The data, drawn from face-to-face interviews with 135,672 people from around the country, found wide variations among the states. For example, while 12.5 percent of Rhode Islanders reported illicit drug use, the rate was only 5.2 percent among Iowans. Respondents were asked whether they had used illegal drugs within the previous month, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants and certain prescription medications if taken for nonmedical reasons.

According to Craig Stenning, director of the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals, which oversees substance-abuse treatment, Rhode Island was also ranked number one for illicit drug use in the previous survey, conducted in 2005 and 2006. Stenning, who founded and directed a drug-treatment agency before he entered state government believes that Rhode Island located between Boston and New York, the easy availability of drugs and the urban environment are the contributing source to drug abuse. He believes that part of the problem is easy access and shorter distance to travel to acquire drugs in Rhode Island, as opposed to having to travel for 20 to 30 miles in mid west, the reason for higher incidents of drug use in Rhode Island. He makes the point to say that drug treatment is available to those who need and make the effort to get it, but denial and stigma are the big obstacles to addiction treatment. Thanks to a federal grant the state’s substance-abuse treatment centers have weathered the budget crisis, and last year some 14,000 people obtained drug-abuse treatment in state-licensed centers, he said.

When it comes to alcohol use, Rhode Island had the highest rate of people 12 or older who said to have had an alcoholic beverage within the past month (63.1 percent, compared with 51 percent for the nation and 56 percent for the Northeast).

Rhode Island had the highest rate of drinking alcohol among people aged 12 to 17 who said had a drink within the previous month ( 21.6 percent, compared with 16.2 percent for the nation and 18.2 percent for the Northeast).

Another dark statistics on alcohol addiction was that Rhode Island ranked sixth (slightly slightly higher rate than the nation) for binge drinking –– having five or more drinks on one occasion in the previous 30 days.
Rhode Island displayed high incidents of major depression as well per the survey that asked if they had an episode of major depression within the previous month ( ranking 20th with 7.9 percent).

If you or someone you know is struggling with drug abuse or addiction and is in need of help, Cove Center for Recovery - Addiction Treatment Center offers a flexible and affordable addiction treatment program. Our aim is to treat the whole person, and not just an isolated symptom. During the treatment process we will work with the client to identify the factors that may have contributed to you drug abuse – home, work, relationships and medical history. We also believe that families have a vital role to play in the recovery process, and each addiction treatment program has a place for family participation, to educate them in the treatment process and to equip them for their role as supporters.

Based on article at oas.samhsa.gov/2k7state/TOC.cfm

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