Utah really is a family-oriented state, ranked among the lowest in the nation for marijuana and alcohol abuse. It has made an aggressive effort to target the spread of methamphetamine and is making progress. However, heroin, cocaine, and prescription opiates are all serious threats in Utah, with drug admissions to Utah drug and alcohol treatment centers rising year over year, as seen in the chart below. Utah ranks among the highest of all states for nonmedical use of pain relievers among residents 12 and over.

Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Annual Report, 2008

Drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation centers in Utah report that age plays a distinct difference in the type of substances abused. While marijuana use among Utah high school students is about half the national average, marijuana is still the preferred drug of choice for Utah teens, accounting for about 14% of all admissions for drug and alcohol treatment in Utah in 2006. For adults between 25 and 34, meth is still a major threat and the drug of choice, while adults over 35 tend toward alcohol. Over 18,000 people sought help for substance abuse in Utah in 2008; about 7% overall were under 18.

Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Annual Report, 2008

Very high percentages of all substance users are introduced to problem substances at an early age. Ten percent of Utah children have taken their first drink before the age of 12; 4% have tried drugs. Utah notes in its annual report on substance abuse that “delaying the onset of use of any substance becomes a protective factor in helping to prevent abuse in later years.” Studies in other states agree. Early treatment for alcohol and drug abuse is key to preventing long-term physical and emotional damage.

Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Annual Report, 2008

As of 2006, there were 133 public and private drug and alcohol treatment centers in Utah. Thirteen are operated by the state; the rest are either private for-profit or private nonprofit facilities. Utah reports that its publicly-funded rehabilitation facilities are operating at capacity, unable to meet the needs of all residents requiring treatment. Families seeking treatment for drug or alcohol abuse in Utah may therefore need to explore options outside the local area.

In all, 45 treatment centers in Utah offered residential care in 2006, while ten provided opioid treatment programs, which must be certified by the state. Patterns of treatment in Utah’s publicly-funded treatment centers, which comprised 47% of all rehab centers in Utah in 2006, are shown below. Privately-managed facilities may offer a different mix of treatment options. Utah notes that many patients are transitioned to intensive outpatient treatment after completion of detoxification and residential treatment programs.

Whether individuals seek treatment through public or private drug and alcohol treatment centers, delay in starting, and early intervention, as noted above, are key to preventing or reducing the damage done by addiction. Utah drug and alcohol treatment statistics note positive outcomes for over 58% of patients, and large drops in crime, incarceration, and other negative results of substance abuse. All rehab centers in the state exist to give residents a second chance at life. Families suffering from a drug or alcohol abuse problem are well advised to take advantage of them, as soon as possible.