Maine Addiction Treatment and Info

Like in the rest of the United States, Maine has been struggling with various substances of abuse. In particular, the state has been hit by the growing opioid epidemic being seen all across the nation.

Addiction in Maine

A rich maritime history, expansive coastal region, breathtaking land preserves, and wilderness - these are some of the things that most people think about when Maine comes to mind. Although all these elements continue making the state attractive, there are also high rates of substance abuse and addiction among local residents.

Although there are many substances that people here abuse, it seems that opioids have been taking center stage. In 2015, for instance, the Department of Health and Human Services in the state reported the following about people between the ages of 18 and 25 years:

  • 32 percent engaged in binge drinking at least once in the 30 days before the study
  • 9 percent engaged in heavy alcohol consumption at least once in the 30 days before the study
  • About 10 percent of this population had abused prescription narcotics at least once in their lifetimes
  • Close to 5 percent of these people had taken cocaine at least once in the 12 months prior to the study when only about 1 percent of those above the age of 26 had done so
  • These people had a higher probability of abusing prescription pain relief medications in comparison to people aged 26 years and older

Other reports showed the following figures:

  • 58 percent of the people who sought addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers received a dual diagnosis for a substance use disorder alongside another co-occurring medical or mental health disorder
  • Close to 3 percent of all the adult women who checked into an addiction treatment program in the state in 2014 were expecting a baby
  • In 2014, more than 829 people were treated by emergency medical responders in Maine using naloxone in a bid to reverse an opioid related drug overdose
  • The same year, people between the ages of 30 and 34 reported the highest number of deaths involving substance abuse and drug overdose
  • - Two years previously in 2012, about 8 percent of all the expectant mothers in the state reported that they had consumed alcohol

The state of Maine is like the rest of the United States in the sense that it has been witnessing an increase in the number of overdose rates reported among local residents. Unfortunately, but not surprising, most of these cases involving prescription drugs.

The Department of Health and Human Services also reported the following statistics about drug overdoses in the state between 2011 and 2014:

  • Deaths arising from illicit substances increased by 341 percent - from 17 fatalities in 2011 to 75 deaths in 2014
  • Overdose deaths linked to benzodiazepines increased by 71 percent from 41 deaths in 2011 to 70 deaths in 2014
  • Overdose deaths linked to cocaine increased by 85 percent - from 13 deaths in 2011 to 24 fatalities in 2014
  • Overdose deaths linked to fentanyl increased by 207 percent from 14 fatalities in 2011 to 43 deaths in 2014
  • Overdose deaths linked to morphine and heroin increased by 533 percent from 9 deaths in 2011 to 57 fatalities in 2014
  • The state saw an increase of 34 percent in these overdoses from 155 cases in 2011 to 208 such cases in 2014
  • At the end of the study in 2014, the following figures were reported:
  • 89 percent of all the overdose fatalities involved prescription medications
  • About 25 percent of these fatalities involved morphine or heroin
  • About 33 percent of these fatalities were linked to benzodiazepines

Commonly Abused Substances

While considering the rates of substance abuse and addiction in Maine, it is essential to consider the drugs that are most commonly taken among local residents. Consider the following:

1. Alcohol

A total of 4207 people were enrolled in an addiction treatment program in 2010 for abusing alcohol as their primary substance. Another 2545 people received similar services for taking alcohol with another secondary drug of abuse.

2. Heroin

The same year, 1362 people were admitted into a drug rehabilitation program in the state for abusing heroin. Of this number, 41.8 percent were female while 58.2 percent were male. More than 95 percent of this population was Caucasian.

3. Prescription Drugs

The TEDS - the Treatment Episode Data Set - report for 2010 also showed that 4434 people received drug rehab services for abusing opioids other than heroin. Of this number, 47.9 percent were female while the remaining 52.1 percent were male.

4. Marijuana

In 2010 also, a total of 1232 people were enrolled in a professional drug and alcohol rehab program for abusing marijuana. Of this number, 27 percent were female while the remaining 73 percent were male. About 30 percent of this population was comprised of people between the ages of 12 and 17.

Drug Related Injuries and Fatalities in Maine

Drug abuse was the direct cause of 161 deaths in this state in 2007. The same year, the state lost 198 lives to accidents involving motor vehicles while another 107 people died in incidents linked to firearms.

Addiction Prevention in Maine

There are various adverse effects of substance abuse and addiction both in Maine as well as in the rest of the United States. The state, to this end, has been engaging in various prevention programs.

In particular, it forms collaborations between the CDC - the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - as well as the local Department of Health and Human Health Services. Through these prevention programs, the state has been focusing on:

a) Prescription Monitoring

For starters, Maine has been operating a program to monitor drug prescriptions. By so doing, it effectively tracks every controlled substance within the state. Further, it has been providing doctors, physicians, and pharmacists with the aid they need in preventing the abuse of prescription medications.

b) Mass-Reach Health Communication

Through this program, Maine has been reducing the rates of substance abuse - particularly involving opioids. Additionally, it has been raising public awareness about the adverse health effects that are often linked to drug use.

c) Substance Use Prevention

Further, the state has been making strides in the prevention of underage drinking and marijuana use, as well as prescription medication abuse among all age groups.

d) Youth Engagement and Empowerment

Finally, there are other programs in place to increase the resilience of the young people in the state in a bid to reduce their risk of substance abuse and eventual dependence and addiction.

Addiction Treatment in Maine

If you are already addicted to drugs, these programs might not be quite useful. In this situation, you would be better off checking into a professional addiction treatment and rehabilitation program.

A total of 14605 people enrolled in an addiction treatment and rehabilitation center in Maine in 2010 for abusing drugs and alcohol. The rates of substance abuse among people above the age of 12 in this state were also consistent with similar rates at the national level.

From 2007 to 2008, the state was also ranked among the top 10 in terms of substance abuse in various categories. These included but were not limited to:

  • The use of cocaine in the past year among people between the ages of 18 and 25 years
  • The use of illicit drugs in the past month by people aged between 18 and 25 years
  • The use of marijuana in the past month among people above the age of 12 years

Surveys from 2007 to 2008 also reported that more than 9 percent of the citizens of this state abused illicit substances in the month prior to the survey. This was at a time when the national level reported rates of 8.02 percent. Another 2.98 percent of these residents abused illicit substances other than cannabis within the month before the survey while the national averages were set at 3.58 percent.

There are many recovery programs in Maine and its surroundings, and they offer the following categories of services:

i) Medical Detox

Medically supervised detox services are designed to take you through the first few stages of your recovery as you try to overcome your physical dependence. During this time, your body will go through some changes - some of which could turn out to be painful, uncomfortable, or even fatal.

For instance, if you were addicted to some substances, you may develop withdrawal symptoms and intense drug cravings. To stop these symptoms, you may be tempted to relapse.

In a medical detox program, this risk of relapse would be reducing through the use of medications and other evidence-based treatment and therapy modalities. In the process, you may finally be able to recover from your physical dependence and achieve some semblance of stability in preparation for the next stage of your recovery.

ii) Inpatient Drug Rehab

Immediately following the successful completion of the medical detox, you will be asked to go through inpatient or outpatient drug rehab. Inpatient treatment involves living at the recovery center for 30, 60, or 90 days - or even longer.

During your time at the center, you will work on overcoming your emotional, behavioral, and psychological dependence. You will also get the opportunity to understand all the reasons why you may have been abusing drugs and drinking alcohol.

This time could also prove useful if you have also been diagnosed with a co-occurring medical or mental health disorder - which you would have to get managed at the same time as you try to overcome your addiction.

iii) Outpatient Drug Rehab

Although you can go for outpatient treatment immediately following your inpatient drug rehab, there are some situations in which you can use it as your only form of help for addiction.

For instance, if your addiction is mild and you have not been diagnosed with other co-occurring disorders, you may be able to benefit from an outpatient drug rehab program without seeking residential or inpatient services.

This is also the case if you have some obligations and responsibilities - at home, school, or work - that would make it impractical for you to seek inpatient addiction treatment for long enough to recover.

In an outpatient recovery program, you will not have to live at the treatment center. Instead, you can schedule your treatments to take place several times every week - a couple of hours every time.

Whether you opt for inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment, the following are some of the therapies and recovery services that you may be able to enjoy:

  • 12 step and non-12 step support group meetings
  • Addiction education
  • Adventure therapy
  • Aftercare programming
  • Alumni mentorship programs
  • Art therapy
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Couples counseling
  • Dialectical behavior therapy
  • Equine therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Group therapy
  • Holistic therapies, including massage, biofeedback, yoga, and acupuncture
  • Individual therapy
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Music therapy
  • Pet therapy
  • Relapse prevention education
  • Sober or transitional living services
  • Vocational training
  • Wilderness therapy

Getting Help

In the long term, substance abuse and addiction will ruin your life in various ways. You may lose your home, employment or sources of income, finances, important social and professional relationships, health, and wellness.

In other instances, you may find yourself involved in situations that are threatening to your life or the lives of others. This would be the case if you decided to drive or operate heavy machinery while intoxicated, or if you suffered a severe drug overdose.

The best way to avoid all these problems - or at least ensure that they do not repeat themselves if you have already experienced them - would be by checking into a professional addiction treatment and rehabilitation program.

There are many such programs in Maine as well as in surrounding areas, and they can all help you overcome your substance use disorder as well as manage any other co-occurring medical and mental health disorders that you may also be struggling with.

CITATIONS

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/samhs/osa/documents/SEOWEpiProfile2015FINALDRAFT.pdf

https://data.mainepublichealth.gov/miyhs/2017_reports_results

https://www.carnevaleassociates.com/our-work/emerging-drug-trends-prevention-issue-brief.html

https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-11/DIR-032-18%202018%20NDTA%20final%20low%20resolution.pdf

https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/news-statistics/emerging-drug-trends

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234579/

https://www.shadac.org/publications/50-state-analysis-drug-overdose-trends-evolving-opioid-crisis-across-states

https://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr/WDR_2010/2.0_Drug_statistics_and_Trends.pdf


For more information about treatment centers in Maine, Click Here.

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