Substance Abuse Stats in Charleston, WV
Charleston is the biggest city in West Virginia, and it may have the biggest drug problem, too. In fact, it’s considered the worst-affected city in West Virginia for drug abuse.
Here’s some shocking substance abuse stats in Kanawha County, where Charleston is located:
- Drug abuse is the county’s top health priority
- The rate of drug overdose death was 36 per 100,000 in 2016
- 26 people overdosed on carfentanil in a 4-hour period the same year
- Fentanyl deaths rose by 20% between 2012 and 2017
Choosing Between an Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab
Inpatient rehab requires that you move into the treatment center until your stay is over. That sounds like a big commitment, but it’s important. This experience immerses you in treatment so you can get better faster.
Outpatient rehab gives you some flexibility so you can attend work and school during rehab. Not everyone can leave their commitments behind, but that doesn’t mean you should skip rehab. Recovery is always an option with outpatient rehab.
How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?
You should go to rehab for at least 3 months if you can. That’s the minimum treatment length that’s proven to work. When you go to rehab for a shorter term, you increase your risk of relapse.
There’s an exception. If you’re recovering from opioid use, then 12 months is the minimum. That’s because it takes longer for your brain and body to recover from opioid use. If you’re using medication-assisted treatment, it will take some time to become stable.
What to Expect at Rehab
At rehab in Charleston, you’ll work with your care team to come up with a treatment plan that includes evidence-based treatments such as:
- 12 Step therapy: This is available for alcohol, stimulant, and opioid treatment. It helps you accept your disorder and overcome it with the 12 Step community.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: CBT helps you recognize and avoid behaviors that bring you back to drug use.
- Medication-assisted treatment: Some types of drug abuse can be treated with medication. It works best when used alongside another treatment, like CBT.
When Would You Need to Go to Detox?
Detox is a program to help you through the withdrawal stage of recovery. You need to go to detox if you have an addiction.
When you’re addicted to drugs, stopping them causes withdrawal. This is a painful syndrome with symptoms such as:
- Congestion
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Mood changes
- Muscle cramps
- Vomiting
The biggest symptom is a strong craving for the drug that you’re stopping. In some cases, seizures and confusion can happen. The detox program keeps you stable and comfortable during this time.
How Long is Detox?
Most detox programs last 5 to 10 days. However, there are programs as short as 3 days or as long as 3 weeks!
That’s because detox is different for each person. Your detox length depends on your drug use history and your health. You may have a longer detox if you have a history of heavy, long-term drug use. Detox can also take longer if you take certain medications or have kidney or liver problems.
Sources
- Drug Enforcement Administration. (2018, September). DEA 360 strategy reach and impact report: Charleston
- Marra, A. (2014, September 10). Top health priority in Kanawha County is drug abuse
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (n.d.). How long does drug addiction treatment usually last?
- Pettinati, H. M., Meyers, K., Jensen, J. M., Kaplan, F., & Evans, B. D. (1993). Inpatient vs outpatient treatment for substance dependence revisited. Psychiatric Quarterly, 64(2), 173-182. doi:10.1007/bf01065868