While people associate Alaska with gorgeous scenery and snow, the state is a major stop on drug smuggling routes. According to the state’s own comprehensive mental health plan, alcoholism and chemical dependency are Alaska’s number one behavioral health problem. In 2006 Alaska ranked #2 in the United States for the use of illicit drugs by citizens 12 years of age and older. Its suicide rate is almost twice the national average, and it ranks eighth in adult alcohol abuse. The problem of drugs and alcohol in Alaska, therefore, is as serious, per capita, as in the lower 48 states. Finding a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Alaska, however, might be harder, though the state’s network of drug treatment centers is growing.
Marijuana, the gateway drug to most hard-core addictions, is the number-one illegal substance abused in Alaska, which ranks near the top of the nation for indoor growing operations. This unhappy statistic is accompanied by a nationwide trend among young people which shows that, increasingly, teenagers regard marijuana and hallucinogens like LSD and MDMB (Ecstasy) as harmless. Alaska refused to legalize marijuana for medical purposes in 2000, so possession of marijuana for any reason is still a criminal offense. While many regard possessing or smoking a little “weed” as no big deal, and don’t regard marijuana addiction as a problem, in fact, the psychological dependency is serious and requires aggressive professional treatment.
Over 20,000 Alaska citizens receive drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitative services every year through grant-funded state programs. Families seeking treatment for a minor or major substance abuse problem in Alaska may find themselves on a wait list for public services, however, as the number of rehabilitation facilities in Alaska is somewhat limited, confined mostly to larger cities. Four offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Wasilla manage mental health services and drug and alcohol treatment programs for the entire state. A 2006 survey indicated only about a 70% satisfaction rate with the services received through public programs, indicating that families should not confine themselves to this single option when seeking treatment for alcohol and drug abuse in Alaska.
Many private drug and alcohol treatment facilities in Alaska focus on various aspects of treatment and rehabilitation. Centers for detoxification and alcohol recovery, mental health counseling, drug prevention and intervention, and drug treatment often offer pieces of the rehabilitation puzzle. Carefully evaluate whether any single program or treatment facility offers a comprehensive approach to drug treatment or alcohol recovery. In Alaska, options in rural areas may be more limited, so families should not feel obligated to whatever local treatment centers may exist. With the escalating problems of club drugs and abuse of prescription drugs like Hydrocodone and Oxycontin, any Alaska family could find itself in need of a drug rehabilitation facility that specializes in their particular problem—even if the problem seems as minor as marijuana.
Alaska is devoting more attention to drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation programs, but families should be proactive in seeking help.
