The Old Dominion is fortunate that, despite being in the midst of major drug trafficking routes, its rate of alcohol and illicit drug dependencies ranks well below the national average. However, “one of the most significant trends” noted in Virginia’s bi-annual report on substance abuse, as witnessed by admissions to Virginia drug and alcohol treatment centers, is a sharp rise in prescription drug abuse, led by Oxycontin.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues At-A-Glance, Virginia
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),  December 2008

Over 35,000 people sought treatment in Virginia drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in 2006, the most recent year for which data is available. By far the highest number were seeking treatment for marijuana addiction, belying the perception among many users that marijuana is a low-risk drug. Virginia estimates that some 136,000 people needed but did not receive treatment for drug and alcohol abuse in Virginia in the survey years. This may come from a combination of failure to seek treatment and publicly-funded rehab centers in Virginia operating at full capacity.

Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse
State of Virginia Profile of Drug Indicators
December 2007

For parents in Virginia, the fact that 12% of patients observed in a daily snapshot of admissions in 2006 were under 18 should provide a strong warning signal. Rates of marijuana abuse among children are consistently above rates for adults: 20% of all Virginia 12^th graders reported past-month marijuana use, 15% of 10^th graders, and 6% of 8^th graders, compared to 9% of adults. When looked at as a whole, the picture of drug abuse among Virginia teens is not pretty. Children are being targeted at younger and younger ages in a direct effort by street gangs and drug cartels to extend their markets. This, coupled with peer pressure, the desire to “be cool,” boredom and thrill-seeking, put Virginia teens at high risk of experimentation escalating into addiction. It is nearly impossible to break dependency on many modern drugs without professional help, which usually involves a drug and alcohol treatment center. In Virginia, that means a statewide network of public and private facilities.

Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse
State of Virginia Profile of Drug Indicators
December 2007

In 2006 there were 196 drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation centers in Virginia. Seventy of these are operated by the State of Virginia. Of the rest, 55 are private nonprofit and 43 are private for-profit facilities. Residents seeking treatment for substance abuse in Virginia will need to carefully evaluate all local and regional options, as programs vary from facility to facility. Certain courses of treatment for opiate addiction, for example, require that doctors and programs be certified, so not all rehab centers in Virginia offer them. In 2006, 133 doctors and 35 programs were certified to administer buprenorphine for opiate addiction (heroin, cocaine, prescription painkillers, etc.). Twenty facilities offered opioid programs. The percentage of treatment centers in Virginia that offer residential care is much smaller (21%) than those that provide outpatient services. All prospective patients should understand their options and the needs of their particular addiction before committing to any particular program or treatment center.