New York is a state in the northeastern United States that boasts one of the largest and most famous cities in the world. It’s also in an area that has recently experienced a rise in overdose and addiction rates over the past decade.
Drug addiction is often a major problem in larger urban areas with major seaports, where transnational drug dealers traffic illicit substances. Substance use disorders can lead to serious public health issues. Learn more about drug addiction in New York and the need for access to drug rehab in the state.
New York Drug Rehab Statistics
Like the rest of the country, the opioid crisis has significantly impacted New York and increased addiction during the past decade. In 2018, there were 2,991 opioid-involved overdose deaths in New York. Many of these deaths involved the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which can be deadly in doses as small as 2 mg (milligrams).
Synthetic opioids like fentanyl were involved in 2,195 deaths in the state in 2018. In many cases, fentanyl is mixed into other drugs like heroin, without the user knowing it, leading to a fatal overdose. Prescription opioids were also involved in 998 overdose deaths in 2018.
New York City has seen epidemic levels of addiction and overdose. As of the first half of 2019, there were an estimated 659 overdose deaths in the city in the first two quarters alone. In the city, opioids were involved in about 80 percent of overdose deaths. Of the five burrows, the Bronx had the highest rate of overdose in the city.
Most Commonly Abused Substances in New York
Opioids aren’t the only drug to pose a public health threat among New Yorkers. Alcohol, the most commonly abused drug in the United States, continues to be a problem amid the opioid crisis. Alcohol is even more dangerous when mixed with opioids and other depressants. The combination can lead to respiratory depression, coma, and death.
Stimulants are also commonly abused, including cocaine and amphetamines. Prescription amphetamines like ADHD medications can be abused by students to improve study skills through late-night study sessions.
Illicit amphetamines include methamphetamine, which can cause serious long-term health issues. Prescription depressants are also abused, including benzodiazepines. These sedatives can cause an alcohol-like intoxication when abused, but they can also be deadly when mixed with opioids or alcohol.
Quick Treatment Facts
Addiction is a serious disease that affects the reward center of the brain. Ignoring it is risky, as the condition can worsen without treatment. While the chronic disease has no known cure, according to the medical community, it can be treated and managed effectively.
Addiction treatment involves a complex process that addresses multiple needs at the same time, including psychological, medical, and social issues. Treatment is often necessary to facilitate lasting sobriety.
Medical interventions and psychotherapies that address immediate needs and underlying issues, such as mental health disorders, are a part of addiction treatment. For treatment to be effective, your recovery plan should speak to your individual needs for it to work for you.
