Drug overdoses resulted in 175 deaths nationwide every day in 2016. Substance abuse kills more people nationwide every year than car accidents, guns or murder. More than 31 percent of Mississippi residents over the age of twelve reported using alcohol in the past month in 2016. Nearly 17% of residents of Mississippi admitted to binge drinking as well. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 227,000 people disclosed using illicit substances in the past month in Mississippi, with 17,000 of them being minors. Abusing prescription medications, using street drugs or using drugs as a minor are all considered illicit, or illegal, substance abuse. These substances include cocaine, heroin, marijuana, alcohol, methamphetamines and prescription medications like hydrocodone (Vicodin) or methylphenidate (Ritalin).
Mississippi Substance Abuse Treatment Statistics
Treatment Episode Data Set Admissions (TEDS-A) from 2017 reported that there were over 7,605 admissions into substance abuse treatment facilities in 2017. This is only a small fraction of the 190,000 Mississippi residents in need of drug and alcohol services. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (MDMH) reported an average of 12,000 youths are struggling with an alcohol or drug dependence each year. However, MDMH has limited resources to provide treatment for these young people. In 2015, only 185 young people received treatment funding from MDMH. More than half of Mississippi residents diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder also meet criteria for mental health diagnosis. Locating a treatment facility that is equipped to handle co-occurring disorders may be a priority for these individuals. [middle-callout]
Opioid Epidemic In Mississippi
Opioid abuse statistics in Mississippi are not on trend with the rest of the country. For example, in 2017, approximately five thousand people admitted to abusing heroin in the past year. Comparatively, over 104,000 people are misusing prescription pain medications. In 2017, more than 92 prescriptions were written per 100 people by medical providers in Mississippi. While this data is lower than in previous years, Mississippi remains one of the top five highest prescribers for prescription painkillers in the country with many people in need of opioid addiction treatment. Mississippi proposed a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) at the state level in 2009 to help combat the prescription drug misuse problem in the state. Since being implemented a decade ago, it has seen positive results. Current Mississippi opioid statistics:
- Heroin use is more common in people over 26 years old
- The majority of the 10,000 minors who use painkillers take them from family
- More than 70,000 people in Mississippi misuse prescription opioids
Additional Substances Of Abuse In Mississippi
Mississippi had 72 listings for facilities in the 2016 National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Use Treatment Facilities. This directory is distributed by the national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Additional substances of abuse in Mississippi include:
Marijuana
Marijuana is not legal in Mississippi, however, it has been decriminalized. The state does allow CBD products with low levels of THC have been approved for use in severe seizure disorders. Although illegal, nearly 170,000 Mississippi residents have used marijuana in the last year, according to 2017 data. Additional marijuana statistics:
- Nearly 28,000 people under 18 will smoke marijuana for the first time each year
- In 2016, over 5,400 people were arrested for marijuana possession and 431 were arrested for selling marijuana
- Advocates for the legalization of medical marijuana are gathering petition signatures to have it placed on the 2020 ballot
Alcohol
- 935,000 people in Mississippi reported alcohol use in the past month
- More than 500,000 met criteria for binge drinking
- Over 1.1 million Mississippians acknowledge health risks associated with binge drinking
- Mississippi has been ranked the 3rd best for lack of excessive drinking according to America’s Health Rankings for 2018
Crack / Cocaine
- Approximately 32,000 Mississippi residents reported using cocaine in the past year
- At least 250 people were admitted to Mississippi rehabs for cocaine/crack addiction in 2009
Other Statistics For Substance Abuse In Mississippi
Recent data for Mississippi substance abuse regarding specific drugs are not readily available. The information that is available shows that tens of thousands of Mississippi residents are in need of treatment, but the general statistics typically are falling below the national average. For example:
- There were 405 drug and alcohol-related deaths in Mississippi in 2017
- 365 of these deaths were overdose deaths
- Only one percent of Mississippi residents disclosed substance abuse
- One percent is still 227,000 people over the age of twelve
- Mississippi continues to struggle with prescription drug access and abuse
- Over 95 pounds of meth was seized by Mississippi police in 2017
- As recent as May 2019, over 200 pounds of liquid meth was confiscated in Mississippi
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Substance Abuse Treatment Options In Mississippi
Rehab facilities that focus on evidence-based recovery are equipped to help treat substance abuse and addiction. These programs usually include medically supervised detox, comprehensive treatment, and aftercare. At Woodland Recovery Center Mississippi, the treatment also includes
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Suboxone therapy options
- treatment for co-occurring diagnoses
- relapse prevention
- inpatient / outpatient services
- intensive outpatient programs (IOP) or partial hospitalization (PHP)
- intervention services
- family programs
The quality programs offered at this facility are brought to you with compassion and care from a specially trained staff that can meet the needs of each patient. We can help you find your way out of addiction and back to the life you want. Reach out to us today.
