Kentucky

Alcoholism and alcohol and drug abuse are problems which affect tens of thousands of people in the state of Kentucky. Many individuals struggle with drug or alcohol addiction for years without ever seeking help, because they have tried so many times to quit on their own. The future can seem very bleakness and their situation hopeless. But this doesn't have to be the case, and individuals in Kentucky can take advantage of many treatment options in the state and even neighboring states to get the help they need. This problem spans all age groups and backgrounds in Kentucky, and there are programs to accommodate for this as well as any other treatment need which may arise including help with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.

The scope of the substance abuse problem in Kentucky is pretty broad, although alcohol abuse is a very significant part of this problem in the state. Among youth, binge drinking rates are disproportionately higher in Kentucky that national rates. For example, 21% of 10^th grade students in the state report being drink at some point in the past month as opposed to the national rate of about 15%. Among individuals 18 and older in the country, Kentucky has the highest rate of past-month binge drinking, period.

Kentucky is also faced with a very familiar problem that every state in the nation is coming to terms with, and that is the problem of prescription drug abuse. Prescription pain killers specifically have extremely high rates of abuse in Kentucky, higher too than national rates. Past-year misuse of prescription pain killers in Kentucky among 18-25 year olds is report to be at about 15%, whereas the national rate is 12%. Hydrocodone and oxycodone are particularly likely to be abused in the state. Following suit, treatment admissions for prescription drug abuse have risen sharply in Kentucky in recent years, from 1.8% of admission in 1999 to an astounding 24% in 2009. Rates of drug overdose deaths in the state have also risen and the state is currently ranked 6^th in the nation in this regard.

Drug abuse, including prescription drug abuse, and alcoholism are the demise of so many Kentucky residents. If you or someone you know in Kentucky is involved in substance abuse, dont allow there to be another casualty. Actions can be taken immediately to first and foremost prevent substance abuse. This is something parents and peers can do for youth in the state, to educate them and point them in the right direction so they dont fall prey to substance abuse. For individuals who are already abusing drugs and/or alcohol, it isn't too late. There are no lost causes, only individuals who lose hope because of past failures or deep psychological dependence to drugs or alcohol. Private drug rehab programs in Kentucky and surrounding states offer hope, and better yet offer a solution. Long-term inpatient or residential care is the premiere treatment solution available, and individuals who can take advantage of these types of programs will be able to make a full recovery in a matter of months.