Maine

Substance abuse in Maine negatively impacts the lives of those abusing these substances and the lives of the people that care about them most. Due to the destruction that drugs can cause, the need for prevention methods and drug rehab programs has never been greater. Understand the problem, how to prevent and how to treat it is what can empower the residents of Maine to stop the problem of drug and alcohol abuse dead in its tracks.

The problem of substance abuse can be seen in all age groups in the state. For example, over 25% of high school aged youth in Maine report past-month consumption of alcohol and one in five students reports high risk drinking. About one-third of Maine youth begin drinking as early as 13 years old, and this seems to be getting younger and younger over the past decade or so. The problem of prescription drug abuse in Maine mirrors the rest of the nation, and this is no exception among youth in the state. One in seven high school aged youth in Maine report non-medical use of prescription drugs, and one in ten report past month use. Marijuana is also a very common drug of abuse among youth in the state, with one in five students report use of the drug within the past month.

Adults in Maine also misuse prescription drugs at very high rates, with the high rates of misuse being among residents between the ages of 18 and 25. Opiates are one of the main types of drugs cited by treatment admissions to drug rehab facilities in the state, a category including both heroin and prescription pain killers which are often abused. As a result of non-medical use of prescription drugs in the state, including pain killers and benzodiazepines, the rate of overdose deaths in Maine have been on the rise. Benzodiazepines in particular have caused many overdose deaths in recent years, primarily due to the misuse of the drug in high doses or in combination with other drugs or alcohol.

The substance abuse problem in Maine isn't new, and it isn't a problem that is exclusive to the state. It is a nationwide and worldwide problem. Fortunately, there are more effective and innovative treatment methods available than there were even a decade ago. There are programs which can actually cure addiction and resolve it for good, something which was thought to be impossible for many years. There is no need to stay stuck in a rut, and deteriorate both mentally and physically because of ones substance abuse. Private drug rehab programs in Maine and in surrounding states provide the most up-to-date treatment methods and there are many different treatment settings to choose from, from luxury rehabs to more modest facilities. Inpatient and residential programs which offer long-term treatment make it possible for the individual to forget their every day worries, and focus on themselves and their recovery, instead of any outside distractions. As a result, treatment clients retain their achievements and do far better once treatment is complete.