Trendy New Hampshire has an equally trendy problem: marijuana. Not only is “pot” the most widely abused illicit drug in the state, the majority of people living there perceive little risk in its use. As a consequence, 60% of high school seniors have tried marijuana at least once, and the state ranks among the highest in the nation for cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana abuse.
These are sobering statistics for New Hampshire parents hoping to keep their children out of a drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation center. Alcohol and marijuana can both serve as gateways to “hard” drugs like heroin, cocaine, and meth. Methamphetamine, highly addictive and difficult to treat, is on the rise throughout the state, popular for its easy availability and relatively low cost. New Hampshire drug and alcohol treatment facilities report an alarming rise in cocaine admissions as well, while in general, admissions have doubled since 1992. The correlation between the “It’s safe” attitude in New Hampshire toward drugs and alcohol and the extremely high rates of abuse seems clear.
As of 2006, there were 57 drug and alcohol treatment centers in New Hampshire, of which 75% were private nonprofit facilities. Ten are private for-profit centers, and one is operated by a tribal government. Families seeking treatment for all types of substance abuse in New Hampshire, therefore, have a variety of programs from which to choose. They should be aware, however, that not all New Hampshire rehabilitation centers offer the same services. Of the 57 treatment facilities, 42 offer outpatient services, 17 provide residential care, and only 6 have an opioid treatment program. Just 23 doctors and 10 treatment programs in New Hampshire are certified for buprenorphine treatment of opiate addictions. Some facilities specialize in either adult or youth treatment; others may not offer detoxification. Care should be taken when evaluating any drug and alcohol treatment center to determine the level of staffing, staff experience with the particular problem, and the type and level of services offered.
Parents of high school and college age children in New Hampshire should take special note of the chart below, which clearly shows the exposure of young people in the state to a variety of illicit substances. Note that the age at which children are exposed to marijuana and cocaine is dropping, putting younger and younger children at risk. Many serious drug and alcohol dependencies begin with a first drink or drug hit in adolescence; with the widespread availability and constant peer pressure to “be cool,” especially in a state where the risk is perceived to be low, the road to a rehabilitation center in New Hampshire may be much shorter than most parents would like to believe.
Adults, too, may find themselves walking that path without realizing how they got there. In 2005, 28,000 New Hampshire residents reported needing but not receiving drug and alcohol treatment. Whether this is from lack of local options or an unwillingness to seek help is not stated, but the fact remains that drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in New Hampshire do exist, and 68% of them receive public funding. Residents should investigate their options.
