For Montana, as in many Western states, methamphetamine ranks as the predominant drug concern. Cocaine and heroin are both found in larger cities like Missoula and Great Falls, but across the state, meth is widely available and widely abused. Meth is not the only threat, however. For a state with fewer than one million people, it ranks among the highest in the country for the following indicators:
Across the board, Montana drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation centers report that admissions for treatment of problems involving both drugs and alcohol increased 50-60% between 1992 and 2006. This wide-open state has a serious problem made worse by its long border with Canada, which makes smuggling of “BC Bud” marijuana difficult to stop. It almost helps to make marijuana the most widely abused drug in the state. For parents, this is especially worrisome, raising the possibility that their underage child may someday need the services of one of Montana’s drug and alcohol rehab centers. Almost half (48.5%) of all Montana high school seniors have used marijuana, the gateway drug to many other addictions, at some point in their lives.
As of 2006, there are 57 drug and alcohol treatment facilities in Montana. Eleven of those are operated by the State of Montana; 31 are private non-profit facilities, and 5 are private for-profit. Native American tribes in the state operate an additional four rehab centers. Together they treated about 8,000 Montana citizens in 2007, but about 23,000 residents reported needing and not receiving treatment the same year. Located across the state, Montana drug and alcohol treatment centers provide a variety of services, including detoxification, counseling, outpatient care, and residential programs. Individuals seeking treatment should educate themselves on the types of programs offered locally and regionally to determine if any particular program is right for them. The majority of treatment centers in Montana (95%) offer outpatient programs, while eight provide residential care. Only seven are certified for treatment of opiate addiction.
While the opiates cocaine and heroin are not widely available in Montana, they do exist, especially in tribal areas and larger cities. In addition, an increasing number of families are being forced to evaluate drug and alcohol rehab facilities in Montana for their experience with and ability to treat addictions to opiate painkillers like Oxycontin, which, along with Dilaudid and other such pharmaceuticals, are being diverted to non-medical use. These, along with marijuana, can prove a deadly trap for people of any age, but especially for those under 25, the party crowd or bored teenagers looking for kicks. In 2007, 11.5% of 9th graders reported trying marijuana before age 13, a scary statistic for any parent.
Early intervention is key to preventing adolescent experimentation from becoming a serious drug habit. Families seeking drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation in Montana would do well to carefully evaluate all local options and extend the search if necessary to find the right program.
