Getting Help for Drug Addiction in West Virginia
Known as the Mountain State for the Blue Ridge Mountains that run through its center, West Virginia has both the resources and the facilities designed for residents struggling with drug addiction. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) lists 122 treatment facilities in the state. This includes sober homes and halfway houses designed for transitional living for addicts leaving another facility along with facilities that offer detox and inpatient care.
When you have a drug problem and are unsure of what to do next, turn to a local treatment center or your healthcare provider for help exploring your options. You may find that you prefer inpatient treatment, where medical professionals can watch over you, or that you like the freedom of outpatient care. No matter why you need help with substance abuse, resources are available. It’s a good idea to learn more about addiction as well as drug rehab in West Virginia before you seek help.
Types of West Virginia Drug Rehabs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the number of drug overdoses in West Virginia increased to 1,515 between July of 2020 and July of 2021. This rise correlates to the COVID-19 pandemic in which more people were stuck at home. The CDC noted that the number of drug overdoses in the state hit 879 during the same period from 2018 to 2019 and rose to 1,197 from 2019 to 2020.
Though certain counties saw their numbers drop, the overdose numbers were higher in Kanawha, Mercer, Raleigh, Cabell, Logan, and Berkeley counties. Whether you worry that someone you love will have a drug overdose or worry that you might have one, you should look at the type of treatment facilities that are available in West Virginia.
Inpatient Facilities
According to SAMHSA, West Virginia has seven inpatient facilities attached to hospitals and 29 facilities that offer residential care. Inpatient treatment centers offer 24/7 care and require the client live on-site. These programs usually last from 90 days up to 180 days.
Intensive rehab is similar but allows clients to stay longer. You might enroll in a program where you will live there for six months or choose one that lasts for up to a year. Inpatient facilities help you avoid the triggers that relate to your drug abuse, as well as situations and people who might cause you to use again.
Inpatient rehab centers in West Virginia also allow clients to choose programs designed for people who are similar to them. SAMHSA lists five programs that accept both men and women and one center that offers programs for teens. While four of the centers accept seniors, six of them have programs designed for women who gave birth.
Long-Term Care in West Virginia
The Mountain State also offers long-term care facilities, which are different from standard inpatient clinics. Known as residential care facilities, these locations offer 24-hour care around the clock. Are you a night owl who has trouble sleeping but worry that you might feel tempted to use again in the middle of the night? When you’re at home, you may not want to wake any of your loved ones because you don’t want to worry them. Residential facilities ensure that you have help whatever time you need it.
One important thing to know about long-term care facilities in West Virginia is that they want a bigger commitment from you. You can’t just check in one morning and leave a few weeks later. When you arrive, you usually go through a medical exam and an interview where you talk about your addiction. The doctors and counselors who work with you want to make sure that they design the right program for you. You can expect to spend a minimum of six months in one of these treatment centers or even up to 12 months or longer.
According to SAMHSA, West Virginia has residential facilities dedicated to specific groups of people or populations, including:
• Seven programs for people in the LGBTQ+ community who feel like other programs do not cater to their needs
• Five centers that have programs for adults
• Four treatment options for seniors and older adults who need help for their addictions
• A single option for teenagers and adolescents who need support beyond what their families can provide
• Four unique programs for women who are either pregnant or gave birth in the recent past
Outpatient Care
Outpatient care is a popular choice for clients who have commitments that prevent them from enrolling in an inpatient program and those who need a convenient way to get help. When you enroll in one of these West Virginia facilities, you have the chance to set your own schedule and work on your sobriety while also handling all of your other commitments. You can even remain at your job and spend time with your family. Outpatient programs are often easier to find in the Mountain State and include programs designed for specific groups people, such as adults or teenagers as well as clients who have HIV/AIDS and those diagnosed with a mental disorder.
Detox in West Virginia
Have you thought about trying to stop cold turkey or watched someone else try to stop using drugs without any help? West Virginia has 29 facilities that offer detox programs for those with substance use disorder. The detox process can take up to 10 days and is a good way for addicts to stop using illegal or prescription drugs. SAMHSA lists detox facilities in both large and small cities such as Webster Springs, Covington, and Charleston. A few of these facilities are right across the border in Ohio.
West Virginia Drug Statistics
Finding out that an important person in your life has a drug problem can knock you for a loop and make you wonder if there is anything you can do to help them. You should know that you and your loved one are not alone. There are many other people in the Mountain State who also struggle with addiction issues. West Virginia ranks as the least healthy state in the nation based just on the number of drug-related deaths that occur annually. Some of the concerning statistics found by SAMHSA include:
• More than 1,400 residents aged 12 or older seek help for substance abuse every year. More than 600 of those individuals seek help for heroin or opioid use.
• Men are more likely to get help for their addictions than women are. More than 71% of the clients in treatment facilities in West Virginia are men.
• The largest population of addicts are those between the ages of 26 and 30. Next to this group, people between the ages of 31 and 35 are the highest group.
• White people are more likely to seek treatment. More than 75% of those in drug treatment in West Virginia are white. Less than 4% identify as African American. It’s worth noting that West Virginia has a higher population of whites than any other race.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) released a special intelligence report in 2017 to discuss the serious issue of drug use in West Virginia. This report found that 61% of all drug deaths in the state related to prescription drug use and that heroin overdoses rose by more than 20% over four years. Heroin is one of the most-abused drugs in the entire state.
PATH Program
West Virginia launched the PATH Program as a way to help residents dealing with homelessness and addiction. The Mountain State has a higher rate of people who own their homes than any other state does, but it also has a large homeless population. Through the PATH Program, individuals struggling with housing insecurity can seek help for drug addiction and mental health disorders, many of which coincide. The people behind the program hope to overcome challenges in the future, such as helping individuals learn about their options.
Drug Overdoses in West Virginia
A report on drug abuse during COVID-19 found that the rate of drug overdoses in West Virginia increased. Kanawha County had the highest rate of overdoses at 207, which was an increase of more than 30% from the previous year. The number of drug overdoses in McDowell County that led to death tripled in a single year. Heading into 2022, the number of overdoses decreased. West Virginia officials believe this is a sign that the programs they implemented are beginning to work.
Other Things to Know About Drugs in West Virginia
The United States Department of Labor awarded West Virginia $2.4 million to help combat the opioid problem in the state. This money will go to different municipal areas to train and support workers in the hopes of keeping them away from drugs. Wheeling and Charleston are two of the areas that will receive funding.
CDC research found that more than 1,200 West Virginia residents died of opioid overdoses. Just over 200 residents died of overdoses while using other types of drugs. This figure made West Virginia the number one state in the nation for drug overdose deaths.
Between 2020 and 2021, the number of overdose deaths in West Virginia rose by more than 60% compared to the national average of 30%. Among those deaths, many of the people had used fentanyl. This is a powerful opioid that some take to treat pain. It is more than 50 times stronger than morphine.
Alcohol Use in West Virginia
The National Drug Driving Statistics Map shows that in 2019 alone, West Virginia saw 56 deaths caused by drunk driving. More than 21% of all deaths due to driving were the result of drunk drivers. Every time you have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the state’s legal limit, you put your life and the lives of others in your hands. Take a look at some of the other statistics that relate to alcohol use in the Mountain State:
• Though West Virginia saw only five deaths caused by underage drunk drivers, those drivers represent more than 19% of all fatalities. Those over the age of 21 are not the only people in the state with a drinking problem.
• More than 67% of drunk driving fatalities in West Virginia involved drivers with a BAC of .15 or higher. The state regards this as a high BAC.
• Every incident of a drunk driving death that concerned a BAC of .15 or higher involved a repeat offender. A repeat offender is someone charged with or convicted of alcohol-related crimes in the past.
• The West Virginia Department of Transportation lists a BAC of .05 or higher as a potential crime. You may lose your license if police catch you with a BAC of this rate or higher. If you refuse to take a breathalyzer test on the scene, you can also lose your license. Anyone caught driving with a BAC of .08 or higher in the state faces a possible DUI conviction, which can result in jail time, the loss of your license, and a high fine.
Get Drug Addiction Help in West Virginia
There is never a bad time to take back control over your life. While let drugs continue to rule who you can spend time with and how you can act? Though West Virginia has a large drug problem that has led to many overdose deaths in the past, recent data showed that this number keeps dropping. No matter your age, race, drug of choice, or financial situation, you can get help for your drug problem. It’s also possible to get help for a loved one who can’t stop abusing drugs. Use the available resources and statistics to learn more about the state’s drug problem before you get help finding a drug rehab in West Virginia.
