Drug abuse has been posing a compelling threat to the public health in America for several years. Several states of America has been struggling with drug problem especially with the opioid epidemic getting worst. Missouri is one of the states in America that struggles with drug abuse.
Drug Problem Ranking
It’s no breaking news for anyone that Missouri is also fighting a hard battle of drug addiction over the past years. In fact in the recent study conducted by WalletHub, Missouri ranked second among all the states in America with the worst drug problems. The state has a score of 57.73% following the District of Columbia which is currently on the first spot with most drug usage rate.
Commonly Abused Drugs and Substance in Missouri
According to News-PressNow.com, there’s one particular drug that stands dominant among all the other drugs available: opioid. Over the last decades, there’s a significant increase in the use of methamphetamine as well as marijuana. Other commonly used substance in Missouri are cocaine, heroin, as well as alcohol.
Shawn Griggs, the spokesperson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Drive Control, said that the heroin use in the state had increased significantly since 2011.
In 2011, the department seized 155.75 grams, and in 2014 they took 104 grams. The state experienced a big jump in 2013 when they seized 671.5 grams and worsened as the year pass by. By 2016, it reached 41,473.5 grams.
Griggs also said that aside from heroin being taken off the streets, they also seized 43,895 prescription pills in the period ranging from 2013 to 2016. Of those, some 12,746 pills were opioids.
Alcohol is also giving a hard time to the state with many alcohol abusers rising for several years. More than a one-third (37%) of Missouri’s state-funded treatment centers were for alcohol abuse.
Treatment and Resources
Missouri may have many state-funded treatment centers, mostly patients diverted from the criminal justice system. But small budgets and a lack of resources to address the needs of every patient effectively constrain these treatment centers.
The fast-growing patients that are addicted to heroin and opioid plus Missouri’s pervasive issues with alcohol issues, make it hard for mental health professionals to make sure there’s an appropriate delivery of addiction treatment.
Cities of Missouri
- Arnold
- Aurora
- Ballwin
- Bellefontaine Neighbors
- Belton
- Berkeley
- Blue Springs
- Bolivar
- Bonne Terre
- Boonville
- Branson
- Brentwood
- Bridgeton
- Cameron
- Cape Girardeau
- Carl Junction
- Carthage
- Chesterfield
- Chillicothe
- Clayton
- Clinton
- Columbia
- Crestwood
- Creve Coeur
- Dardenne Prairie
- Des Peres
- Dexter
- Ellisville
- Eureka
- Excelsior Springs
- Farmington
- Ferguson
- Festus
- Florissant
- Fulton
- Gladstone
- Grain Valley
- Grandview
- Hannibal
- Harrisonville
- Hazelwood
- Independence
- Jackson
- Jefferson City
- Jennings
- Joplin
- Kansas City
- Kearney
- Kennett
- Kirksville
- Kirkwood
- Ladue
- Lake St. Louis
- Lebanon
- Liberty
- Manchester
- Maplewood
- Marshall
- Marshfield
- Maryland Heights
- Maryville
- Mexico
- Moberly
- Monett
- Neosho
- Nevada
- Nixa
- Oak Grove
- Olivette
- Overland
- Ozark
- Pacific
- Park Hills
- Perryville
- Pleasant Hill
- Poplar Bluff
- Raymore
- Raytown
- Republic
- Richmond Heights
- Rolla
- Sedalia
- Sikeston
- Smithville
- Springfield
- St. Ann
- St. Charles
- St. Joseph
- St. Louis
- St. Peters
- Sullivan
- Sunset Hills
- Town and Country
- Troy
- Union
- University City
- Warrensburg
- Warrenton
- Washington
- Webb City
- Webster Groves
- Wentzville
- West Plains
- Wildwood
