Since 1977, Arkansas has maintained an alcohol and drug abuse prevention program, which administers prevention, treatment, and substance abuse education programs throughout the state. Despite this long-term awareness and attempts to combat the problem, drug arrests continue to climb, and drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, and any number of prescription drugs like Hydrocodone are being abused by increasing numbers of people in Arkansas. Per the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, “In less than ten years, methamphetamine has grown from a problem limited to the Southwest and Pacific regions of the United States to Arkansas’ primary drug of concern.” And as if that were not enough, 49% of Arkansas 12th graders surveyed in 2008 reported drinking at their own or someone else’s home, while almost 20% felt that it was either “a little bit wrong” or “not wrong at all” to drink.
As shown below, Arkansas youth begin drinking at a younger age than their peers nationwide, starting when they are just over 12 years old. Parents may find themselves suddenly in need of an Arkansas drug and alcohol treatment center to combat the dual effect of widespread availability of harmful substances and a “I can’t get hurt” mentality among young people.
Arkansas has conducted extensive surveys of its school-age children to determine the prevalence of drug and alcohol use and the need for prevention and drug and alcohol treatment programs. As shown by the chart below, no county in Arkansas is immune to the more frightening illicit drugs available to young people in the state. Nor are adults any less at risk.
There are a number of public and private drug and alcohol treatment centers in Arkansas’ prevention program. Some are publicly funded; others are not. Currently, Arkansas’ ADAP program has $20M in funding to cover the thousands of people statewide seeking treatment through public rehabilitation programs. The services offered vary widely, from mental health counseling to drug treatment and alcohol recovery. Arkansas emphasizes prevention of alcohol and drug abuse; the links on the state’s public health site indicate a focus on keeping youth and adults from turning to drugs to begin with. Families seeking treatment for loved ones will need to dig deeper to find qualified rehabilitation centers in Arkansas, and then evaluate them carefully to see whether their resources and services are adequate to address the particular problem.
Because meth abuse is a relatively new problem in Arkansas, it is a particular example of a drug treatment problem that requires good facilities and staff who understand the specific problems pertaining to methamphetamine addiction. Any drug treatment facility in Arkansas should be assessed to discover whether it offers:
- · Comprehensive treatment in the form of detoxification, behavioral therapy, and counseling
- · Adequate staffing and funding as well as inpatient care
- · Wellness programs like nutrition, fitness, and anger management
- · Family outreach
The network of Arkansas rehabilitation facilities is growing, but so is the problem of drug abuse, aided by the proliferation of prescription drugs with highly-addictive qualities. Anyone who suspects a drug problem should seek professional help quickly, and choose their treatment program carefully.
