Alaska Alcohol And Drug Rehab

Alaska drug facts and statistics

Alaska State Flag

Although the population of Alaska is primarily located in the cities of Anchorage (the largest), Fairbanks, and Juneau (the state capital), there are a number of other cities situated along the Alaskan coast and scattered throughout the interior of the state that see their share of drug problems.  From a statistical standpoint the following information is the most current facts and statistics that we have regarding this state:

  • Some 20,000 Alaskans have significant drug abuse, addiction, or dependency problems – almost 100% of them will not get the professional help they need from any of the Alaska drug rehab facilities in the state.
  • The breakdown of illicit drug users includes about 5,500 cocaine addicts, slightly over 300 heroin addicts, nearly 34,000 marijuana users, and roughly 14,900 individuals who are taking prescription drugs recreationally.
  • It has been estimated that there will be roughly 4,300 drug related arrests by the end of 2011.
  • Since 2002, the number of drug related arrests that resulted in varying lengths of incarceration has been like a rollercoaster ride continually peaking and then dropping.
  • Meth lab seizures peaked in 2004, were almost non-existent two years later, and have remained fairly insignificant ever since although recent trends indicate a rise in the number of these seizures.

Due to Alaska’s geographic location, it is viewed more as a consumer state and transfer point for a number of illicit drugs.  The fact that Alaska is separated from the rest of the US and is bordered by Canada makes this a unique state.  The per capita use of controlled substances in Alaska is one of the highest of all 50 states.  Additionally, money laundering that is related to drug trafficking is a significant problem as well.

Information about the primary drug threats in Alaska

Methamphetamine labAlaska’s cocaine originates primarily from Dominican and Mexican cartels or DTO’s although the use of methamphetamines and in-state lab production of the drug is growin in the state.  The following information contains facts about the primary drug threats in the state and what has caused the need for more Alaska drug rehab facilities to open in recent years.

Club Drugs – also referred to as date rape drugs, Ecstasy and other MDMA’s are not as widely available and used as other drugs.  GHB and LSD are also available in the state, but the supply is limited.  Cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine are still the preferred substances of recreational drug users.

Cocaine – Dominican and Mexican cartels are responsible for the majority of the cocaine that is distributed in the state with crack cocaine being more of a threat than the powder version of the drug.  Due to the limited supply of cocaine, it is priced considerably higher than what it is in the lower states of the US.

Heroin – as the supply of and access to heroin is extremely limited in the state of Alaska, many users of the drug have turned to using OxyContin.  As a result, the number of addiction cases is growing and many of these individuals are showing up in numerous Alaska drug rehab facilities.

Marijuana – the use of marijuana became so widespread in Alaska in the past couple of decades that the governor of the state signed a bill in the state congress in 2006 that re-criminalized possession of marijuana.  Another significant issue is the importation of “BC Bud” from British Columbia into the Anchorage area.

Methamphetamine – despite the fact that the number of meth lab seizures has decreased significantly, the drug is still readily available and is trafficked into Alaska from DTO’s in the lower 48 states.

Pharmaceuticals – the illegal trafficking and sale of prescription drugs is a growing concern for Alaskan law enforcement and the DEA.  The avenues for the diversion of Alaska Drug Rehabthese prescription drugs are the following:

  • “Doctor Shopping”
  • forged prescriptions
  • hospital and nursing home thefts as well as pharmacy burglaries (a growing problem in the state)
  • illegal dispensing and prescribing by health care professionals and physicians
  • pharmaceuticals illegally purchased without a prescription
  • pharmacists

The most frequently sold and used pharmaceuticals are Hydrocodones such as Lortab and Vicodin as well as anabolic steroids, and Oxycodones such as OxyContin, Percocet, and Percodan.

Getting help from an Alaska drug rehab

Get help from and Alaska drug rehab substance abuse counselorsAdmitting to having a drug problem is only the first step to overcoming one’s addiction and recovering from it.  The next step is finding and entering an Alaska drug rehab program that will effectively address those personal needs that are unique to you and no one else.  This requires finding a program that can easily customized in order to meet those specific needs.  Unfortunately, that is not as easy as it sounds.  Currently, there is not a sufficient amount of drug rehab programs in Alaska, although the number of them has been on the rise.

You basically have the choice of two types of Alaska drug rehab programs – the in-patient residential format or the out-patient type.  Out-patient programs were primarily developed for those individuals who:

  • are the sole providers for children in the home
  • are trying to finish their education or are working a full-time job
  • cannot afford the in-patient program

The in-patient program benefits the individual whose addiction is more severe and requires that the client move into the facility.  Conversely, the out-patient program allows the client to return home in the evenings.

Our referral service can help you

The DrugRehab.org referral service has a listing of the most effective programs throughout the US as well as those that have the highest recovery success rates.  In so many words, we can find an Alaska drug rehab program that will work for you by effectively addressing your personal needs.  Our goal is to see you overcome your addiction and return home to your community to live substance-free for the rest of your life.  For more information about an Alaska drug rehab program, please contact the DrugRehab.org referral service at the toll-free phone number listed above.

Useful Resources And Links For Alaska