The most commonly used illicit drug in America is marijuana, also referred to as weed, pot, ganga, grass and several others. The main chemical ingredient in marijuana is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Marijuana is highly addictive and is most frequently administered by smoking. The short-terms effects of marijuana include cognitive and learning issues, distorted perception, thinking, and problem solving issues. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) states that 25 million Americans over 12 years old, suffered from marijuana abuse in 2006. Additionally, the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) 2007 Monitoring the Future Study reflected that 10.3 percent of 8th graders, 24.6 percent of 10th graders, and 31.7 percent of 12th graders were guilty of abusing marijuana at least once.
State estimates of drug use and abuse were initially created utilizing the incorporated 2002-2003 NSDUH surveys. The results for 2005-2006 are a combination of these surveys along with the most recent state estimates. The state of Alaska is ranked as one of the 10 states with the highest marijuana addiction rate.
|
Measure (Alaska) |
Age Groups |
|
Past Month Illicit Drug Use |
12+, 26+ |
|
Past Month Marijuana Use |
12+, 12-17, 26+ |
|
Past Year Marijuana Use |
All Age Groups |
|
Least Perception of Risk Associated with Smoking Marijuana |
12+, 12-17, 26+ |
|
Once a Month |
|
|
|
|
|
Past Year Nonmedical Use of Pain Relievers |
26+ |
|
Past Year Illicit Drug Dependence |
12+, 12-17 |
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues At-A-Glance
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Of all the surveys performed over the years, Alaska has consistently ranked as one of the 10 states with the highest rate of substance dependence for individuals 12 years and older. This also rings true for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17. For other age groups, the rates have stayed over the national rate.
Alaska’s rates of alcohol dependency or abuse differ from its rates for illegal drug dependency. In 2005-2006, for individuals age 12 and over, 12 to 17, and 26 and older, their prior year’s alcohol dependency rates were ranked among the highest in the U.S. However, between 18 and 25 years were ranked among the lowest in the nation.
The need for drug treatment programs in Alaska became critical. The National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS) states that in 2006 Alaska had 70 drug treatment facilities–39 of these facilities were private nonprofit centers, and 5 were private for-profit. Additionally, 13 Alaskan facilities were owned and ran by tribal governments; Alaska Native languages were offered at 10 centers.
In 2006, the amount of Alaskan treatment facilities suffered a decline (87 in 2002 to 70 in 2006). 81 percent of treatment facilities in Alaska included outpatient treatment in their services. Residential care was offered by 26 facilities and meth treatment was offered by 3 facilities. Furthermore, there are 21 physicians and 2 treatment programs authorized to offer buprenorphine, a treatment for opiate addiction. Regardless of the decline in treatment facilities, individuals in Alaska struggling with drug and alcohol dependency still have a variation of choices to seek help from.
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Resource: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov