiraling downward as drugs can be dangerous when not handled well. The drug issue trend in Rhode Island has indicated a sharp rise over the years. The worst part of the most drug abuse cases in this state that many of them end up in death.

Overdose Death Rate

Over the past several months, the number of deaths has consistently surpassed the rates from the previous years. Many illegal and prescription drug abuse started from the abuse of Fentanyl. In October 2015, drug overdose with Fentanyl had taken 20 lives in the state. 56 people also lost their lives due to the effects of prescription and illegal drugs in their systems. As most overdose victims in Rhode Island are male, females only account for about a third of the overall overdose deaths.

Majority of those people who died out of drug overdose in 2015 were between 21 to 41. The state of Rhode Island is alarmed by the increasing number of kids aging from 12 to 17 that use illegal substances. Rhode Island ranks much higher than the national average when it comes to abuse of illicit drugs.

Commonly Abused Drugs

Apart from the infamous prescription drug fentanyl, opioid prescriptions and heroine also stirred the concern for drug overdose epidemic. Methamphetamine, designer drugs, marijuana, and cocaine have also been key players in drug abuse situations in the state.

Rhode Island’s estimates that there are about 20,000 residents that struggle with opioid abuse problems. Most of them don’t currently receive treatment. Chemical dependency, stigma, and many other factors are seen as the hindrance for them to seek immediate help.

Cities of Rhode Island

Reporters began to cover various incidents of drug deals, deaths, and prescription drug abuse in 2016 throughout the state of South Carolina. As the problems became prevalent, many cases of drug addiction are known to be those children looking to fit in or rebel.

There aren’t many recent data sets on methamphetamine, opioid, and alcohol abuse from South Carolina. Residents are the ones who can tell that the problem has always been there. As drugs come up from Miami and across the country from Mexico, many people die in state road accidents like how they do from opioid overdoses. CDC says that the number of opioid deaths in the state has increased 9 percent from 2014 to 2015. Media reports say that from mid-2016, the statistics have changed and it has been drastically higher today.

Methamphetamine was the drug of the day in the past few years. Time has changed, and heroin is now the new trend. Stated officials have cracked down on the ingredients for meth like pseudoephedrine. DEA agents in South Carolina agrees that at least one drug dealer goes down per day in most fast food places in the state.

As the state is behind the pace of the USA regarding alcohol and drug dependence, the majority of those people who face drug problems don’t receive the treatment that they deserve to get back to sober living.

South Carolina and its substance abuse rehabilitation facilities

South Carolina is populated with almost 5 million people. Only a few treatment centers stand ready in major cities. As the sudden increase in opioid-addicted adults and teenagers flock to the centers, many of them can’t find the support and care that they need at an in-state rehab facility. The treatment infrastructures by the state may not offer the right level of care required to keep the patients from dying.

The Treatment Center in Lake Worth, Florida is a helping hand to South Carolina residents. Those who struggle with addiction to prescription drugs, heroin, alcohol, methamphetamine and other substances can receive treatments.

In this critical time in the opioid-related deaths, proper care facilities play significant roles to have a long-term recovery. If you have a loved one suffering from the effects of drug addiction, make sure to choose a sober living facility that’s close or convenient to you. Choose a facility that has a plausible track record and comprehensive programs that are actively designed to achieve lasting sobriety.

Cities of South Carolina