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Drug And Alcohol Rehab Resources In Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States by size, covering an area of just 1,214 square miles! (Its distances North to South are 48 miles, and East to West 37 miles, respectively.) Rhode Island's miniscule size can be attributed to the fact that it was originally established by 'dissidents' exiled from other colonies in New England.

But though Rhode island may be small, it's faced with a big problem: a rising trend of drug and alcohol addiction.

Addiction And Economics In Rhode Island

Rhode Island boasts a relatively comfortable average annual income of $85,527, and thus one might be tempted to think that it had been spared the wave of drug addiction affecting poorer states, but nothing could be further from the truth. In 2010, Rhode Island was one of the top ten states for rates of drug-use among people 12 or older, and among people 18-25. And, in 2009, the rate of drug-induced deaths in Rhode Island was significantly higher than the national average. Despite the state being fairly well-off in terms of resources, substance abuse in Rhode Island gives major cause for concern.

When we look at the relationship between addiction and economics, we quickly realize that it's complicated. Drug and alcohol abuse affects the entire country, and no state in the US has been spared, including tiny little Rhode Island. In 2016 the United States had over 60,000 overdoses, (a rate of 175 people dying per day,) and when we examine the numbers, we see that overdoses kill more people annually than suicides, homicides, car accidents or guns. And, although poorer people are statistically more likely to struggle with drug or alcohol abuse, correlation is not causation. This doesn't necessarily mean that people that are more well-off economically are less likely to become addicted; in fact sometimes wealthy people are thrown into poverty directly because of addiction. Someone who is solidly middle class can fall into poverty if their addiction leads to poor work performance and job loss. And, if someone has been fired from an old job, it can become a great deal harder to get a new one. It's a vicious downward spiral.

The Rhode Island Pain Pill Dilemma

Much like the rest of the United States, prescription painkiller (opioid) addiction has blown across Rhode Island like an unstoppable blizzard, wreaking havoc on communities and burying families. In 2018, Rhode Island reported 267 deaths from drug overdoses (a rate of 25.9!) Opioid addiction is particularly menacing because, due to the highly addictive nature of the drugs, it can sneak up on even the most careful of people, even when they think they're being vigilant.

Just as in the rest of the country, the root of the opioid problem in Rhode Island stems from doctors over-prescribing these highly addictive pills when, in many cases, lesser drugs like Tylenol, Excedrin or Advil will do. Opioids may seem safe because a doctor prescribes them, but just one or two of few these prescription pain pills can get people hooked and send them off on a path to full-on dependency. In 2018, Rhode Island providers wrote 43.0 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people!

A Rhode Island Nightmare: From Pills To Heroin

Sadly many Rhode Island residents have discovered that abusing prescription painkillers can lead to using even more dangerous substances. Federal and state regulations now try to control and limit the prescribing of opioids, (a valiant effort) but it has had the unintended effect of causing the use of street drugs like heroin (which gives a similar high and is even cheaper to obtain on the street) to skyrocket. In 2018, Rhode Island reported 24 deaths involving heroin (a rate of 2.2.)

And, the danger to substance abusers in Rhode Island doesn't stop there. When certain street drugs like heroin aren't available, drug addicts often then turn to incredibly dangerous synthetics like fentanyl, (which is far stronger than heroin) and the result is usually a body bag. In 2018, Rhode Island deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (mainly fentanyl and fentanyl analogs) continued a long-term increase to 213 (a rate of 21.0). Initially, most users don't intentionally seek out fentanyl, but unfortunately once a person has been exposed to a higher toxicity of a drug, the brain chemistry is altered further, and users will seek out the most potent form. At the height of addiction, users are wholly unable to calculate the risk and are willing to go to any length to obtain the high. In the United States, synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are now the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths, responsible for 59% of all opioid-related decedents.

Other Commonly Abused Substances In Rhode Island

A recent study took a look at substance abuse among Rhode Island youth and the numbers give cause for concern.

Alcohol

• 12% of Rhode Island high school students (grades 9-12) report they drank alcohol for the first time before age 13 years (other than a few sips.)
• 23% of these same high school students report they had at least 1 drink of alcohol on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey.
• 11% of Rhode Island high school students report they had 4 or more drinks of alcohol in a row (if they were female) or 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row (if they were male), within a couple of hours, on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey.
• 38% of high school students report they usually obtained the alcohol they drank by someone giving it to them (among students who currently drank alcohol, during the 30 days before the survey.)
• 14% of high school students report they rode in a car or other vehicle with a driver who had been drinking alcohol 1 or more times during the 30 days before the survey.

Marijuana

37% of high school students report they've ever used marijuana (also called grass, pot, or weed) 1 or more times (lifetime.)

Cocaine

4% of high school students report they've used any form of cocaine (for example, powder, crack, or freebase) 1 or more times (lifetime.)

Prescription Opioids

4% of Rhode Island youth (ages 12-17) report using pain relievers in any way not directed by a doctor in the past year.

Tiny But Mighty: Rhode Island Will Prevail

Although the situation looks bleak by the numbers, the good news for Rhode Island residents struggling with drug and alcohol addiction is that help is only a few clicks away. We are more connected now than we have ever been, and Rhode Island has an abundance of resources to fit every need, whether you just want counseling, a broader more community-based approach, or are seeking full-on detox services. The important part is acknowledging the forces holding you back so you can begin the journey towards breaking free of them. This is the first step toward the rest of your life.

SOURCES

https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/facts-and-stats/national-and-state-data-sheets/adolescents-and-substance-abuse/rhode-island/index.html

https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/rhode-island-opioid-involved-deaths-related-harms

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/state_profile_-_rhode_island_0.pdf

https://www.incomebyzipcode.com/rhodeisland