Drug Addiction in North Dakota

A State Insulated from Many Economic Woes

Drug Rehab in North Dakota North Dakota is often cited as one of the most remote places in the nation. The state has struggled to keep its current population of around 650,000 for over 90 years due to its isolation, lack of innovative jobs, and no popular tourist destinations. However, North Dakota's dependency on agriculture and oil production, as well as the lack of interest in wealthy investment in the state, have given it a reputation as being "recession-proof." It has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, and the state has developed a highly unusual series of regulations that have insulated it from the recent financial and foreclosure crisis by utilizing state-owned banks and restricting many corporations from being able to own land in the state. Its isolated nature means that drug traffickers do not have much presence in the state; therefore the presence of drugs such as heroin and cocaine is relatively scarce.

However, North Dakota has recently seen a boom in gas and oil exploration that has seen vice on the rise, especially in the West of the state. In North Dakota police have noted an uptick in prostitution and the presence of hard drugs as oil workers continue to arrive in large numbers. This has disproportionately affected Native American lands that already suffer from high unemployment, poor mental health, violence and drug abuse; now they have to contend with large-scale environmental damage and the availability of more types of dangerous drugs.

As with most states along the border of Canada, while there are no inner city, high crime type areas full of drug gangs and crack addicts, alcoholism is rampant. North Dakota has some of the highest rates in the nation for binge drinking and alcoholism across all age groups including teenagers. Frigid Northern weather keep people shuttered indoors for months out of the year commonly encourage alcohol and excessive drinking and drug abuse all across the country and in similar climates worldwide. Prescription drugs and home-made methamphetamine are also popular in these rural areas.

Out of the state's population there are thought to be less than 3,000 undergoing drug addiction treatment. Yet this does not add up when you consider that as much as 5% of the entire nation is thought to be addicted to alcohol. Indeed the amount of people who do not get proper treatment for alcoholism is one of the highest rates in the country. The problem is very tough in these areas because addiction treatment programs are not commonly found in places where there is not considerable local demand. When populations are spread out in towns and cities with only a few hundred or few thousand people, it is very difficult for the addicts in these communities to find a nearby place to get help. In these remote areas even finding a local Alcoholic's Anonymous chapter may take a couple hours worth of driving, and that is often just not good enough for someone who is seriously suffering from a chronic addiction.

Unfortunately this is an all-too-common trend across the country. Powerful chemical addictions to prescription opiates or depressants as well as alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, are often impossible for someone to face down individually. Friends and family are not enough to keep someone from chasing their drug cravings. When someone is dealing with a case like this drug rehab needs to be seriously considered. Medically-supervised detox as well as psychological and physical therapies are often what will be needed to save the life of someone in an out-of-control addiction habit. The scourge of relapse is one of the most dangerous aspects of addiction treatment and historically it is only through intense counseling and therapies that someone can build the incredible inner strength and will that will help them overcome urges to use their drug of choice in the future.

North Dakota cities with drug problems: Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and Mandan

North Dakota counties suffering from substance abuse: Cass, Burleigh, Grand Forks, Ward, Morton, Stark, and Williams

A Center for Addiction Recovery treats the following addiction problems:

A Center for Addiction Recovery offers the following addiction treatment programs:

For more information on our drug addiction treatment , or for a free confidential consultation call toll free at: