Drug Addiction in West Virginia

Chronic, Crippling Poverty and Substance Abuse

West Virginia is more often know for being on the bottom of statistical information for the nation in categories such as education and median income. In fact a whole regional task force known as the "Appalachian Regional Commission" was formed based off a visit that John F. Kennedy made to the region over 50 years ago. Still, the crippling poverty and unemployment Kennedy saw back then still persists to this day and drags many people into taking drugs.

Rural areas do not always mean poverty and drugs. However, almost all of West Virginia is mountainous and underdeveloped and unlike many other Appalachian and Midwest states, WV has not evolved past its old staples such as coal mining, leaving several generations of people with little work.

Despite parts of the state being relatively near major metropolitan population centers, the majority of drug trafficking cartels do not have a strong influence in the state. It is often not profitable enough for them to travel into the hills to find sparse collections of drug addicts as it is to continue to collect money in major cities. Therefore it is legal narcotics that affect the lower density populated areas of West Virginia. Home-made methamphetamine, prescription drugs, and alcohol all are popularly abused in the area, with prescription opiates such as Oxycontin and Vicodin accounting for as much as 25% of drug rehab admissions in the past few years after barely registering at all before 2000. The state also has one of the highest rates of teenagers and young adults who are alcoholics in the nation.

Education About Drug and Alcohol Addiction Is Key

The availablity of addiction treatment, as well as the very education of its existence, is the biggest shortcoming in the state pertaining to drug abuse. Even in urban areas it is considered normal and socially acceptable to abuse alcohol and pills. This can also be the case in remote areas where people most follow each other's leads, especially in family situations. So many people do not know the risks and addictive potential of alcohol and prescription narcotics when they first try them, and when it comes to drugs such as Oxycontin one try is all it takes for the brain to chemically addict itself to the rush of opiate. Education is also sorely lacking pertaining to what to do about these addiction problems. Most people who try to quit an addiction will simply try to stop taking it and make a few lifestyle alterations that they hope will be enough to keep them from relapsing. However this very rarely works, especially in areas where addictive drugs and enabling friends and family are usually present.

For that reason and others, many people with chronic addictions will need to enter into drug rehab. It can actually be quite dangerous to go through detox without medical supervision. After detoxification, the most important step begins, which involves a series of addiction treatment counseling and therapies that will help improve psychological and emotional health. Addiction treatment counseling and therapies empower individuals with the most needed tools to fight a relapse. Addiction treatment therapies will also help individuals to access and solve emotional issues, which if not solved can bring them right back where they started.

We at A Center for Addiction Recovery work hard to instill a fierce desire in our patients for sobriety and a healthy, rewarding lifestyle. If you or someone you love is in need of addiction treatment, please contact us.

West Virginia cities with high drug abuse trends: Charleston, Morgantown, Huntington, Martinsburg, Parkersburg, and Wheeling.

West Virginia counties with statistically high substance abuse: Kanawha, Berkeley, Cabell, Monongalia, Wood, Harrison, and Mercer.

West Virginia Drug and Alcohol Treatment Resources:

Seeking a drug or alcohol rehab program in West Virginia ?

Call our local West Virginia Addiction Treatment Helpline Listed Below. Our Treatment Center is staffed with knowledgeable counselors, available 24/7.

Charleston

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