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
- Alexandria
- Bristol
- Buena Vista
- Charlottesville
- Chesapeake
- Colonial Heights
- Covington
- Danville
- Emporia
- Fairfax
- Alexandria
- Bristol
- Buena Vista
- Charlottesville
- Chesapeake
- Colonial Heights
- Covington
- Danville
- Emporia
- Fairfax
- Falls Church
- Franklin
- Fredericksburg
- Galax
- Hampton
- Harrisonburg
- Hopewell
- Lexington
- Lynchburg
- Manassas
- Manassas Park
- Martinsville
- Newport News
- Norfolk
- Norton
- Petersburg
- Poquoson
- Portsmouth
- Radford
- Richmond
- Roanoke
- Salem
- Staunton
- Suffolk
- Virginia Beach
- Waynesboro
- Williamsburg
- Winchester
