Substance Abuse Stats in Erie, PA
Drug abuse rates in Erie declined two years in a row between 2017 and 2019, according to a report this year.
In fact, officials say that Erie drug abuse rates will fall to 50% of the 2017 rate by the end of 2019.
Other statistics on drug abuse in Erie include:
- Erie officials reported 34 drug-related deaths by July 2019, down from 124 in 2017
- Hundreds of doses of naloxone are distributed in Erie County every year to reverse opioid overdoses
Just because the rates are decreasing doesn’t mean it’s safe to stop worrying. Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook says that fentanyl and meth still pose a real threat to the area.
Choosing Between an Outpatient vs. Inpatient Rehab
If you’re looking at rehab options in Erie, your first order of business is to decide whether outpatient or inpatient is right for you.
If you abuse alcohol or opioids, or abuse multiple substances, then you’re likely to have a complicated recovery. Inpatient rehab gives you the stability needed to focus on getting better, along with the structure to keep you accountable.
If your condition is stable and you want to keep attending work or school—or other responsibilities such as childcare—then consider outpatient rehab. Outpatient rehab balances the freedom to live your life with the structure needed to get better.
How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?
Committing to treatment long enough is very important. If you cut your rehab stay short, then you’re more likely to have a relapse.
Research shows that treatment stays of 90 days or longer have the best outcomes—but that’s on the low end. The longer you can commit to rehab, the better your outcome can be.
In fact, many substance abuse patients see rehab and recovery as a phase that never ends. Some patients keep attending outpatient treatment for years or indefinitely and have great results.
What to Expect at Rehab
No two rehab experiences are the same. Your treatment team tailors your rehab stay to meet your needs.
Many treatment centers use the following approaches:
- Daily check-ins: Regular appointments with your care team give you accountability and help motivate you to stick with treatment.
- Regular drug testing: Most rehabs require frequent drug testing, especially if you’re outpatient or otherwise leave the facility regularly.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: CBT teaches you how to avoid the triggers and thoughts that cause you to abuse drugs.
- Medication-assisted treatment: MAT uses prescription drugs to treat the symptoms of withdrawal and prevent cravings.
When Would You Need to Go to Detox?
You should go to detox in Erie before rehab if you:
- Abuse alcohol: Withdrawing from alcohol can be dangerous to your health, even causing coma and seizures.
- Abuse opioids: It isn’t physically dangerous to withdraw from opioids, but it’s very uncomfortable and can derail your recovery.
- Have a physical addiction: Physical dependency makes it hard to detox without help.
- Abuse multiple drugs: Withdrawing from multiple drugs at once is complicated and potentially dangerous.
Those aren’t the only reasons to go to detox. If you’re worried about how you’re going to handle detox, then consider getting help—even if you don’t meet the conditions on this list.
How Long is Detox?
You might be in detox for as little as a week or as long as a month. It all depends on the drugs you’re detoxing from and your health.
Factors that affect the length of detox include:
- What you’re detoxing from: Different drugs have their own detox lengths. You can’t expect to detox from alcohol as fast as you’d detox from a fast-acting stimulant.
- Your health: People who have healthy bodies may detox from drugs more quickly. If you have liver or digestive problems, then detox could take longer.
- Your metabolism: The speed of your metabolism depends on your genetics, age, weight, activity level, and more.