Substance Abuse Stats in Maine
The drug epidemic in Maine rages on—last year, the Portland Press-Herald reported a record number of drug overdose deaths, an 11% increase over the year before.
That’s not the only unsettling drug abuse statistic in Maine.
In 2015, Maine officials reported that:
- 33% of Maine drug arrests involved heroin
- 32% of Maine young adults reported binge drinking
- 3% of Maine teens abused painkillers
- 7% of Maine adults abused painkillers
- 6% of Maine teens used cocaine
Believe it or not, these numbers are lower than the national average. Maine’s drug problem isn’t as severe as the rest of the country, but it still needs work.
Choosing Between an Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab
If you’re not sure whether inpatient or outpatient rehab is right for you, then it’s time to think about your recovery goals and your situation.
Inpatient treatment is the first choice for opioid, alcohol, and multi-substance abuse. That’s because this form of treatment offers more monitoring and structure, which is necessary for complex addiction cases. It’s more successful long-term than outpatient treatment.
Outpatient treatment offers freedom for patients who can handle more responsibility. Patients who have a job and family to care for might choose this kind of treatment. It’s also common for patients to switch to outpatient after they graduate from inpatient treatment.
How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?
The length of your rehab treatment depends on:
- Your condition and stability
- Your drug abuse history
- Your mental and physical health
- Your support system
- The types of drugs you use
What’s important is that you commit to the length of treatment your doctor recommends. Research shows that treatment lengths under 90 days are less effective.
Opioid users or anyone using methadone should consider staying in treatment for even longer. The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends at least 12 months of treatment. Many patients choose to stay in treatment for months or years after the recommended end time.
What to Expect at Rehab
You should expect a rehab experience in Maine that’s tailored to your needs. Your exact treatment plan depends on your condition and the types of drugs you’re using.
Your treatment could include a combination of:
- Daily check-ins
- Drug testing
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Symptom management
People who abuse multiple drugs or toxic drugs generally need more monitoring and more intensive treatment. For instance, opioid and alcohol cravings can be tricky to manage, so people who abused these substances may need more therapy than most.
When Would You Need to Go to Detox?
You need to go to medical detox if you’re physically dependent on a drug. The signs of physical dependence are different for each drug. However, they can include:
- Abusing drugs even though it negatively affects your life, health, and relationships
- Cravings for your drug of choice
- “Doctor shopping” or going to appointments for prescriptions to abuse
- Getting sick when you don’t take the drug on schedule
- Needing to take the drug on a schedule
- Spending too much time looking for drugs and using them
If you think you’re dependent, then talk to your care team about going to detox before you start rehab in Maine.
How Long is Detox?
Detox takes time and there’s nothing you can do to shorten the length. The exact length depends on factors that include:
- Which drugs you’re using
- How long you’ve been using
- How often you use
- Your health and metabolism
Some drugs leave your system in as little as a week, while others take 10 weeks to fully leave. Stimulants and some long-acting stimulants are notorious for having long and severe detoxes. However, you can get around the negative parts of detox by seeking medical help for the process.
Sources
- Portland Press-Herald: Drug overdoses killed a record 418 people in Maine last year <https://www.pressherald.com/2018/02/22/drug-overdoses-killed-418-people-in-maine-last-year-up-11-percent/>
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services: Substance abuse trends in Maine <https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/samhs/osa/documents/SEOWEpiProfile2015FINALDRAFT.pdf>
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services: Adolescents and substance abuse <https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/facts-and-stats/national-and-state-data-sheets/adolescents-and-substance-abuse/maine/index.html>
- National Library of Medicine: Inpatient vs outpatient treatment for substance abuse revisited <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8391147>
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Duration of treatment <https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/teaching-packets/understanding-drug-abuse-addiction/section-iii/6-duration-treatment>