In 2014, over 55,000 people sought treatment for drug addiction.  Alcohol ranked at the top of the list with over 15,000 people turning to rehab for help.  Approximately 10,000 people sought treatment for cocaine, 7,500 for amphetamines, 6,500 for marijuana, and 5,500 for cocaine.  Fort Worth itself has also been affected by drug addiction.  Alcohol abuse is a major concern in both the state of Texas and major cities such as Fort Worth.  In 2012, the state’s per capita consumption of alcohol was 2.28 gallons.  Marijuana and methamphetamines are next on the list of illegal substances that lead to addiction problems in Fort Worth.  In fact, the rate of methamphetamine abuse has increased in recent years even though laws have been put into place to make obtaining methamphetamine even more difficult.  P2P is the most common form of meth that is produced in Mexico and brought into Fort Worth.  In 2015, more people died in Tarrant County from a methamphetamine overdose than from opioids.  It is clear that substance abuse is a rising concern in Tarrant County and specifically in Fort Worth.  In the metro area, 8.2% of the people (over 400,000 people) that live in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro that reported suffering from addiction.  The pattern of abuse is undeniable and one that should be addressed before it’s too late.

Which Drugs Are the Worst in Fort Worth?

At the top of the list of the worst drug in Fort Worth are alcohol, methamphetamines, and marijuana.  Marijuana remains in the lead of illegal substances that cause individuals to seek treatment.  Fort Worth has not escaped the opioid crisis that threatens the nation either.  In Tarrant County alone, 33% of all admissions into drug rehabs were for opioid addiction.  Additionally, in 2017, the city of Fort Worth administered the life-saving Narcan dose 533 more times than it did just 2 years prior.  The troubling fact that only 10% of all who live with addiction in Fort Worth are able to seek the treatment they need leads many to believe that more should be done to address drug abuse in Fort Worth, Texas.  Inpatient drug rehab is one of many options that are available to those who need help.  If you suffer from addiction, know that help is available through Fort Worth Texas drug rehabs such as Summer Sky.

Which Drugs Are the Worst in College Station?

Drugs brought in from Mexico are the most commonly seen substances in and around College Station.  Because College Station is a college town, marijuana is popular.  Both pot and synthetic marijuana are prominent on college campuses, including Texas A&M University.  Drug rehabs in College Station offer specific marijuana treatment programs for all ages.  Brazos County is also no stranger to opioid addiction as abuse in College Station has risen alongside the national statistics for opioid abuse as well.  Heroin and methamphetamine seizures within College Station have risen in recent years as well.  Both these substances are highly addictive and can lead to long term health effects over time.  But it’s not just drugs that can impact your life.  Alcohol, while a legal substance, can also have just as damaging consequences as drugs.   

College Station and outlying areas have been impacted by the opioid crisis, much like the rest of the country.  The opioid crisis reached such record highs that it was declared a nationwide epidemic.  Opioids can include substances such as heroin, fentanyl, hydrocodone or oxycodone.  Many times, just one exposure to prescription medications can lead to an addiction, that’s how highly addictive these narcotics can be.  Fentanyl especially is a painkiller prescribed for chronic pain but it is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and extremely addictive and dangerous.  Small doses of fentanyl can lead to an overdose.  According to the CDC, prescription opioids were responsible for nearly 183,000 between 1999 and 2015.  The widespread problem specifically in College Station led to measures being taken to open new drug rehabs to address substance abuse concerns.

Methamphetamine Abuse in College Station

It’s not just opioids that concern local residents of College Station.  Methamphetamine abuse has reached new heights in Brazos County as well, leading many to call it an epidemic of its own.  Between 2013 and 2015, meth seizures across the state of Texas increased by 37 percent.  Other major Texas cities like Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth have also reported a rise in methamphetamine abuse.  Local officials of Brazos County state that meth has always been a presence in the outskirts of the city, but a new meth cocktail is making its way into the city and is very dangerous.  In the states, moving ingredients in meth such as pseudoephedrine medications behind the pharmacy counter have helped combat the cooking of meth locally, but it hasn’t stopped the drug from being illegally brought in from Mexico.  Mexican drug cartels are finding newer, cheaper ways to mass-produce potent forms of meth known as “ice” or crystal meth.  This illicit substance is finding its way into the state of Texas from across the border of Mexico and spreading throughout major cities in Texas such as College Station.  In 2018, Brazos County law enforcement reported an increase in meth-related drug busts.  The Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse stated that approximately 75% of those seeking treatment for addiction use meth.  Meth can be snorted, smoked, or injected and is dangerous in any form.  It is a devastating drug that leaves many victims without family, friends, or even a place to live.

Cocaine Addiction in College Station

In addition to heroin and meth being brought into the US from Mexico, cocaine is also smuggled across the Texas border and distributed both locally and across the country.  The cocaine being brought into the state is both of high quality and plentiful.  Injecting cocaine is more and more common although it can also be snorted or smoked.  Cocaine by itself is addictive and powerful, but when it is mixed with other drugs such as heroin, it can become lethal.  Cocaine mixed with opioids is a leading cause of overdose and accidental death.

Along with injected drug abuse comes the risk of HIV.  According to the CDC, approximately 1 in every 10 cases of HIV diagnosis is directly related to injected drug abuse.  Drugs such as heroin and cocaine can be injected directly into the bloodstream for quicker results and a faster achieved high feeling that the body craves.  Sharing needles, syringes, or any other type of drug paraphernalia, such as cookers or cleaning supplies, can lead to the spread of the HIV virus.  The risk of transmitting HIV is very high if an HIV negative person shares drug paraphernalia with an HIV positive person.  Needles, syringes, and drug equipment commonly have blood on them and the HIV virus is transmitted through blood.  The statistics state that an HIV negative person has a 1 in 160 chance of getting HIV every time they share a needle with someone who has HIV.  Additionally, sharing needles and syringes is the top two on the list of riskiest behavior for contracting HIV.  Substance abuse disorders only increase one’s likelihood of being diagnosed with HIV because drugs and other substances such as alcohol can lower inhibitions.  The best way to reduce the risk of getting HIV is to stop drug abuse in College Hill altogether.  College Station drug rehabs raise awareness of the risk of transmitting HIV through needle sharing as well as provide treatment for substance abuse disorders.

Drug-Related Death Tolls in College Station

In 2018, America’s Health Rankings determines that approximately 8 women per 100,000 and 12 men per 100,000 died in Texas because of a drug-related incident. The most deaths occurred between the ages of 45-54 at a rate of 19 per 100,000. Ages 55-64 ranked second at almost 17 per 100,000 and ages 35-44 was a close third at 15 per 100,000. Both African Americans and Caucasians were at the top of the list of races most affected by drug-related deaths at about 10 deaths per 100,000 people. According to another healthcare report, substance abuse death rates in certain parts of Texas have a substance and alcohol miscues rate that is higher than even the national average across the country. Substance misuse and abuse should never be taken lightly. Life can change in an instant when addiction takes over. Summer sky College Station drug rehab has programs in place to help you fight addiction before it consumes your life.

Traffic Fatalities Linked to Substance Abuse

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2018, there 618 drivers and 133 passengers in the state of Texas that were victims of fatal accidents involving alcohol.  6% of all crashes in Texas were fatal DUI crashes.  Many crashes resulted in severe injuries.  Approximately 9% of all crashed in Texas resulted in serious injuries because of driving under the influence.  Brazos County only had one death reported due to substance abuse.  While Brazos County is known as being an extremely safe county, as this statistic demonstrates, the ultimate goal would be to have no deaths at all resulting from alcohol or substance abuse.  If you have been drinking or using drugs, don’t operate a vehicle.  Addiction can not only destroy your life but the lives of others if you choose to drink and drive.  Seek help for addiction at College Station Texas drug rehabs for alcohol or substance use disorders.

Dangers of Substance Use Disorders

Addiction is a disease that affects the brain. Once addicted, the body physically can’t resist the urge to use drugs, even when faced with the dangers of substance abuse. Any substance can become addictive including cocaine, heroin, opioids, or alcohol. Over time, significant substance abuse changes the brain. It causes dopamine levels within the brain to rise which in turn affects your feelings of pleasure. As your body adjusts to each substance, it requires more and more to achieve the desired feelings of pleasure, which can lead to a myriad of health concerns including overdose and death. Long term drug use can hurt your memory, as well as affect your judgment, ability to learn, and decision-making abilities. All these side effects combined can cause irreversible damage and lead to an addiction that is beyond your control. For example, substance abuse can cause damage to many parts of the body, from your heart to your bowels.  Drug use can cause severe muscle cramping, damage your kidneys and livers, or lead to heart failure.  Injecting drugs into your veins can also be problematic, leading to collapsed veins or infections of the heart.  The dangers are widespread and the only way to avoid harmful side effects is to stay away from harmful substances that can cause such significant damage to the brain and body.