Kentucky Drug Use Trends Kentucky is a state located in the east south-central region of the U.S. and is one of only four states which are actually constituted as a commonwealth. Kentucky is known as the "Bluegrass State" and is so-called because of the bluegrass found in many regions in the state. You may have heard of the Kentucky Derby because the state is known for its horse racing, bourbon distilleries, automobile manufacturing, and bluegrass music. There are problems in Kentucky however which residents face, one of which faces many individuals and has disastrous consequences, and that would be the problem of substance abuse and how to effectively get help for it.
Alcohol Alcohol abuse and alcoholism is a problem that begins very early on for Kentucky residents, with an estimated 21% of Kentucky 10th graders reporting past month alcohol use as compared to 14.7% nationally. Among individuals 18 and older, Kentucky has the highest frequency of past month binge drinking in the nation.
Drugs Non-medical abuse of prescription drugs is a particular problem in the state, with prescription pain killers being the main culprit. The rate of past year non-medical use of prescription pain killers is highest among individuals in Kentucky who are between the ages of 18 and 25 years of age, with around 15.4% of Kentucky 18-25-year-olds reporting past year non-medical use of prescription drugs. Between 2003 and 2010, rates of abuse of the prescription pain killers hydrocodone and oxycodone have increased by 27% and 49%, respectively in Kentucky. Along with these statistics, studies indicate that between 1999 and 2009 the rate of treatment admissions in Kentucky for opioids as a primary drug of abuse has increased significantly from 1.8% of admissions to nearly 24%. Rates of abuse of prescription opioids have increased in Kentucky by 3.4% (hydrocodone) to 6.1% (oxycodone) every year between 1999 and 2008. Between 1999 and 2008, treatment admissions in Kentucky with opioids listed as the primary substance rose from 1 per 10,000 to 10 per 10,000, representing a statistically astounding 900% increase. The rate of illicit opioid use among 18-25-year-olds in Kentucky is 26% higher than the national rate. Among high school age youth (12-17), the Kentucky rate of illicit opioid use is 17% higher than the national rate.
Other drugs are also a problem in the state of Kentucky, with the highest rates of past 30-day of marijuana in Kentucky by region in 2010 being KIPDA (18.5%), Northern Kentucky (17.5%), and the Bluegrass (16.4%). Regionally, the highest cocaine and crack cocaine use rates in 2010 in Kentucky were seen in KIPDA (1.5%), Green River (1.3%), and Kentucky River (1.2%). The rate of past 30-day methamphetamine use among Kentucky 10th graders increased between 2008 and 2010, from 0.5% to 0.6%. The 2010 rate of past 30-day use of ecstasy among 10th graders was 1.0%, the same rate as 2008. The rate of past 30-day usage of inhalants for Kentucky 10th graders in 2010 was 2.7%.
Rates of abuse of prescription tranquilizers in Kentucky have remained relatively stable, and rates of abuse of the prescription benzodiazepine Alprazolam increased from 196 per 1,000 in 2003 to 217 per 1,000 in 2010 in Kentucky.
Consequences In 2008, the drug overdose mortality in Kentucky ranked sixth highest in the nation, and surpassed suicide mortality in 2005 and approached motor vehicle mortality in 2008.
Treatment Between 1999 and 2008, treatment admissions in Kentucky with opioids listed as the primary substance increased an astounding 900%. Treatment admissions and drug overdose mortality rates in Kentucky followed virtually identical patterns, with significant increases from 1999 to 2003 and a slight slump in 2004 followed by continued increases from 2005 to 2008. So as anyone can see, opioids are the most pressing substance abuse problem to address in the state.
Unfortunately, it is also one of the toughest to treat, but it is possible to overcome such a complex addiction and any other type of intense dependency issue with drug rehab Louisville Ky. It is however best to correctly estimate what it will take to do so, based on the level of dependence being addressed because not all drug rehabs in the state are going to be able to achieve the desired results clients are looking for. So you will want to adequately match the treatment need of the client with the best drug rehab facility in each particular instance. For the challenges that are unique to Kentucky clients in regards to opioids and other illicit drugs, long-term inpatient and residential drug rehab programs in the state are by far the most effective based on long-term results and success rates. These types of programs not only provide quality treatment but the environment appropriate for individuals who will still experience cravings and many challenges during the recovery process.