Residents of Vermont are at greatest risk from the copious amount of marijuana found here. It is the most widely drug in the state, accounting for 15% of all admissions to Vermont drug and alcohol treatment centers in 2005, the most recent year for which data is available. That is second only to alcohol-related admissions.
Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse
State of Vermont Profile of Drug Indicators
January 2008
This is consistent with findings that rank Vermont among the top ten of all states for the following indicators, noting a definite correlation between perception of risk with using certain substances, and admissions for addiction to Vermont rehabilitation centers.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues At-A-Glance, Vermont
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), December 2008
As shown, the state has a very serious problem with drug and alcohol abuse, borne out by patterns observed by drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation centers in Vermont. It consistently ranks among the worst of all states for illicit drug use in age groups 12 and up and 18-25, and rehab centers in Vermont are noting a steady rise in binge drinking in the 12-20 age group. These trends are troubling, for studies in state after state have shown that a high percentage of long-term serious addictions to drugs and alcohol began in adolescence.
Parents who believe that their communities are immune to drugs or that their children are not exposed to risk should be very troubled by the chart below. In 2005, 55% of all Vermont high school seniors had tried marijuana. Clearly, the high rates of binge drinking among teens goes hand-in-hand with the availability of alcohol. No family in Vermont should consider itself immune from the possibility of one day having to choose the correct Vermont drug and alcohol recovery center for their child.
Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse
State of Vermont Profile of Drug Indicators
January 2008
While admissions to Vermont rehab facilities for alcohol is declining when averaged across all age groups, note from the chart below that drug admissions for all categories are rising, led by a swift climb in problems with prescription opiates. Per the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the most commonly abused prescription drugs in Vermont are Vicodin, Fentanyl, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Methadone, Ritalin, Xanax, OxyContin and Diazepam, and the DEA takes special note that impaired practitioners are a concern in this state. For every family in Vermont, the broad availability of drugs of every type makes even the medicine cabinet a potential harbor for a future problem.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues At-A-Glance, Vermont
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), December 2008
As of 2006, there were 40 drug and alcohol treatment centers in Vermont. Two are operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, four are private for-profit facilities, and the rest are private nonprofit. Half provide only substance abuse treatment; 16 also provide mental health counseling. Admissions to Vermont treatment centers are climbing year over year. In 2005, over 8,000 individuals sought treatment; however, Vermont ranks quite low in being able to provide treatment to all of the individuals requiring it (estimated at 15,000 in 2005), especially with regard to alcohol treatment. Vermont citizens looking for drug and alcohol treatment programs and centers may or may not be able to find qualified programs in their area. Typically, states require that doctors and programs administering certain types of treatment for opiate addiction, such as buprenorphine, must be certified to do so.
Most patients seen in Vermont rehabilitation centers are outpatients. No data is available for the number of residential programs available in the state, but these are typically a small percentage of available programs, usually offered by private facilities. Families and individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse in Vermont will need to do some research as to types and levels of services available in their area, and which doctors are certified for drug abuse treatment.
