Measures Age Groups
|
Past Month Illicit Drug Use |
12+, 18-25 |
|
Past Month Marijuana Use |
All Age Groups |
|
Past Year Marijuana Use |
All Age Groups |
|
Least Perception of Risk Associated with Smoking Marijuana Once a Month |
All Age Groups |
|
Past Month Use of an Illicit Drug Other Than Marijuana |
12+, 18-25 |
|
Past Year Cocaine Use |
12+, 18-25, 26+ |
|
Past Year Nonmedical Use of Pain Relievers |
18-25 |
|
Past Month Alcohol Use |
All Age Groups |
|
Past Month Binge Alcohol Use |
12+, 18-25, 26+ |
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues At-A-Glance
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The above chart shows the measures used by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to determine Rhode Island’s ranking as one of the 10 states with the highest rates. The statistics for prior year alcohol dependence and prior year drug abuse have consistently been among the 10 highest in the country. This is troubling, considering that the survey on prior month and prior year marijuana use encompasses all age groups (including 12–17).
Per the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS), the amount of treatment facilities in Rhode Island has remained stable. In 2006, there were 57 facilities; 43 are private nonprofit; 12 facilities are private for-profit. In 2006, 49 facilities in Rhode Island offered outpatient care; 16 facilities offered residential care; 19 centers offered an opioid treatment program; and 42 physicians and 21 programs were authorized to provide buprenorphine treatment for opiate addiction. Additionally, there were 42 facilities that received some type of funding from the federal, state, or local government, and 40 centers had contracts with managed care organizations. These facilities are equipped to handle a variation of substance abuse, including the rising statistics of individuals using pain relievers for non-medical reasons and those suffering from meth addiction.
The 2006 NSSATS survey showed that Rhode Island had a total of 6,415 clients receiving treatment; 6,026 were in outpatient treatment; and 251 were under the age of 18. Over the last 15 years, Rhode Island has seen a consistent decrease in the amount of treatment admissions for alcohol and cocaine addiction, and a changeable increase in the amount of treatment admissions for opiates besides heroin. Individuals needing treatment for alcohol combined with drug dependency has decreased from 53 percent in 1992 to slightly over 29 percent in 2006. However, drug-only admissions doubled from 21 percent in 1992 to 46 percent in 2006.
Clearly, Rhode Island has a drug problem; the rates for those needing drug-only treatment and not receiving it in the year have remained above the national rates for all age groups, with the statistics for individuals age 18 to 25 being consistently among the 10 highest in the country. Furthermore, Rhode Island’s rates for individuals requiring alcohol treatment but not receiving it in the year prior have been steadily been above the national rates for all age groups.
Rhode Island’s high rates of drug and alcohol use, plus for individuals needing treatment and not receiving it are alarming. With a stable amount of treatment facilities available, this rate can be significantly reduced, ultimately saving an abundance of lives.
Barrington-Bristol-East Greenwich-Warwick-West Warwick-Newport-Tiverton-Central Falls-Cranston-Cumberland Hill-East Providence-Greenville-Harmony-Harrisville-North Providence-Pascoag-Pawtucket-Providence-Valley Falls-Boonsocket-shaway-Bradford-Hope Valley-Kingston-Wakefield-West Kingston-Westerly
Resource: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov